D'Ambrosio is the author of Let Fury Have the Hour: Joe Strummer, Punk and the Movement that Shook the World (2012) and A Heartbeat and a Guitar: Johnny Cash and the Making of Bitter Tears. (2009) A Heartbeat and a Guitar was chosen by The Philadelphia Inquirer as a "2009 Book of Note,",[1]The Progressive "Favorite Book",[2]The Boston Globe,[3] among others.
In 2010, D'Ambrosio collaborated with artist Shepard Fairey and Jeffrey Deitch on the book Mayday.[4]
In 2013, D'Ambrosio wrote the cover story "How the Creative Response of Artists and Activists Can Transform the World" for The Nation.[5]
D'Ambrosio has produced more than 15 documentaries, films, videos, and visual art pieces. His recent film includes No Free Lunch starring Lewis Black. In September 2008, it received a notice of cultural distinction in Vanity Fair.[6]
In 2014, D'Ambrosio was the executive producer of Look Again to the Wind: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited, a tribute album.[15]
In 2015, D'Ambrosio participated in the musical transmedia Soundhunters produced by a_BAHN and broadcast on the Franco-German channel Arte. D'Ambrosio directed the film Speak the way you breathe in which he directed the musician Luke Vibert.[16]
In 2010, artist Shepard Fairey invited D'Ambrosio to contribute the official essay for his solo-exhibit Mayday at the Deitch Projects in New York City.[18] The essay, "May Day Calling", is printed on the back of Fairey's signature "flag" print.[19]
In 2009, D'Ambrosio was Artist-In-Residence at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe, NM where he launched the multimedia land-art installation La Terra Promessa: In Sun & Shadow.[17]
In 2006, he became New York University's Gallatin Lecturer, an honor bestowed upon a contemporary artist creating innovative and social engaging work.[21]
In 2006 D'Ambrosio was invited to document the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign in Caracas, Venezuela at the World Social Forum.[22] His short film documenting the experience, In the Land of Bolivar, has been screened around the world. In 2005, D'Ambrosio was Artist-In-Residence in the Media Arts Department at Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. He speaks extensively at universities and colleges throughout the country.
Let Fury Have the Hour" (2012) Writer/Producer/Director.
The Bending Cross. (2009). Producer/Director/Writer. 95 mins.
Making Waves, Breaking Walls: The Story of Radio Atlantis. A Project of La Lutta NMC's Youth-Artist-in-Residency Program. (2009) Executive Producer. 12 mins.
No Free Lunch (starring Lewis Black). (2008). Producer/writer/director. 7 mins.
Project 843: A Documentary Series on the cultural Impact of Central Park. (2007–present) Executive producer and supervising director.
In the Land of Bolivar. (2006). Writer, producer, photographer, and director. 10 mins.
Battlescars. (2006). Production Consultant. 30 mins.
Freedom Demo: The RNC Counter Convention. (2004) Producer, photographer, and editor. 25 mins.
Desaparecidos: Our History Oral History Project. (2004). Writer, producer, photographer, director and editor. 55 mins.
One Judge, One Family. (2004). Writer, producer, photographer, director, and editor. 17 mins.
(2009) Artist-In-Residence. Center for Contemporary Arts. Santa Few, New Mexico
(2008) Nation Institute Investigative Fund Award. Award to support investigative work on book project A Heartbeat and A Guitar
(2006) New York University Gallatin Lecturer. An honor bestowed upon a contemporary artist creating innovative and socially engaging work.
(2005) Artist-In-Residence, Long Island University Media Arts Department. An honor awarded to an artist producing dynamic and noteworthy new media.
(2005) Top Non-Fiction Book Selections of 2005. Awarded by PBS to non-fiction writers who published work that could be used as an educational tool in the classroom.
(2003) Digital-Artist-In-Residence (Given to La Lutta NMC). Awarded to emerging and established web artists working in the area of documenting the immigrant experience.
(1999) Top Independent Media Makers. Awarded by The Nation readers to those individuals creating media that advances democracy.
(1998) Community Service Award of Distinction. Awarded by the El Puente Center for Arts and Culture for support of youth-community public space mural initiative.
(1998) Community Arts Grant. Awarded by the Manhattan Borough President's Office, New York City.
(1995) Deans' Scholar. Awarded every 2 years to 20 New York University students demonstrating academic excellence, a strong social consciousness, and a vibrant creative sensibility.
