Elisabetta Potasso, photographed in Paris. ©Tony Gale
Elisabetta Potasso
My very good friend Elisabetta Potasso is a puppeteer. She creates her own puppets, has performances for kids and adults, leads workshops all around the world-but best of all she is a fantastic person. Oh-one detail I forgot to mention: Elisabetta is Italian and speaks english with an Indian accent.
Nominated and described by Sabine Scheckel
Michelle Kawka, photographed in Queens, NY. © Tony Gale
Michelle Kawka
Michelle once said to me, “I always seem to attract attention when I travel abroad, I don’t know why.”
I should have told her, “Darling! The French aren’t the only ones who appreciate your appeal!”
Her high heels leave a clicking echo behind her as she enters an art gallery and people can’t help but stare at this American beauty with a dash of a European flare that was certainly acquired during her six months in Italy where she perfected her flawless Venetian accent over a glass of Chianti. Of course, the gallery I’m referring to is the one displaying her own photography in New York City (or was it Paris? I can’t keep track).
Michelle had her privileged future mapped out for her, having grown up with a summer residence in the Hamptons and obtained her bachelor’s degree from prestigious Weselyan University in Connecticut. This did not stop her from rolling up her sleeves in an attempt to pierce through the very closed knit circle of photography in the Manhattan. This attempt turned into success after 6 years of hard work built over a solid foundation of pure talent. I could only imagine her mother’s reaction when she came home with the news that her work was now being displayed in museums (and that she had a pair of angel wings tattooed on her back).
If you speak to Michelle during her well-attended photography exhibits, make sure to put down your coupe de champagne, and take a close look into her eyes, and tell her what you see. She’s quite used to it. Some call it sectoral heterochromia. However, most just say, “You have two different colour eyes! “ Maybe it’s a vestige of her former life as a mermaid, of which she is very fond. Michelle could even make an atheist believe in Karma.
As our friendship reached the 15 year mark from across the Atlantic ocean, I am proud have Michelle as my friend and look forward to another 15 years (at least!) of good times.
Nominated and described by Al Vareau
Leonard Knight at Salvation Mountain © Tony Gale
Leonard Knight
There should be more Leonard Knights in the world.
Leonard is a simple man. In his late 70’s, he is hard of hearing and becoming fragile. He lives in a 20 foot trailer 150 miles from what most of us would call a real city; in the desert, on abandoned military land. He has no electricity and brings water to his home in a 200 gallon tank. Leonard calls it paradise.
Driven by a singular passion, Leonard Knight has devoted decades to constructing a monument. A monument in paint and straw bale and mud to love and God…..Crackpot? Corny? Weirdo? Yes on all counts, by contemporary standards. But Leonard doesn’t care much about contemporary standards. Leonard has nothing to sell.
So if you get lost in the desert some dark night, and don’t like scorpions, or rattlesnakes, or the cold, or the heat, or the loneliness; stop by Leonard’s. He’ll probably say, “thanks for coming by, would you like a blanket and something to drink”?
There should be more Leonard Knights in the world.
Nominated and described by David Zimmerman
TK3DYDJW6QD3
David Zimmerman, photographer. Photographed at the Imperial Sand Dunes, © Tony Gale
David Zimmerman, photographer
David Zimmerman is an amazing photographer. He has won numerous awards, including the 2009 L’iris D’Or, for his work in White Sands. He built a solar powered studio in Taos, NM that gets all its water from rain… in the desert! He is a pilot and built a plane from a kit. He has lived in all four continental US time zones. He is passionate about his personal projects, and on the strength of his photographs, able to get visibility and attention for places that need all the attention they can get. He is basically what I think all photographers want to be.
Nominated and described by Tony Gale
Shein Lee. © Tony Gale
Shien Lee
Do not let the façade of pastiche vintage fool you, Shien Lee is not someone living in the past. In fact, she definitely a product of the Twenty-first Century, and her retro sensibilities are a sign of things yet to come. Her style is so unique, a stew of the best of every fashion and period, that the events she calls Dances of Vice have become their own genre. A patron of the arts, she brings together all her favorite people: dancers, singers, painters, illustrators, photographers, musicians, magicians and whomever else she feels will cross pollinate and influence each other to create something old and new, beautiful and monstrous. Using the latest resources to promote her vision, she gleans gems from all eras like a time traveling proprietor of a dime store museum. Impossible to fit into any one category, fans of her work simply call it Dances of Vice. Look to the style of the future and you’ll find Shien Lee.
Nominated and described by Don Spiro
Kate Cusack, photographer in her studio. © Tony Gale
Kate Cusack
There are many beautiful qualities and interesting things I could say about Kate Cusack. One of the aspects of her personality that I find most admirable is her honesty. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, what you see is what you get with Kate. She is who she is and does not waste time pretending to be otherwise. She is more true to herself than anyone I have ever known and I admire her greatly for that. She is driven and focused and believes in herself and her creativity to an impressive degree. As well she should! She has been carving out an impressive career in the Arts from a young age and there’s no sign of her slowing down.
Kate studied fine Art in undergrad and completed her graduate degree in theater, specifically, costume design. Currently she is focusing on her ever-expanding Art jewelry collection, made entirely out of zippers. She has always had a knack for turning humble materials into beautiful works of Art and her zipper jewelry is an amazing example of her talent.
Nominated and described by Margaux Lange
Don Spiro, in his home. © Tony Gale
Don Spiro
Don was born in the wrong decade. His style, chivalry and taste in tunes do not align with the times and thank heavens. Don encourages all those around him to dress well and act honorably. He is a fantastic photographer with a penchant for pin-ups and co-proprietor of Wit’s End a monthly celebration of the Jazz Age.
Nominated and described by Deidre Schoo
Darren Korb, © Tony Gale
Darren Korb
I knew Darren Korb when he was a wee lad. We did summer musicals together back in California. He went to an all boys Jesuit school and he was a counselor at Space Camp! Now he’s in New York, playing in a band and growing impressive facial hair. I just found out he and his brother have written a musical called Marry Me! about two best buddies who get married for financial reasons…the ultimate bro-mance-sical.
Nominated and described by Natalie Ferraro
Natalie Ferraro, © Tony Gale
Natalie Ferraro
She is an amazing singer, role model, she’s a great writer, and
she recently adopted a school near her house and has decided
to help all the girls get makeovers for their prom. Natalie was in
the first bunch of people who I met when I first started practicing
Buddhism and her infectious enthusiasm for life has always
inspired me personally. She wrote a blog at plushus.com, and now writes at lovenati.com, and she runs with a group of girls called the Drunken Classy Ladies.
She’s mom to a very cute little dog, too.
Nominated and described by Diane Kolack.
Erin McReynolds, photo by Tony Gale
Erin McReynolds
Erin McReynolds has not followed any usual trajectory. After a childhood that involved horseback riding, flute lessons, and dance, she got a degree in, what else? Neuroscience. Upon moving to New York, she worked in non-profit before becoming a make-up artist. Now a graphic designer and real estate maven, Erin has just completed a cross-country road trip in a red Volkswagen Westphalia, affectionately nicknamed “the Vanana.” All along the way, Erin has fearlessly dabbled with raw food, yoga, harmonica, and poi spinning. There is no way to predict what Erin will do next – and whatever it is will probably come as a surprise to her, too!
Nominated and described by Mikki Baloy.