On Friday of this week, the International Center of Photography opens its doors on its impressive triennial global survey of photography and video. This year’s theme is Dress Codes—fashion as social communication expressed in various angles by both established photo-stars (such as Cindy Sherman, Lorna Simpson) and upstarts on the scene (Yto Barrada, Thornston Brinkmann, among others). The show is the grand finale of the ICP’s Year of Fashion series that included Avedon Fashion 1944–2000, Edward Steichen: In High Fashion, The Condé Nast Years 1923–1937, and Weird Beauty: Fashion Photography Now. Dress Codes rounds up the set with very selectively curated sampling of photography and video that express fresh critical views of fashion’s role in society.

Grace Kim’s Under the Glass Bell, A Dream opens at Melanie Flood Projects this evening. Taking its name from Anaïs Nin’s short story, “Under a Glass Bell,” this exhibition showcases an intimate series of black-and-white photographs taken of day (or moment)-after beds and rooms at love hotels in South Korea. Love Hotels are clandestine hideaways in Korea where couples escape to carry out secret affairs. Kim’s work provides a window into a rarely seen world where hidden lives play out.

There’s isolation and loneliness in Peter Baker’s images. It’s especially evident in the rural towns he photographs, but it’s also apparent in the metropolitan cities he shoots. Chicago, Portland, and Brooklyn can be just as lonely as Epsilon, MI, Fargo, ND, or Mosfell, Iceland in Baker’s eyes. It’s both romantic and sad. More photos can be seen on Baker’s Flickr.

Progress has always been a part of New York City, its changing landscape has been quite dramatic in the past several years with new developments. But with the rapid change, the city has lost some of its charm. Like the old diners with broken neon signs, barber shops that commit to doing things the old way, or shops that sell one particular item. For the past ten years, photographers James and Karla Murray have been documenting small family run businesses throughout the city. This series of photographs have been collected into a book titled STORE FRONT- The Disappearing Face of New York. Clic Gallery is currently exhibiting photographs of the collection from now till August 30th.

Hiroshi Sugimoto is currently exhibiting his famous Seascape series at the Gagosian Gallery on 21st Street in Chelsea. Viewers are immediately confronted by his iconic photographs of ocean views, spread out across the white wall in a series of 7 prints. The gallery guard will have to guide you to the second half of the exhibit. Behind the 7 Days, lies the 7 Nights.

The LIFE Magazine and Google photo archive has received a lot of attention lately from blogs. However others may not be aware of another photo archive just as impressive. The Library of Congress joined flickr and have posted many photos encouraging participation in tagging, commenting, and documentation. One of the more striking collection is the 1930s-40s in Color set focused on rural America and the mobilization during World War II, all in color that evoke a sense of nostalgia.

GraphicHug coming through again.