Tableaux Vivants: 1994 – 1996
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Text by Tony Ward, Copyright 2021
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This exhibition Tableaux Vivants: 1994 – 1996 is being hosted by my dear friend the artist James Dupree. I met James and his wonderful wife Anita in the mid-eighties when I moved my family into Philadelphia’s Bella Vista neighborhood. It was known then and still is a haven for creative people including the likes of Isaiah Zagar, Jenny Lynn, Ray Metzker, Ruth Thorne Thompson, George Krause, Robert Asman, Harvey Finkle, Zoey Strauss, James of course and many others.
James asked if he could host an exhibition of my work the day after we were hit by a massive water main break on our block at 6th & Bainbridge streets. He made the offer knowing how damaged The Ward Studio was from the flood waters on July 25th, 2021. It was truly an act of friendship and empathy from one artist to another. For that I am truly grateful.
I dedicate this exhibition to the late Paul Mojica also known as “Luna” in the Philadelphia gay community. Paul and I met in 1993 just as I was beginning to think about the tableaux vivant series. He was by my side for those years first as my main makeup artist, but then another aspect of his many talents emerged. That of a muse. Paul appears in many of the pictures in this show in various costumes we dreamed up over drinks at the Latest Dish or on our photographic excursions to the Big Apple.
I was very saddened to hear of his passing a few years ago. This exhibition is dedicated to the life and times of Paul Mojica.
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To access the gallery of Tableaux Vivants, click here: https://tonyward.com/early-work/tableaux-vivants-1994-1996/