Shtetl in the Sun: Andy Sweet's South Beach 1977–1980

by Lauren Groff (Introduction), Andy Sweet (Photographer), Brett Sokol (Editor)

“Andy Sweet’s photographs and a new film tell the story of a vanished Jewish community on the tip of Miami Beach that gave way to a glittering American Riviera.” – The New York Times Forget the jokes about late ‘70s South Beach being the Yiddish-speaking section of “God’s Waiting Room”; yes, upward of 20,000 elderly Jews made up nearly half of its population in those days―all crammed into an area of barely two square miles like a modern-day shtetl. But these New York transplants and Holocaust survivors all still had plenty of living, laughing and loving to do, as strikingly portrayed in Shtetl in the Sun , which features previously unseen photographs documenting South Beach’s once-thriving and now-vanished Jewish community―a project that American photographer Andy Sweet (1953–82) began in 1977 after receiving his MFA from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a driving passion until his tragic death. Sweet’s photos capture this community’s daily rhythms in all their beach-strolling, klezmer-dancing glory. “They were strong, humorous, and beautiful images,” fellow photographer Mary Ellen Mark, who worked closely with Sweet, remarked after his death. The book includes a foreword by award-winning Miami arts journalist Brett Sokol and an introductory essay by National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Lauren Groff.

Genres: Photography

120 pages, Hardcover

Published February 19, 2019

About the author

Lauren Groff was born in Cooperstown, N.Y. and grew up one block from the Baseball Hall of Fame. She graduated from Amherst College and has an MFA in fiction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Her short stories have appeared or are forthcoming in a number of journals, including The Atlantic Monthly, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, Hobart, and Five Points as well as in the anthologies Best American Short Stories 2007, Pushcart Prize XXXII, and Best New American Voices 2008.

She was awarded the Axton Fellowship in Fiction at the University of Louisville, and has had residencies and fellowships at Yaddo and the Vermont Studio Center.

She lives in Gainesville, Florida, with her husband, Clay, and her dog, Cooper.

Reviews

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved all the photos, great book I received from a friend after I recommended the documentary about Andy Sweet on Netflix. Having lived in Fort Lauderdale late ‘60’s early ‘70’s as a child, this is my remembrance of life in Florida back then. Great picture book I love to pick up time and time again and view the retirees.

[Ilena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love seeing the cities I grew up in before my time. Especially how world events affect how we live, where we live, how we settle, and how we adapt. It’s a beautiful thing. Can’t wait to read/experience the next one. The photographs are amazing! And fashion does truly repeat itself. 😂

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you grew up in Miami Beach, during the late seventies and early 80s, this book will be a stroll down memory lane for you .

[Blane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent visual documentation of a long bygone period in Miami's colorful history. One quibble: I would have liked captions for the photos indicating where the photos were taken.