Charles Biasiny

Charles Biasiny-Rivera, 93, of Olivebridge, NY, passed away on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at his home in Olivebridge, NY. He was born on November 10, 1930 in New York, NY and was the son of the late Nikolas Biasiny and Josephine Rivera, both of Puerto Rico. In addition to New York City, Charles has lived in Olivebridge since the early seventies, where he transformed a 19th century barn into his family home.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Wilde-Biasiny, his love in art and life, whom he was together with for 40 years, and married at the Depuy Canal House, High Falls, NY, on August 27, 1988. Charles is also survived by their children, Amelia Francesca Biasiny and Nikola Biasiny and her husband Potaua Tule; grandchildren Atutawi Tule and Hiona Tule, all of Rotorua, New Zealand. In addition to his parents, Charles is preceded in death by his son Marcus Biasiny and Charles' former wife Nan Mensinger of California. His extended family in Puerto Rico includes the family of the (late) Carmen (Mina) Montoto, of Santurce; the family of Hiram Colon, II, of the Bronx, NY; and BettyWilde's clan and their families from King of Prussia, PA.

He served in the United States Air Force from 1952-55 during the Korean conflict, then earlier in the US Army beginning in 1948.

Charles Biasiny-Rivera's legacy as a Puerto Rican photographer, curator, and writer is well documented through his role as co-founder of the groundbreaking community-based organization En Foco. The still active not-for-profit began as a collective of Puerto Rican photographers committed to producing exhibitions, publications, and public events that focused on the culturally based imagery emanating from the enclaves and neighborhoods of New York City. Biasiny-Rivera became the executive director of En Foco, Inc., for the next thirty-five years, which went on to publish Nueva Luz, an innovative photographic journal focusing on cultural diversity. He received the Mayor's Award for Arts and Culture by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2004 for "his outstanding contribution to cultural life in New York City..."

Charles became intrigued with photography as an adolescent, as he was curious about how things worked and were made. He officially learned photography and darkroom printing while in service to the U.S. Air Force in Korea, where he photographed events, portraits, and the aftermath of war. Charles also did a stint photographing community theater around the world, from India to Bali and throughout Europe.

An early career highlight was his role as photographic assistant for the renowned celebrity photographer Cecil Beaton during the sixties, which included organizing and preparing for photographic shoots in New York City when Beaton came to town from England. Beaton oftentimes used Biasiny-Rivera's own camera and equipment, while, in turn, Charles became very knowledgeable about lighting and the nuances of photographing people.

Charles earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Photography and Latin American Studies from SUNY/Empire State University, in 1990. Through two pivotal artist residencies at Light Work, NY, then Belagio/Rockefeller Foundation, Lake Como, Italy, in the nineties, Biasiny-Rivera created composites of black and white photographs that he hand-colored and embellished with intricate borders, along with soulful poetry hand-written in ink, in the manner of the prayer cards found throughout Latin America.

Public collections include El Museo del Barrio, New York City; Lehigh University Gallery, Pennsylvania); Museum of Art of Puerto Rico, Santurce, Puerto Rico; and Lightworks, Syracuse, New York.

Arrangements entrusted to Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc., 326 Albany Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401, where family and friends may visit on Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 11am to 1pm. A memorial service will take place at 1pm. A tribute for Charles may be found at www.KeyserFuneralService.com, where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for his family. Contributions in Charlie's name may be made to En Foco, Inc., Bronx, New York (enfoco.org).

Photograph by Amelia F. Biasiny, 2020.