A Day In My Shoes is International project to help victims of domestic violence. Twenty women pay ($750 and proceeds benefit my chosen shelter) for their portrait of themselves in a high fashion shoot in their shoes, additionally the 5 women I photograph are from a domestic violence center (and are free of
course and are provided from the shelter). All 25 women are featured in a coffee table book
and gallery opening. The method of this work is to maintain complete anonymity for all 25 participants as to keep them on even playing field and safe from their past and present abusers (which is why they're not photographed with their faces). The 20 women who pay are women like you and I who may have an interesting story to tell about life, love, love lost, work, family, loss of sibling etc...and additionally, all participants receive their portrait after the opening has closed. At the gallery opening and the unveiling, the portraits will be showcased with a story prepared by the participants (all 25) for all to view and gain strength from! This project is about empowering women to stand strong in their shoes. To not repeat the same lessons learned and to grow from pain from the past! I am a survivor of a very abusive marriage, verbally, but pretty hard core. Once I left the marriage, I stayed single in NYC and Chicago for many years, and never "had" the certain someone special for the holidays and the most dreadful of all holidays Valentine's Day. I thought to myself why can't I be my own Valentine? Go buy myself a pair of shoes, walk down Fifth Avenue and have a little more pep in my step and love myself enough to be okay with who I am. So the Shoes began! "Women helping women" through their shoes and an image is what the Shoes are all about! Life stories, creative imagery and a willingness to never repeat the cycle again!
