Years ago, I literally dreamt of an art project. 1:23 came to me fully formed, with all of its details, in one striking image. It required that I ask twenty-three male models to appear in the nude for a photo shoot at my studio in Bushwick, Brooklyn. I asked each volunteer to bring an object that both embodies a side of his personality and acts as a prop for his penis. Initially I wondered if anyone would reply. Who knew that men would love the idea and sign-up in droves? Five of the initial images in the series are above. When completed 1:23 will be an immersive, visual representation of the dating world for women who date men. To portray this reality honestly, Max agreed to hold a sword to represent the one in twenty-three men who rape women on college campuses across the U.S. (Mary Koss, 1987). The show is a work of art and advocacy intended to increase awareness of the rape epidemic.

About the Project

Photography confers an objectifying gaze. My use of the medium as a female artist radically reverses the power dynamics inherent in the majority of rape. Victim blaming logic is also reversed in this project by looking squarely at the perpetrators. Damage created in the social world needs to be healed in the social world, and art has the capacity to transform hate into beauty.  The nudity of the project reveals the character of the rapist and creates an environment of vulnerability and trust during the photographic process that can have a healing effect for survivors.

One of the largest contributions this project has made is the community it has created around sexual violence and its integration of personal experience. Several survivors have worked on this project in a variety of ways and dozens of instances of rape trauma have been processed. This emotional work adds a unique and powerful depth to the art.  

About the Artist 

Jean Haluska is an artist and educator with her Masters degree in art who teaches in NYC public schools. She is also a volunteer advocate who goes to a Manhattan hospital in the middle of the night to help survivors of rape and domestic violence re-establish safety and control in their personal environment. Jean is a queer, cis gendered woman and this project is her vision of a social problem that effects all genders. 

A project like this is not possible without a large team of extremely talented individuals. She is greatly indebted to over 30 people who have donated hundreds of hours of their time to make this project a success. Please check out the credits below. 

Why We Need Your Support 

Your contributions will allow us to:

- Rent a camera capable of producing six foot images ($533.39)

- Pay the rest of the models ($570)

- Print life-sized images ($6,500)

- Mount the images ($500)

- Pay for the creation of perks ($2,001.5)

- Rent the gallery for 2 days ($1,000)

- Pay Indigogo and credit card fees (about $1,345)

Total: $12,449.89

The Exhibition open will be from 8-9:30pm on November 3rd, 2018 at 112 Waterbury Street Brooklyn, NY 11206. All are welcome. The reception will be streamed live for all of those who can’t attend

My collaborators and I hope you are as passionate about art and raising awareness as we are. If you are unable to donate, you can still contribute to this campaign by sharing this URL with everyone you know.

Jean Haluska (art/photography, concept)

Atsushi Takaoka (lighting design for photography)

David Ruiz (film maker: director, writer, camera work, lighting, editing, graphics)

Vince, Max Bruno, Frank Contreras, Davis Whitfield, David Billingsley, Enrique Vidal, Gymnos Alitheia, Keith Mackler, Kenneth Campbell, Steve Soul, Hardy Brooklyn (models)

Chauntel Gerdes (expert commentary)

Matthew Sandusky, Sara Demars, Brandon Weaver, Jeannette Estima, Christina Tesoro, Natalie Moore De Gennaro (writers)

Oheine Porter (logo, graphic design, gifts, strategist, and social media marketing)

Lucelenia Amparo and Paul Nocera (marketing)

Eric Camper (3D model, live streaming)

Katrina Stingers (gift comic, photo retouching)

Realph Saintil (strategist and incredible enthusiast)

Lourdes Baez, Stephanie Huffaker, Lauren Malinofsky, Giselle Regalado, Julia Cavagna, Matthew Sandusky, Margaret Stone, Sara Demars, Nae James, Jessica Jackson, Jeanette Estima, Ruthie Birger (chaperones).

Bi Tom, Michelle Southerland (consultant)

Contact/ Mailinglist  jeanhaluska@gmail.com