September 2013

Photographer Philippe Paschkes Releases Limited Edition Fine Art Photography Fundraiser Book Entitled Africa

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 16, 2013

Photographer Philippe Paschkes will release a limited edition fine art photography book entitled Africa in November, 2013. One thousand copies of Africa will be available through Paschkes' website. The charity book will embody a preface written by Her Highness, Princess Charlene of Monaco, and portray images of African descendants from around the world cloaked in traditional African garb. The profit generated from the project will go to organizations dedicated to bettering the lives of African children.

Africa originated as a devotion to the beauty of the African land and her children and was inspired by the many years Paschkes traveled as an esteemed make-up artist for top international names in fashion and film. The uneasiness Paschkes experienced witnessing the gap between prestigious lifestyle and undernourished people and children drove him to eventually leave his profession in order to create awareness through the mediums he had mastered for 3 decades and his new medium, photography.

Paschkes considers himself lucky to have worked on Africa. “All the work I have done for the last 30 years influence my work for Africa although I never could imagine how difficult it was to create my dream to completion. Receiving the news that Her Highness, Princess Charlene of Monaco, would generously write the preface was a special moment in my life. Being able to work and create with all of the people who volunteered their time and love for the project... it wasn’t very hard to work and to shoot these pictures since I love and I am so passionate about my work and about giving to those beautiful faces that seemed to ask me to do more and be more that I saw during my years traveling as a make-up artist. I dedicate this to them.”

The work began in July 2009 and totals over 4 years in the making. During the final stages of production, once the collection was curated, Paschkes introduced the mission and fine art photography collection in Paris and Monaco at a few select galleries and private gatherings.

Friends and models who felt as passionate about the cause and the love of Africa generously volunteered their time and talent. Model Kahshanna Evans, Sonja Chung, Bertini Heumegni, Chaniqua Jones, Christopher Jones, Salam, Lee Jackson, Ayan Elmi, Hawa Diawara, Eva Ndachi, Jamia Eaton, Johanna Santos, Laurence Basse, Steven Brown and Jean Michel Vian Safiir Dobaria appear in the 130 page visual journey of traditional body painting and garb.

Over the course of several months, Artist Anne Domenech assisted Paschkes in creating a myriad of texture backdrops for the stylized photos. The Hungarian Pastry Shop, a local coffee shop in Harlem, supported the collaborative creative effort by lending space and support. With New York City as the ultimate resource Paschkes hand crafted the entire body of costumes and concepts including making jewelry and accessories. Paschkes sourced Bogolans, authentically died African fabrics found in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea from the African Market on 116th Street in Harlem. Objects in the book that appear as elephant tusks, animal horns, shells and corals are fiberglass replicas, careful research was done by Paschkes in order to promote Africa as a social conscious project.

Pending schedule Paschkes will decide on future awareness events in New York City.

About Philippe Paschkes:

For 15 years, Philippe Paschkes worked in France as a makeup artist and fashion creative for Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Marie Claire, Grazia and Elle Magazines, countless high fashion runway clients and film projects. Paschkes continued his love of the arts in New York City serving as a makeup artist, creative and artistic director and designer for the next 15 years before picking up the craft of photography in the spirit of social awareness for his recent book, Africa.

Celebrity Stylist Carlton Jones Premieres Cache at Soho Contemporary Art for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014

Celebrity stylist and fashion correspondent Carlton Jones, Soho Contemporary Art gallery and Progressive Pulse present Pop Life, a night of fashion, art and music for Mercedes Benz Spring/Summer Fashion Week 2013 on September 9th, 6:30pm-9:30pm. Soho Contemporary Arts celebrates its first fashion week and will premiere Cache, a short film montage sneak peek of the new resort line Jones plans to announce at the event inspired by Maija Garcia, best known for her work as a contributing choreographer in the Broadway play Fela who will perform in a dance installation cloaked in Cache to the live sounds of musician Morley.

Jones, who has been a fashion influencer for over two decades, directed the fashion-meets-art segment, Cache, his resort teaser with the help of filmmaker M. Asli Dukan and choreographer Maija Garcia. Having recently added designer to his keen fashion sensibilities, Jones is still influenced by his years as a stylist, fashion director, and image consultant and remains an A-list resource for style icons to include Halley Berry, Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz and the First Lady Michelle Obama. He's also worked with globally distributed publications such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Rolling Stone.

While Carlton has always had a creative calling, the collection was originally exclusively designed for The Escape Boutique at The Cove in the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

"It was my love affair with capes and the ‘V’ neckline that inspired the first dress of the capsule. It's forgiving on most body types that like a touch of drama. This line is all about color and movement which works effortlessly in resort settings...the beautiful range of blues in water and the sky that meets it is just intoxicating. That's the fluidity that I wanted to incorporate in my premier pieces."

News of the announcement of the resort line was met with enthusiasm from Soho Contemporary Art Gallery which recently opened in April 2013. The esteemed two story 2,900 square foot gallery features notable contemporary artists such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquait, Keith Haring and British Grafitti artist Bambi. Pop Life is an ideal event for online lifestyle magazine Progressive Pulse which features music, fashion, travel, food and cocktail culture in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles and will be live streaming the event. Throughout the evening Progressive Pulse Productions will capture celebrity interviews and key sponsors which will be featured on the Progressive Pulse website and cocktails will be provided by Belvedere Vodka.

About Designer Carlton Jones:

Carlton Jones started turning heads early in his career as a stylist, when he began to transform the image of hard rapper Queen Latifah into the beautiful songstress we know today. Almost two decades later, after serving as a fashion director, style correspondent, image consultant, and wardrobe designer, Carlton has begun to combine his love of style and fashion with the joy and pleasure received in traveling to some of the most breathtaking destinations imaginable. The genesis of his eponymous resort-inspired collection utilizes his experience dressing body types ranging from Erykah Badu to Jill Scott, to Aretha Franklin and our nation's first lady. Carlton has incorporated his fondness of relaxed fluidity, sensual fabrics, colors and prints with a seasoned ability to forgive and accentuate. Ultimately the idea is to enjoy the idea of resort wherever you are, and quite simply create a feeling.

Progressive Pulse:

Through professionally produced and live streaming video, Progressive Pulse covers the eclectic lifestyle markets in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with a lineup of correspondents at the forefront in their fields. From Fashion, Art, Music, Food & Wine, Progressive Pulse has featured artists from R&B phenomena, Maysa, World Artist, Bebel Gilberto and recent Australian Rock sensation, and ESPN pick, Six60. Progressive Pulse is proud to be the first to present to its relevant and discerning audience, features on the Academy Award-winning documentary, "Searching For Sugar Man" after its initial screening, exclusive interviews with Webby Award Winning creator, Sebastian LaCause for his series, "Hustling", Broadway reviews on the hit Bette Middler play, "I'll Eat You Last: A Conversation with Sue Mengers", and live streaming top wine producer's new wines from both the Italian and Spanish Trade respective commissions.

About Soho Contemporary Art:

Soho Contemporary Art is located in the heart of Manhattan's Lower East Side on the southeast corner of Bowery and Houston Street. Our 2,900 square-foot gallery features the artwork of Alex Katz, Andy Warhol, Bambi, Christopher Wool, Donald Sultan, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jim Dine, Keith Haring, Mel Ramos, Robert Longo, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Rodney Alan Greenblatt, Takashi Murakami, Tom Wesselmann, Knowledge Bennett and many others. With over 30 years of experience we have provided the finest condition artwork at the best possible price points to collectors and galleries located around the world. Soho Contemporary Art is committed to maintaining the highest level of service to our clients. We cater to both the established as well as the beginning collector interested in investment quality contemporary art.

About Maija Garcia:

Maija Garcia is a director, choreographer, educator and entrepreneur. Creative Director of FELA! Garcia worked alongside Bill T. Jones as Associate Choreographer to develop the Tony award-winning Broadway musical. She has choreographed for Angelique Kidjo, Seun Kuti, Meshell N'degeocello and Jason Moran's Fats Waller Dance Party. Garcia founded Organic Magnetics, a theater arts organization that creates live installations by sustainable design, including YaYa Dreams a Future and Ghosts of Manhattan, an interactive history.

About Morley:

From Carnegie Hall to the Nomad Women’s Festival in the Sahara Desert, Morley has brought her unique blend of jazz, folk and soul to the world’s stage. Be it solo with her acoustic guitar or with full electric band, her message is consistent and clear: love, justice and inspiration. Morley performs all over the world and has recoded five albums with Sony, Universal as well as independently.