Date: Opening Saturday October 5th (4pm – 7pm) & Weekends in October (1pm – 5pm)
Re-Opening Reception Saturday November 2nd (4pm – 7pm) & Closing Reception November 23 (4pm – 7pm) with Free Self Healing Worshops (12:30pm-4pm)
Cost: Free
Event Description:
12:30 – 4:00: Healing Workshops. For more info on the healing workshops please go here.
4:00-7:00: Closing party for Broken is Still Beautiful, photographer Charise Isiss moving images from The Grace Project, an empowering photographic project that captures the courage, beauty, and grace of those who have had mastectomy surgery as a result of breast cancer. During the evening we will have performances by two amazing musicians, Michael Bisio and Ella Ray Kondrat.
Bassist / composer Michael Bisio has been called a poet, a wonder and one of the most virtuosic and imaginative performers on the double bass. Nat Chinen writes in The New York Times :” The physicality of Mr. Bisio’s bass playing puts him in touch with numerous predecessors in the avante garde, but his expressive touch is distinctive.” He has over a hundred recordings in his discography, more than two dozen as leader or co-leader as well as a dozen more documenting his extraordinary association with piano icon Matthew Shipp. Michael has been a member of the Matthew Shipp Trio since 2009 performing throughout the Americas and Europe : Carnegie Hall, Newport Jazz Festival, Buenos Aries Jazz Festival, Am I Jazz Festival, Kiev, MoMA, The Vision Festival, NYC and Festival Sons D’hiver, Paris.
Ella Ray Kondrat blends her background in eastern European a capella arrangements with her ear for rustic Latin, blues, and Balkan sophistication. Her music has been described as “a progressive, world-accented folk sound with unpredictable harmonic and melodic turns and an other-worldly quality, like the folk music of an unknown dimension” (John Burdick of Hudson Valley Almanac Weekly). Ella Ray released her debut album, “Hum to Your Heart,” with support from her cosmic heart-folk trio the Star Sisters, and special guests, at the Beverly in Kingston NY on August 9, 2019.
The Grace Project
The Grace Project (Broken is Still Beautiful) is an empowering photographic project by fine art photographer Charise Isis that captures the courage beauty and grace of those who have had mastectomy surgery as a result of breast cancer.
The very act of standing in front of a camera revealing their scars, allows each of her subjects a transformative experience, giving them permission to step into self acceptance and the opportunity to share the story of the scars that have been written on their body.
The portraits are inspired by Hellenistic goddess sculptures that have survived the trauma of history, such as the Venus de Milo. Although broken, these cracked and scarred relics are celebrated as beautiful, their brokenness revealing the delicate nature of life, and endurance, and the inherent beauty that still radiates.
The ultimate goal of the Grace project is to photograph 800 portraits, the approximate number of new breast cancer diagnosis in the U.S. every day. Thus far, Charise has photographed well over 400 portraits towards this goal. The exhibition portraits are printed on large format (36×54) silk banners which will eventually be exhibited together in one space to show the enormous impact of breast cancer. Meanwhile smaller versions of the exhibition and artist talks are presented at galleries, museums, hospitals and cancer centers throughout the US as Charise continues to photograph portraits for the project.
For more info on The Grace Project please visit: www.facebook.com/graceproject
Other events during O+ and Breast Cancer Awareness Month will include:
We are also THRILLED that Ella Ray Kondrat will also be performing during the OPENING reception on 10/5!
It Could Happen To You (Saturday October 12 @ 2pm)
Come hear from N.Y. Health Act expert Jess Robie, R.N. about the proposed legislation and discuss how it applies to you.
Breast Cancer and Body Image (Saturday October 12 @ 3:30pm)
Photographer and advocate Charise Isis will discuss some of the challenges women face as a result of breast cancer. Along with her powerful imagery she will tell stories that transcend the scars and illuminate the real beauty that lives inside each of her subjects.
Housing and Equitable Development: A Crossroads (Oct. 12 & 13th, 1pm – 5pm)
We will be showing a short film on loop about housing insecurity in Kingston from Rise Up Kingston.
Breast Cancer Healing Support and Free Self Healing Workshop (November 23, 12:30pm – 4pm)
Reiki, Sound and other Healers will be offering their services complimentary to anyone who’s been touched by breast cancer.