"Indian summer" is an old, US American colonial term for an actual meteorological phenomenon that occurs during autumn. Indian summer refers to a period of dry, hot, summer-like days that suddenly appear after the cold weather of fall has begun. It can occur anytime between mid-September and early November. Ironically, this year Indian summer fell on Columbus Day weekend in New York City when temperatures reached into the 80s and even broke records. Many flocked to the beaches or crowded the parks, whiles others went to the Columbus Day Parade on Fifth Avenue.
Photographer Ricardo Muniz, decided to pay tribute--not to Columbus, or the conquistadors or settlers that followed his lead--but rather, to the original inhabitants of the Americas.
ISLAND proudly presents, INDIAN SUMMER: a light-hearted swimwear editorial shot in a salt marsh in the Bronx in briny water, with a strong undercurrent of political commentary.
Ricardo played with the idea of Indian summer not only by featuring a variety of men romping in swimwear, but by featuring men with indigenous blood and shooting them during a holiday when the US celebrates the "conqueror" instead of recognizing those who were already here. Having garnered a reputation as a photographer and artist who celebrates communities of color in the US, Island is pleased to feature Ricardo's tribute to the original "American," the indigenous people of Amerindian, Native American and Pacific cultures.
Because much of Ricardo's work is tied to charity, Ricardo is asking ISLAND readers to consider donating to the American Indian College Fund this Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas season. For more information on the AICF, please visit: www.collegefund.org.
To see more of Ricardo's work, please visit: http://ricardomuniz.solomodels.com / www.coquichuloimages.blogspot.com.
For more shots from the series, please visit: BeautifulMag :
Thank You Ricardo
1 comments:
Kai, m'ijo, thank you for your support with regards to my hopes to raise awareness regarding the plight of communities of color in the US and my hope to motivate readers to provide donations to charities such as American Indian College Fund, Team to End AIDS and Sidaction (The three charities targeted by this shoot.). Remember, Island readers can enjoy more shots from this series by going to this link: http://www.beautifulmag.com/beautiful/2011/10/special-feature-get-discount-and-support-team-to-end-aids.html
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