Allan Amato is a well-known photographer in LA. His impossibly slick, surreal photos have captured everyone from world-renowned celebrities to the hottest girls and boys of the underground. I first fell in love with his portrait of Selena Luna (the legendary 3-foot-tall “pocket Venus” of the burlesque scene) that graced the cover of Coilhouse.
When Allan’s best friend Becky was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the young age of 29, he decided to use his camera skills to help.
Parkinson’s is often thought of as a disease of the elderly, but Parkinson’s also afflicts many young people like Becky. Amato decided to use photography to shine light on an aspect of the disease that society has not paid much attention to.
Amato’s newest project is Illuminate Parkinson’s: a traveling gallery exhibit and photo book documenting individuals with Parkinson’s. Celebrities that Amato had worked with have been inspired to join in. Thus far, he’s shot luminaries like Terry Gilliam, Grant Morrison, Neil Gaiman and Kevin Smith, with more to come, all jumping in to help illuminate this condition through art.
Amato plans to take these photos on the road, promoting autumn shows in Los Angeles, Edinburgh and Berlin for starters, and has turned to Kickstarter for funding. His Kickstarter was fully funded in a matter of days, but you can still contribute.
Links:
Illuminate Parkinson’s Kickstarter
Words by Molly Crabapple
Relate Posts:
Artstar: Yao Xiao
The Scope Art Fair (And How The Sausage Is Made)
Artstar: Sorrel Smith
