www.mayyouneverbeuncovered.org and she was previously blogged on oitzarisme with samples from her fashion portfolio and her School project about Sheed Society
“Kate Orne has spent the past 9 years focused on equality issues in Pakistan. She is the only photographer to be allowed inside the brothels to document the prostitutes and their children, madams, pimps, and trafficking victims who are living stigmatized under Islam. Since 2005 she works actively with the local residents and supports their efforts to strengthen their community and build a safer future for their children. Kate Orne received the 2008 Berenice Abbott award for photography.”
Prostitution is forbidden under Islamic law, but with the increasing influence of extremist groups, the women risk severe punishment under Sharia law through beheadings and stoning to death. Recently two women suspected of prostitution were found beheaded with a message stating that “any women suspected of selling sexual favors will meet the same fate”.
Because these women are illiterate and prostitutes they have no opportunities. They and their children are shunned in society Mothers introduce their daughters to the sex trade – some with a gentle hand, and others by force. They pass on what they know.
Those afflicted with HIV/AIDS are stigmatized in Pakistan. The victims would rather hide their illness than risk being shunned by their families and the community. Despite awareness campaigns – in the end the use of condoms is left for the clients to decide.
Young women from rural villages and refugee camps are sold to the brothels by human-traffickers, while others are born into the trade.
The women practice modesty according to Islam. For a woman not to cover her chest with a hijab is considered daring – even among prostitutes. Rape and abuse are part of their daily life, madams and pimps will not provide any protection.
join the “May you never be uncovered” group on facebook
pausetobegin.com
“Pause, to Begin is a unique project born in discussions about the direction of contemporary photography today. A competition geared towards the emerging photographer, Pause, to Begin selected 15 photographers in April, 2008. After a juried selection, the creators of Pause, to Begin drove 10,000 miles to meet and interview the selected photographers about their work.
A lasting goal of Pause, to Begin has been to better expose passionate photographers in a fresh and unique manner. This goal has been accomplished in many ways. First, Pause, to Begin produced multimedia presentations about each photographer. The presentations showcase each photographer’s images while they speak candidly about their work.
Second, Pause, to Begin held it’s first exhibition on January 2nd, 2008 at Booksmart Studio in Rochester, New York. The exhibition consisted of 94 photographs from the 15 photographers.
Finally, Pause, to Begin produced a Catalogue Edition Book that showcases the selected photographers and their photographs. The book also includes a foreword by Pause, to Begin Editorial Director Susan Morelock. The book was published by Booksmart Studio and hand bound at New Ridge Bindery, both in Rochester, New York.
By working closely with a team of artists and an advisory board that includes John Paul Caponigro, Joyce Tenneson and Cig Harvey, Pause, to Begin continues to strive to create a one-of-a-kind experience for the artist and viewer.”
Tealia Ellis Ritter – The Live Creature and Ethereal Things
Hin Chua (previously blogged) – After The Fall
Timothy Briner – Boonville
Brea Souders – Time Between
Colin Blakely – Somewhere in Middle America
Shannon Johnstone (previously blogged) – Silent Home
France welcomes her English friends. We look forward to a nice 100th anniversary match.
“In anticipation of the final Six Nations rugby match tomorrow, Nike is launching a print and OOH campaign that humorously plays on the classic rivalry between the French and English Rugby squads. In the history of the Six Nations, the battle between France and England has always been the most fierce and respected match-up. Nike wanted to pay homage to the tournament finale, also known as ‘The Crunch’, with a clever play on the way the French treat their English guests. A warm welcome from the French rugby team to their arch rivals, England. What makes this match even more exciting is that it not only marks the 100th Anniversary since their first match-up, if France beats England they will take the Grand Slam Trophy home.”
via ibelieveinadv
www.lottiedavies.com
“My project ‘Memories and Nightmares’ is concerned with making images inspired by narratives of individual experiences, both real and fictional. At the beginning of 2008 I asked several of my friends to send me written accounts of early childhood memories or nightmares and have discovered a rich vein of fascinating stories.
We all have our own tales and myths which we use to tell our lives. In many ways, memories are an essentially human experience, and over the years they can change; for instance, an early childhood memory will be retold and re-remembered, and the way one person describes an event may be different to others’ memory of it. In recounting nightmares, some people remember a clear narrative, others only a particular feeling or location. And of course the surreal or impossible elements of the dream, which at the time of dreaming seem entirely logical, are often the most fascinating. Our memories are part of the collection of human stories, and by using them as inspiration for these images I hope to celebrate them and encourage us to tell us more about ourselves.”
The Day My Brother Was Born
One of my earliest memories is from the day my brother was born, 14th December 1973. I am running down a corridor in a hospital, and to my right I can see a playroom with a dapple-grey rocking horse in the far corner. Usually I’d have gone straight in because the rocking horse was my dream toy, but I carried on running, thinking “I’ll go back and play later”. My mother remembers hearing me shout at the top of my voice as I was running; “I’m going to see my mummy!”
The Red Devil
I’ll borrow Scarlett’s red devil. She said she could see it in the corner of the room, it was scary but never harmed her. The Indian dreamcatcher nets were essential for safe sleeping.
The Frozen Lake
About 1944/45. Being taken skating on ice, sitting in a chair on ice skates, whizzing round a frozen lake. In Simla, northern India. Hearing about a man whose face had been torn off by a bear. About same date and place. Sewing my embroidery onto a sofa arm. In Jhelum, a bit later.
Quints
Bizarre nightmare: Had so many so I’ll give the one I had two nights ago… I was pregnant with quintuplets, and this was scary as I didn’t want any more kids (having a 10 and 13 year old already and I am 42 so too old, and not physically strong enough either), and I had to convince my midwife (who has retired) to be with me throughout the pregnancy and birth, as she had been with my other kids. Then when the quintuplets were born I was worried about the size of vehicle we now needed, as most people carriers are for 7 and we needed room for 8. How was I going to park that in London as easily as the small car we had already?! I wasn’t able to pursue my career, and my husband had to give up his music career to help care for the babies. So, would our relationship suffer? How would our 10 and 13 year old cope? Where would the finance come from? Would they have to become show babies like the French-Canadians in the 1950′s (I think) who had the state looking after their septruplets), and the mother had restricted access to her babies? I then woke up, rather bemused!
Sophie in Florida
My first memory is when friends of my parents gave me and Katherine nighties which said ‘I Don’t Want To Go To Bed’ in punky ‘cool’ graffitti writing on the front. Mine was pale pink. This being the 80s, they were 100% polyester and the memory I have is discovering that if you rubbed the fabric against itself under the duvet, it made sparks which you could see in the dark. Another memory of this nightie I have is walking around the neighbourhood in Florida where we were on holiday on Christmas Eve in the dark, with my parents, looking at all the Christmas trees and the lights. This was a huge treat – both being outside in the dark and wearing your night-clothes!
Viola As Twins
It’s a very sunny, positive atmosphere. Viola (my three year old) runs up to me with her arms open wide, calling “mummy, mummy”, a big smile across her face. As she gets closer another Viola coming from behind her does exactly the same thing. The whole atmosphere shifts, turning the dream into a nightmare. I’m left speechless, wondering who the second girl is and, by the same token, if the first one is really my little girl at all.
Another, very brief dream; Viola’s there again, happy and smiling. She’s blonde with blue eyes (in real life and in the dream). Then suddenly another little girl appears. In the dream I know her to be Viola too, but this second girl is dark, with green eyes, also very pretty. They both behave like I’m their mummy but don’t seem to notice one another. I feel like something’s wrong, then I realize I can’t remember having had twins. I don’t know who my daughter is.
www.ronpippin.com
“The integration of the physical and spiritual is central to Pippin’s work, which he describes as “visual prayers” that seek healing and “grace”. These meditations, bound for the highest reaches of heaven, translate to elaborate physical universes of dense imagery, populated by a collective humanity pitted against the constant upward struggle of their mortal condition or by animals as archetypes of the ultimate transformation.”
Read more on Obsolete.
via freshbump