What is The Raw Beauty Project?

The Raw Beauty Project is an innovative arts project that celebrates women with disabilities, educating viewers to redefine perceptions and beauty, unleashing potential for all.

Note: The Raw Beauty Project is a sponsored artist with Performance Zone Inc (dba The Field), a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization serving the performing arts community.

Presently, the media reflects a small fraction of the population and not every day REAL people. Often, women and girls are left with an unrealistic, false sense of how they should look. We want to change that so beauty is not limited to a certain size, age, color or ability and uniqueness is celebrated. We want all women (including your mothers, daughters and friends) to CELEBRATE THEIR BEAUTY, OWN THEIR POWER and LIVE THEIR PASSION.

Connected by their experiences, Ginny Dixon, Dr. Susan Solman, and Wendy Crawford have been inspired to come together with women with disabilities across the country, and volunteer their time, in order to create Raw Beauty Project exhibits.

The first exhibit, Raw Beauty Project NYC, was launched on September 20, 2014 at ACA Galleries in Manhattan to a sold-out crowd. The exhibit has been to Miami, New York City and Washington DC as an educational tool for corporations, community groups and schools.

The team is creating a Los Angeles photo exhibit, which will make its debut September 17, 2016 at Paul Mitchell The School in Pasadena, CA. Photographed by fashion and celebrity photographers from the L.A. area, the exhibit will showcase twenty-five dynamic women with disabilities and their personal stories displayed next to them. The photographs are based on three words: beauty, power and passion. The L.A. exhibit will unveil a brand new way to experience The Raw Beauty Project photographs, using tactile printing in addition to traditional gallery prints. This exhibit will be the FIRST OF IT'S KIND and we need your help to make it happen! Share your passion and power, and celebrate raw beauty, by helping us make this exhibit happen!

Project Description: 

The Raw Beauty Project (RBP) photography exhibit is a powerful and impactful tool for education, self-acceptance and empowerment. The project is focused on women with disabilities, as they tend to struggle more with body image, and are marginalized in many areas including employment and finances.

Many of the models who participated in this exhibit have been inspired to bring the project to their hometowns. Angela Rockwood of the television series “Push Girls”, along with the RBP core team; including fashion photographer, Daryl Henderson as Creative Director and volunteers, are creating an exhibit scheduled to launch on September 17, 2016 in Los Angeles at Pasadena's  Paul Mitchell School,  825 E. Green St, Pasadena, CA.

Media: The original exhibit in New York resonated with media across the world, igniting a global conversation and has been featured in "O", Oprah Magazine, TODAY.com, Huffington Post, as well as many publications across Europe. You can see a full list of media at www.therawbeautyproject.com .

Who We Are:

Ginny Dixon spent most of the last 30 years making pictures at major newspapers and national and international magazines. Dixon is the Director of Photography at the Miami Ad School Wynwood, in Miami’s Arts District. She is also a member of three Pulitzer prize-winning newspaper staffs.

Dr. Susan Solman, a podiatrist, pharmacist, and college professor always strived to reach lofty goals until her life came to an abrupt halt when she became paralyzed at the age of 40 due to a spinal cord tumor. She felt she lost her purpose when she lost the use of her limbs. Through her own personal journey of self-acceptance, reinvention and empowerment, she does more than ever! Dr. Solman has devoted much of her time to The Raw Beauty Project, which inspires others to move forward in their own lives.

Wendy Crawford, an up-and-coming model was struck by a drunk driver on her way to the airport to leave for a modeling job and became paralyzed. Wendy, TEDx speaker and founder of mobileWOMEN.org, has been raising awareness of the particular issues that women with disabilities face, including the challenge of self-image and self-acceptance.

What are the Benefits of the Raw Beauty Project?

Education: The viewers have a glimpse into the lives of a rarely exposed group, women with disabilities. Through the models’ narratives, the audience is able to learn about their obstacles, their journeys to overcome them, and their passions.

In working with the models, the photographer begins to expand their definition of beauty and opens their minds to the possibilities of working with people with disabilities.

Empowerment: As the model goes through the process of becoming a model for the Raw Beauty Project, they become more confident.

The audience of the exhibit also learns to embrace their own beauty and strengths, and are inspired to tackle challenges in their own lives.

Opportunities: Visibility creates a society more cognizant of people with disabilities, and in turn, generates opportunities, including employment.

Why Do We Need Funding?

Although we volunteer our time, this project comes with costs including printing of the pictures and narratives which hang next to the pictures, shipping costs, venue rental, website (URL and hosting costs) social media postings and PR, and event production costs.

What Happens if we Exceed Our Goal?

If we get enough funding, we would love to hire women with disabilities to work on the project! Funds will go to shipping the exhibit to worthwhile organizations to create awareness and empower others.

How Can You Help:

We are extremely grateful for donations but there are other ways that you can help too!

·  Share our project with friends, family, organizations and anyone else that you feel may be interested!

·  Volunteer your time

·  In-kind donations such as printing, food & beverages for the event and auction items.

Embrace your Beauty, Own your Power, Live your Passion!

For tickets and more information, please visit www.therawbeautyproject.com

Donations to The Raw Beauty Project are tax-deductible through a fiscal agent. The Raw Beauty Project is funded by sponsors, donations and event ticket sales.

The Raw Beauty Project is a sponsored artist with Performance Zone Inc (dba The Field), a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization serving the performing arts community. Contributions to The Field earmarked for The Raw Beauty Project and all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information about The Field contact: The Field, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 906 New York, NY 10038, phone: 212-691-6969 or fax: 212-255-2053 or for our national charities registration,see details. A copy of our latest financial report may be obtained from The Field or from the Office of Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.