1
GAZE
F11/ w12
Premiere Issue
“Pursuit of Happiness”
Angel Reed
Artikal
Harmony Santana
Aura Taylor Mad Handsome
Edixon Valdez NINH
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS MODELS MUAH ALEX KIPP AMADO AMESQUITA ANGEL REED ANGIE GONZALEZ CAL TRUMANN CONRAD BROMFIELD DAVID FLEMING EDDIE BRAVO EDDY COPPET ELIZABETH S EMILY S ERGI SHEHU HARMONY SANTANA ISIS NEGRON JAROD GOODLOE JOHN MELUM KAMAAL WARREN KOBIE HAMM MICHAEL ONABANJO MILA POLYAK MONICA LOREN NATALIA PABON NEMANJA LISOV OLIVER TORRES OVID THOMPSON PATRICIA ROSA ROSARIO VALERIE R
ASHA SMITH MARGIE FEBRES RICHARD OLEA SHAYLA HARRIS STACIE HILL
CLOTHING DESIGNER ARTIKAL AURA TAYLOR EDIXON VALDEZ MAD HANDSOME NINH
MODELING AGENCY CITY MODEL AGENCY
Angel Reed: CPW Side Story~ Life, Love, Career and Family p.5-9 Jap Lore: Maiko p.10-19
MAFIAA: Anti- Bullying PSA Dedicated to Amanda Cummings Clothing Designers: NINH and Edixon Valdez p.62-73 NINH: Mad Handsome p.74-77
Long Day's Night p.20-23 (Let's Get) Dirty p.78-85 Color Me Bad p.24-33 Time Warpin' p.86-91 Bridging The Gap p.34-37 Criminal: Someday, I Will Be Better p.92-109 Whine Up: Ode to Winehouse p.38-43 Stockists p.110 Ride With Me: Wearing Many Hats p.44-49 Clear As Crystal: The Future Is Now p.50-51 Harmony Santana: WizardryFollowing The Road p.52-61
Happiness depends upon ourselves ~Aristotle
It is not God's will merely that we should be happy, but that we should make ourselves happy ~Immanuel Kant
This issue is dedicated to my first love
GAZE
Editor in chief: jay tavarez Creative director: natalia pabon
ANGEL REED CPW SIDE STORY: LIFE, LOVE, CAREER AND FAMILY
PAGE 5
Angel Wears: Vintage Lace Dress 80's Shoes: Christian Louboutin MUA: Shayla Harris Hair: Margie Febres
Angel Wears: Black Leather Jacket Angel's own
Angel Reed: Anti Bullying PSA Message http://vimeo.com/gazeezine/antibullypsa
Check our our 2 part interview Angel Reed: CPW Side Story http://vimeo.com/gazeezine/angel-reed http://vimeo.com/gazeezine/angel-reed2
JAPLORE MAIKO Flushing, NY
PAGE 10
Rosa Wears: Jacket: Chicos Faux Fur Dress: Vintage 90's Hat: H&M David Wears; All clothing David's own
Emily Wears: Blouse and Bow Hair Pin Emily's own Dress: Vivienne Tam Scarf: Vintage 80's
Emily Wears: Blouse: Catherine Malandrino Dress: Vivienne Tam
Long Day’s Night
PAGE 22
John Wears: Coat: Pendelton Hat: Italian import Shirt, jeans:and shoes: John's own
COLOR ME BAD
PAGE 24
BRIDGING THE GAP
PAGE 34
Eddy Wears: Shirt: Givenchy Pants: Levi's Shoes: Repetto Bow tie: Ralph Lauren Jacket: The Kooples Watch: Jean-Charles de Castelbajac Ring : Cartier
WHINE UP
Hair: Margie Febres MUA: Samantha Figueroa PAGE 32
Check out our video: http://vimeo.com/gazeezine/whine-up
Natalia Wears: Coat: Vintage 70's Eddy Wears: Bow tie: Alain Figaret Shirt: American Eagle Pants: YSL Jacket: Michael Kors Shoes: J.M. Weston
ARTIKAL
THE FUTURE IS NOW Clothing Designer: Aura Taylor MUAH: Asha Smith
RIDE WITH ME: WEARING MANY HATS MUAH: ASHA SMITH PAGE 44
THE FUTURE IS NOW Clothing Designer: Aura Taylor MUAH: Asha Smith
THE FUTURE IS NOW Clothing Designer: Aura Taylor MUAH: Asha Smith
THE FUTURE IS NOW Clothing Designer: Aura Taylor MUAH: Asha Smith
CLEAR AS CRYSTAL
THE FUTURE IS NOW Clothing Designer: Aura Taylor MUAH: Asha Smith PAGE 52
WIZARDRY: HARMONY SANTANA
FOLLOWING THE ROAD
MUA: Bee Manning MUHA: Richard Olea PAGE 58
Gun Hill Road: Following The Road
With the release of three films, magazine write ups, nominations, awards and closing the year as the first transgendered actor to become nominated for a prestigious Independent Spirit Award. 2011 was definitely a good year for Actress/Activist Harmony Santana. In the midst of making a bi-coastal move from New York to Los Angeles, this breathtaking new artist joins us for the day, to help us bring to life our homage to the beloved classic. “The “The Wizard of Oz~ You Had The Power All Along.”
The film Gun Hill Road , directed by Ernesto Rashaad Green, was picked up for distribution by Motion Film Group and debuted in theaters Summer 2011. Gun Hill Road 's groundbreaking storyline was well received to great accolade and fanfare. Breakout star Harmony Santana, was hand picked by Green, for the role of Michael/Vanessa. Harmony, plays the role of a teen experiencing a sexual transformation amidst changes simultaneously occurring in the family unit. Green, met Santana, at an LGBTQ fair where she was working as an activist and invited her to come read for the role. Green, really liked Harmony's, maturity and dedication to his project. He knew she was the right person for the role. Having never acted before on this scale Harmony, went through an intensive acting workshop to be able to prepare for the demands of the film. Green, was very careful to protect Harmony, and ensure that she was not made to feel uncomfortable in any way during the filming of the role. The incredible cast includes standout performances by Esai Morales and Judy Reyes as a couple coming to terms with changes, time and space. Rounding the cast were veterans like Miriam Colon, working alongside emerging talents. Harmony's performance in Gun Hill Road soon got the attention of director Allan Brocka, of the Eating Out films, casting Harmony as Lily in Eating Out: Drama Camp and Eating Out: The Open Weekend, released Summer 2011.
GUN HILL ROAD AWARDS WINNER - Ashland Independent Film Festival - Best Acting Ensemble WINNER - XicanIndie Film Festival - Best Film WINNER - XicanIndie Film Festival - Best Performance (Harmony Santana) WINNER - Philly QFest - Audience Award - Best Film WINNER - Outflix 2011 of Memphis - Audience Favorite – Best Domestic Feature WINNER - Louisville LGBT Film Festival - 2011 Audience Award for Best Feature WINNER - Dallas QFest - Best Overall Feature WINNER - IMAGEN Award - Best Film WINNER - IMAGEN Award - Best Performance (Esai Morales) WINNER - National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts - Horizon Award FINALIST - HUMANITAS Award - Best Sundance Film FINALIST - NALIP Estela Award NOMINATION - IFP Gotham Awards - Best Breakout Performance (Harmony Santana) NOMINATION - Film Independent Spirit Awards - Best Supporting Actress (Harmony Santana) NOMINATION: MTV Movie Awards (2012) Best Latino Actor (Harmony Santana)
Harmony Santana has continued her advocacy work for the LGBTQ community. She has recently moved to Los Angeles to work on advocacy projects and continue to pursue her acting career. What is most amazing about Harmony, is how grounded she is. With all that has happened over the last year for this breakout star she still remains humble and her infectious personality continues to make you believe you can accomplish anything you set out to do. “If you believe something is not going to work, it will not work.” Harmony says. Harmony would like to pursue roles that are not necessarily geared toward LGBTQ specific roles. “I would like to go out for the role of the girl who is in the romantic comedy or the girl who is the supportive best friend.” “ I feel really grateful to have been part of a project that connected on such a level with our community. All stories are important to tell and I want to tell as many stories as I am able to tell.”
We would like to commend this wonderful young actress for just representing the LGBTQ community with such dignity and love. You have impacted how LGBTQ roles are cast and brilliantly showcased how we are perceived as human beings. Make sure to keep an ear to the wind for all the going ons of this great emerging talent who inspired and impacted the LGBTQ community in 2011, in a major way. May 2012 bring you further blessings, new opportunities and continued success. GunHillRoad.com SpiritAwards.com
Harmony Wears: Top: Jones & Co. Shoes: Gucci Skirt/Accessories: Harmony's own MUA: Bee Manning
Oliver Wears: Bicycle Helmet Underwear: Manstore Boots: Sorel
Ergi wears: Hood with Rope (Burlap fabric) Pants: Sergui's own
Harmony Wears: Dress/Accesories: Harmony's own Red Boots: Dolce & Gabanna Nemanja Wears: Jeans: Nemanja's own
Michael Wears: Green Screen Drape Watch our video: http://vimeo.com/gazeezine/wizardry
Models and Friends I am Amanda Anti- Bullying Campaign/Initiative The Miseducation of the “T�echnology Generation Designers: NINH and Edixon Valdez MUA: Stacie Miller and MUHA: Richard Olea
PAGE 74
MAFIAA: ANTI-BULLYING INITIATIVE MODELS AND FRIENDS I AM AMANDA
You have tried on a billion outfits, looked in the mirror 100 times, checked your cell phone 50 times and have 5 mins to get out the door. No, you are not getting ready for a hot date. You are a teenager on their way to middle school. Teenage angst and peer pressure have existed since the beginning of time. Enter the other “T” word, “Technology”, and now the entire world is privy to “your reality” whether you invite them in or not. Adolescence has always been a time of mischievous behavior. However, I do not recall a time when this mischievousness was directed at one another in such an inhumane manner. Seems like kids have less and less of a conscience, and the less of a conscience they have the more they are rewarded by their peers. Accountability has been replaced by disregard and injustices. We are not talking about days of old where you got a wedgie or a towel snapped at you. We are talking of an illness, a cowardice that has never been seen before. A mob mentality of better them, than me has become the norm rather than the exception. Our young people have lost the ability to stand up and against. We as adults, need to enable our children. We need to be examples, as to what is acceptable and not acceptable. We need to empower them. We need to rage against institutions that allow our children to be treated inhumanely while in heir care. We need to turn things around or this generation will disappear. We as the pre-technology generation need to mentor the technology generation. In turn the T generation will prepare the generation that will follow them. If a drastic intervention does not happen and a national conscience does not rally against this crime we all will have failed. Life is the most precious of all things. There is no shiny gadget on this planet more valuable than a life. We must instill in our children a value system that accentuates what truly matters.
“No one thinks you are cool for bullying. No one thinks you are the man because you push some kid down. Really, you just look like a dumb ass, honestly. And it's got to stop. It effects not only you and the reputation you have but it effects the person you are bullying too. So, cut it out.�
Alex wears: Jacket and Pants: NINH
“The easiest thing to do when you see something bad happening is to ignore it and go the other way. And the hardest thing to do is to stand up and tell someone that what they are doing is not alright. You have to be that hero.�
Cal wears: Coat, shirt and pants: NINH
“Bullying is horrible. It causes hatred, it creates fear, it creates destruction and crimes. And its dehumanizing an individual for who they are. Bullies create other bullies and that's a fact. This shouldn't be going on. And it leads to hate crimes, it leads to robberies, it leads to self destruction.�
Mila wears: Jacket: NINH
“Kids that bully people are just lonely. They need a friend, they need attention. They just bring it in the wrong way. So, if everybody shows each other love —it doesn't matter what you wear or how you dress, or if you are a geek or not, its just everybody should love each other no matter what because that's how God brought us into the earth, into the world.”
John wears: Shirt and pants: NINH
DESIGNER: EDIXON VALDEZ
Stylist: Eric Curiel PAGE 74
“Bullying is not a nice thing to do. Don't do it!�~Edixon Valdez
I AM AMANDA On Jan. 2, 2012, Amanda Diane Cummings, was the latest victim of bullying. This project is dedicated to this young 15yo and her family. We created a PSA in Amanda's name to begin a dialogue on this subject and to rally for stricter penalties for this crime, called bullying. Please take a moment to speak to your children about bullying. A life is way more valuable than the “right clothes�. If you see someone being bullied, report it to an official or to an adult who can help. If no one will help in your area contact us at gazemag.co and we will be sure to forward the information to someone who can help.
VIEW MAFIAA PSA Dedicated to Amanda Diane Cummings MAFIAA Initiative Stronger Penalties for Bullying Greater resistance amongst the community Zero Tolerance
http://vimeo.com/gazeezine/mafiaa
NINH
PAGE 86
Mad Handsome
(LET'S GET)
DIRTY
PAGE 90
All Models: Wear own clothing
Time Warpin'
PAGE 86
Kamaal Wears: All clothing Kamaal's own
CRIMINAL: Someday, I Will Be better
Assistant Photographer: Gabriel D. Baez PAGE 92
All Models: Wear own clothing
Check our our video: http://vimeo.com/gazeezine/criminal13
Check out our video: http://vimeo.com/78studiosnyc/criminal
gazemag.co