I wrote about this photographer a while ago and urged everyone to vote for her, so she could win the grant money. Because honestly, we need to support each other and the fact that her entire project is meant to bring light to the fact that we are just normal American families like the rest of the country, really deserves our support in this. This morning, I got this email from her. So please, PLEASE vote for her every day for the next few days. It’s actually a vote for all of us if you think about it. 
Good Luck Alix!!!
I could really use your help. My photography project STATES OF UNION is currently in the running for a $250,000 grant from Pepsi’s Refresh Competition. I don’t know if you are familiar with these grants, but they are based entirely upon the number of votes any given project receives within a certain timeframe. This money will help me not only complete my project, but also fund a traveling exhibition that will tour galleries and museums in small towns and big cities around the world.
STATES OF UNION is a series of color portrait photographs of gay and lesbian couples and families, based on classical paintings. STATES OF UNION seeks to create images that are deeply resonant with straight and gay alike. The first installment of photographs were exhibited at the Morgan Lehman Gallery in September 2009 and in Los Angeles at Manifest Equality in March 2010. Hundreds of people came to see the exhibitions, and the impact was profound. Many, regardless of sexual orientation, left the exhibition empowered – calling it “an incredibly insightful and moving project.”
I only have 5 days left for May’s Pepsi Competition. If STATES OF UNION finishes the Pepsi grant this month under 100 then I get to try for the following month. So the goal is to move below the 100 mark in the next 5 days.
I hope you’ll consider voting daily, and pass the information on to people you know or organizations you are apart of and I hope you’ll consider posting about it!
Supporters may vote daily for this project online at http://www.refresheverything.com/statesofunion
Thank you so much for your support, I really appreciate it.
Alix
“Her project will be a major catalogue of contemporary gay families.”
- John Bennette (Art Collector / Critic)
“There is this long history of art being a device to bring the public’s attention to things that might not be right in front of them…. It’s more subversive then the most overtly political work out there because the message is delivered so quietly and with such a gentle touch that you don’t know that your ideas might have shifted until after the fact.”
- Sally Morgan Lehman (Morgan Lehman Gallery)
“Alix Smith is a brilliant artist. I support her enthusiastically!”
- Arthur C. Danto (Art Critic)
“This is an amazing project that deserves all the accolades it’s been receiving. I am proud to vote for this and share Alix’s tremendous vision with everyone I know.”
- Jennifer Gruskoff (Founder, Editor-In-Chief – goodkin)
“This is such a beautiful project – good luck!”
- Ella Robinson (Director – Overture Films)
TOP TEN REASONS TO VOTE FOR STATES OF UNION
10. VOTE because in the USA some families are treated as more equal than others
9. VOTE because LGBT families, couples, and loves are no different from heterosexual ones and deserve the same love, support, and admiration.
8. VOTE because increased visibility of loving LGBT relationships offers LGBT youth a sense of hope and a vision of their future
7. VOTE because you are against discrimination
6. VOTE because heterosexual role models saturate the media, but homosexual icons are rare.
5. VOTE so LGBT kids can grow up not being ashamed of who they are
4. VOTE because “It’s more than an issue. This is our lives we’re fighting for!” (Harvey Milk)
3. VOTE because the more the world is permeated with images of gay and lesbian couples and families, the harder it will be for homosexual relationships to be considered “other.”
2. VOTE because Lesbian and Gay teens are nine times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.
1. VOTE because tolerance isn’t enough – we all deserve Acceptance
to learn more about the project go to: www.statesofunion.com
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Alix Smith
646.251.1609
www.alixsmith.com
www.statesofunion.com
statesofunion.wordpress.com
