The 5 Ninth Avenue Project

Nelson Sullivan recorded his video using a VHS portable camera and deck until 1987 and then with a handheld 8mm camcorder. Nelson lived in a large townhouse at 5 Ninth Avenue in the Meatmarket area of New York City and his houseguests over the years included Lady Bunny, RuPaul, Larry Tee, Michael Alig and the Club Kids, Sylvia Miles, Michael Musto, Albert Crudo, John Sex, and his dear friend the tortured transvestite Christina. Nelson's videos span across Downtown NYC from the eccentric performances at the Pyramid Club to the production numbers at the Limelight and Palladium. Nelson's friendships with the emerging artists of that day like RuPaul, Deee-lite, Scott Wittman & Marc Shamen give Nelson's videos an intimacy that allows the viewer an in-crowd look at the past.

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