And so it has begun...

model #22 Ameria Lennard, hair and make up by Jose L. Lopez 

an outtake from the very first reImagining shoot! here's to the next 99! 

Dispatches from Awesome....Belletrix at ImageNation

I just braved the cold for the most amazing exhibition in Harlem - the Belletrix exhibit currently showing at ImageNation!

These amazing artists created a beautiful multi-media exhibition that expressed the diversity of the Black female artist's work. 

And it was wonderfully received! Make sure to catch it before it closes May 1st!

Dispatches from Awesome...Carrie Mae Weems at the Guggenheim

If you have not been to this amazing exhibition currently at the Guggenheim, you must go!

I am a huge Weems fan girl, but have never seen the entire Kitchen Table Series exhibited together. It is so intricately woven, it made me want to weep! Check it out on level 2!

Then head to level 4 for the ground breaking From Here... Series and just bask in the brilliance of her ability to make text and image bend to her will!

Out of my overwhelming respect for the artist, I will not post the  few picks of the exhibit I was able to sneak in, but I will show you how well received her work was. I heart you Carrie Mae!

Appreciating the Fog

When times look hard - step back and appreciate the fog!

Our very first reImagining Salon!

Honestly words can not describe how amazing this night was for me - so I will let our resident genius videographer Aulistar Mark demonstrate his skills with this amazing recap of an extraordinary night:

A huge thank you to BFB Architect and Balance Integration for letting us meet in your beautiful office space!

idiStudios teams up with Colloquy Collective to realize images for the new production of Wine in the Wilderness

“Like snowflakes, the human pattern is never cast twice. We are uncommonly and marvelously intricate in thought and action, our problems are most complex and, too often, silently borne." - Alice Childress

I have had the ultimate collaboration! Imagine being able to translate into images the text of an amazing Black female playwright for the production of one of her most amazing plays dealing with the topics of the misrepresentation of the Black female image for a Black female producer and director! I know it's a run on sentence, but run with me on this one guys! I was more than thrilled to lend my camera skills to Courtney Harge of Colloquy Collective for their new production of Wine in the Wilderness. Harge created the collective because " We at Colloquy Collective feel it is important to mine existing work for jewels that create new contexts for our present conditions." The play, which runs from March 7th through March 17th at JACK, is the company’s inaugural production. Directed by Harge, Wine in the Wilderness examines the issues of racial identity, class striation, art’s purpose, and male/female power dynamics. Originally presented in 1969, it tells the story of a Black male artist as he paints a triptych on Black womanhood, and the Black woman who causes him to reexamine his approach. This play remains poignant and relevant over four decades after its first production. Above is one of the two images I produced for the play - you have to come out and see the play to see the second image! The play opens Thursday March 7th with a great reception afterwards! If you can't make one of the shows - then support the project's funding campaign and support the major tenant of the reImagining - creating new paths for the real voices of Black women!

The reImagining Speaks: Model #27 Daralyn Jay

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:  

A versatile actor, vocalist and writer, Daralyn Jay has worked in theater, film, commercials and voiceover. She is also a regular performer on the New York jazz scene and contributes to lifestyle/arts publications VEVLYN’S PEN and NeoBlack Cinema. http://www.Daralyn.net Twitter:@DaralynJay

The reImagining Speaks: Model #57 Shonda Brown

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Shonda is a 42 y/o single mother of three. She is a LPN working in home care for the last 5 years who hopes to earn her RN within the next year. I spend most of my time supporting my children's endeavors  ( cheer leading coach , Girl Scout leader , gymnastics team mom for football , basketball and track ). I no longer want to be judged by my title or what appears upon first impression rough no nonsense exterior. I am a fun loving extrovert who enjoys making people laugh and loving life with all it's ebbs and flows.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #25 Melissa Mendez

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Hi my name is Melissa, I want to be known as someone who is hard working, Intelligent and Strong willed to say the least. I am human and neither my hair nor race will define me! Let my efforts and abilities shine through. Founder of The Bronx Naturals LLC An All Natural Soy Candle Company.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #50 LaTonia Phipps

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Solo Artist. Writer. And New York Times and New York Post Reviewed actress. Phipps is a woman in charge of her career having created her very own solo show infusing 27 characters and slam poetry. Following a young actress turned writer who finds herself through the spirit of her deceased mother. Phipps is gearing up for a 2013 college tour of this show. More info below. She will also be premiering her new project entitled, "She Who Struggles," a one act that follows two woman (one black the other white) as the tackle the issues of Gentrified harlem through love and poetry. Twitter: @latoniaphipps Facebook: Latonia Phipps (Like and stay updated on upcoming shows) Website: www.latoniaphipps.com

The reImagining Speaks: Model #14 Wendy Petties

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Wendy Petties, Native New Yorker, and powerful hot pink woman is the Founder and Owner of Simmer, LLC. a relationship and sex coaching practice based in NYC.  An advocate of pleasure and free choice she is concerned with the way Black women's sexuality is portrayed in the media and in our own minds.   In both cases Black women are seen as either hoes or just shy of nuns and through her work she certainly has seen all types of women along that spectrum.   Visit Simmer, LLC on Facebook to learn more or reach Wendy.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #11 Francina Connors

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

The reImagining Speaks: Model #13 Dionne Grayman

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Dionne Grayman. Mother. Daughter. Sister. Educator. Blogger. Conversation Starter. Community Engagement Specialist. Co-Founder, Mothers Empowered. Chief Creative Officer, Power Mama Academy. Helping women to embrace the potential of who they can become by celebrating who they already are. The Movement is Mother'Hood Power-Full. Twitter: @MEmpowered

The reImagining Speaks: Model #32 Jeniere Bailey

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Jeniere Danyelle Bailey is a healer-intuitive, entrepreneur, stand-up comic looking to be a catalyst for change and inspiration in not only in her community but the world at large. In 2013 she will be debuting an natural spa/skincare line containing exotic ingredients sourced from Africa, Central America & South America. She is hoping the reImagining project will inspire and create a platform to discuss the problems of  racial/ethnic stereotypes in the media and how to heal from the burden.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #47 Chicava HoneyChild

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Chicava HoneyChild is a burlesque danseur, actor and producer.  She is the Creative Producer of New York City's Brown Girls Burlesque and teacher at BGB's Broad Squad. She received her MFA in Interdisciplinary Art from Goddard College her areas of interest being performance art, women of color in burlesque heritage, and sacred sexuality and spirituality. She is currently working on a documentary on the legacy of Women of Color in burlesque. www.chicavahoneychild.com and www.browngirlsburlesque.com

The reImagining Speaks: Model #48 Bianca Bernardez

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

The reImagining Speaks: Model #1 Ayana Case

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Ayana is a young "rock star" recruiter forging  a career within human resources.  While trying to "fool folks" with her so called "non traditional corporate" appearance she is quietly organizing her future HR consulting firm.  In the mean and in between time she is supporting dynamic productions like the reImagining project and blogging here and there for one of the coolest, independent artistic sites, societyhae.com.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #22 Ameria Lennard

 The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Ameria is a writer/poet, an open spirit, educator and is in the process of starting her own tutoring and editing papers  business. Ameria is defined by her mind and experiences and continues to take a path of growth, learning and positivity. In this light she knows the need and significance of dialogue as a transformative tool to change. She is also looking to capture the love within people through her small photography project: Intimacy (a 3 part series). You can follow her tweets @trinipoetess or look her up on Facebook if you would like to learn more about her various moving ventures.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #46 Noelle Barnes

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Noelle K. Barnes is a writer, multi-faceted media and marketing professional, and proud supporter of the reImagining. She specializes in building new media based communication strategies for small businesses, artists, filmmakers, start-ups, and entrepreneurs. Through Abstract Marketing, Noelle empowers new voices and fresh brands beyond the mainstream. Connect with Noelle at www.ThisIsAbstract.com or @ThisIsAbstract.

The reImagining Speaks: Model #3 Tiffani Stevens

The reImagining Speaks is a video series that gives voice to the women lending their images to the reImagining. This series allows you to hear for yourself why this project is so important to me and these 100 women. Listen closely:

Life has been a twisted spiral coaster for me, from radio broadcasting to music production now bar instructor.  You name it, I've probably done it (explains the name Joat - Jack of all trades).  In all of that, finding myself and becoming one with the acceptance of enjoying who I am, I must say I'm a motivator, a thinker, an innovator, a listener, and to shorten the list, many times misunderstood.  Growing up I always considered myself to be different, you know, out of the box.  I spoke a language that many of my friends couldn't even understand because I was so open to possibilities, wisdom, and growth.  I'm not much of a talker, but I will say I'm worth the time to get to know, but not everyone is ready for this experience.  I wasn't always ready for my experience, but I am now.  With that said, please check out my future.  Its been a long process, but as a puzzle, its coming together piece by piece.  You can check out some of my ventures on facebook at www.facebook.com/artsextherapy or www.artsextherapy.blogspot.com. Tah Tah!