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Willy Huang

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Willy Huang

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……….Though bicycles may not be the first thing we think of when we think of Philadelphia, a quick glance around its motorways leaves no doubt that they are a fundamental part of its fabric. Designated poles for locking one’s bike are peppered throughout nearly every city street — it’s hard to go more than a hundred feet on Walnut or Chestnut without encountering one.

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Willy Huang

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In fact, there are so many bicycles and bike-related symbols that it’s easy to let them melt into the city and fade out of consciousness as we go about our daily lives. All it takes, though, is one moment to stop and take note of our surroundings to appreciate just how entrenched they are in every street and sidewalk.

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Willy Huang

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It’s just as well: Philadelphia is home to people from all walks of life — those who have traveled near and far through life and the world. It seems appropriate, then, that the bicycle – a traveler’s indomitable and loyal friend for the last century — finds its home here.

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Willy Huang

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There are no polished frames, pristine seats, or spotless wheels here—instead, the scruffs, rust, and tears of each bike tell a story of the journeys that it—and its rider—have braved.

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Willy Huang

And yet, in this city of old, the bicycle is a symbol of the unquenchable thirst to keep moving onwards. It is simultaneously an icon of the past and a vehicle for modernity and progress. A modern motorcycle looks not one bit out of place tucked into an aged alleyway.

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Willy Huang

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True, not all bikes and their riders find good fortune on every step of their journeys. Along the way, bumps and obstacles are met and parts are damaged, lost, or stolen. But though they may be stopped tonight, they will undoubtedly ride on tomorrow.

Copyright 2012

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About The Author: Willy Huang – Jerome Fisher in Management and Technology: The Wharton School of Business – School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2012

Nefertari's Heart Story: Part 3

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Nefertari Williams

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That was a rough night. I was unable to take the medicine that works for cramps and I couldn’t see my baby. She was in the NCU, safe and warm with the best nurses in the world. It was me that was in critical condition. When I looked to my left – I had a nurse sitting by my side, and when I looked to my right the same. I was in such poor condition that I had two Critical Care nurses sitting 2 inches from my side. They told me that the next 24 hours were crucial to my survival. My buzzers beeped and alarms went off constantly. The nurses did their jobs and I was right back each time. As soon as I was strong enough, must have been about 12 hours later – I demanded to see my baby. They made it happen and what a moment it was; she looked just like my baby picture. She had A tiny IV in her arm and a blood pressure cuff on the other arm and was so content laying there in her own private incubator. I wept thinking about all that she went through. Days went by and we both got stronger and healthier. Even though I did have a minor set back with a bought of pneumonia, I was still able to bring my baby home a week later.

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Our journey was just beginning. I was going home to 5 children and a failing heart. To repair the dissection – doctors had to place 3 stents in my coronary artery which required me to take blood thinners and about 9 other pills daily. The blood thinners require constant monitoring – especially in the beginning so I had to travel to Philly every two days with 5 children hardly able to walk. It was tough but I was happy to be alive, so I was happy to do it.

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I found out about a month later that my heart wasn’t functioning as effectively as they had hoped so I was admitted back into the hospital so that doctors could place a defibrillator into my heart. This is a devise used to shock the heart back into rhythm should it stop or begin to beat too fast. Continuing with my positive attitude – I was thankful that such technology existed and was given the label by several doctors and nurses as the most positive patient ever!

Copyright 2012

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To Be Continued……..

Nefertari Williams

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Nefertari Williams

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……….. During one of my daily visits from the crews of doctors that wanted to examine “The sickest woman in the hospital” I looked to my right to see a 5 foot petite beautiful blonde storm in as if she had been attempting to reach my room for days and announce that she is not loosing me nor this baby..not on her watch. She introduced herself as Dr. Mikel Elovitv, the Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine (I believe) and she came close to my face. I paused and looked up with tears in my eyes and said. ” I don’t know where you came from or who you are..but I know because you are here….everything is going to be alright”. She caressed my face and ordered everyone out of my room – making demands for accommodations for her to be at the hospital until the baby was delivered.

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The week moved along under extreme precaution. I received several visitors and my husband sat by my side. I had the worlds BEST nurses; I received hugs, kisses and encouragement daily. It was Saturday June 14th and it just so happened to be my mother’s birthday – who suffered a massive stroke 4 years prior, and was unable to be there with me due to her own disability. My co-workers were visiting and I felt a cramping at the bottom of my belly. Although my colleagues were working over time to bring a smile to my face, by telling inappropriate jokes…they could see that I was in pain and informed my nurse. The next thing I knew I was surrounded by at least 15 doctors and nurses. I was placed in a glass room with collapsible walls for just this reason a quick and easy trip to the operating room. When I opened my eyes I saw those same blue eyes staring at me. Her hair was in a pony tail and she had on a sweat shirt and jeans and I was able to smile as I touched her sloppy ponytail. She said..yes I have been sleeping here waiting for this moment and I knew it was going to be today. (I had told her it was my mother’s birthday) we arrived in the operating room and they set me up. No baby had ever been delivered vaginally in an operating room at that hospital and we were praying that my circumstance would be the first.

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Nefertari Williams

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As I laid there – I was being pumped with blood and IV’s in almost every part of my arm. I was instructed not to push. At that point I was 10 centimeters dilated (the point when the baby should descend) and nothing was happening. Because I had been given so much blood my heart began to shut down and my lungs filled up with fluid. It felt like when you are swimming and you accidentally get water in your nose. I was drowning in my own fluids. Not under Dr. Elovitz watch! She yelled something, and the next thing I knew I was breathing again, and she asked what kind of music I liked. I said Jazz, but I also love club music. She said club music it is, and she ordered the staff (of maybe 30 people) to play club music and she yelled Neffie…you promised me a baby. I was told at that moment I said to her…you got it and I bared down and she vacuumed out a beautiful baby girl. She ordered the anesthesiologist to give me something for the pain, but she made me open my eyes to identify my baby. She brought her close to my face and whispered….you did it. I, barely alive and in a weak voice, said…we did it.

Copyright 2012

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To Be Continued……….

Live Targets

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Ted Adams

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ARTIST STATEMENT

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I’m generally interested in what things look like (as opposed to any sort of inherent meaning), although sometimes events converge to create irony, humor or interesting juxtapositions. These usually happen by accident – I think that when you’re actually taking the pictures, you have to react to things in an immediate, visceral way – then something akin to “meaning” creates itself later when you’re looking at the negatives and deciding what to print.

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Cig Lady

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Barrier

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Picture-taking also has a psychological aspect which reminds me of going fishing or sifting through junk at a flea market: It involves an obsessive-compulsive drive to put your line in the water to see what you reel in – a subtle mood, an ambiance, a visual structure that tickles your brain.

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Double Hugs

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I’m also interested in photography as a way of cropping the world into rectangles, as a way of selectively taking things out of context – which often results in stripping the original meaning out of the subject matter, or at least in making the image open to interpretation. Kind of the opposite of photojournalism, whose intention is to create “narrative” and “context” rather than to discard them.

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The Saint

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Jesus Number

Photography is, in its very essence, the art of cropping – whether in the camera or in the darkroom.

About The Author: Ted Adams was born in Louisville, Kentucky USA. The artist resides and works in Philadelphia as an Art, Street and Documentary photographer. He is also Owner/Director of the Southwark Gallery, Philadelphia. To learn more about Ted Adams’s work log on: www.TedAdams.net.
Copyright 2012

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Posted on January 20, 2012 – Copyright 2012

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Zoe Strauss

Posted on January 13, 2012

Lingerie: Victoria's Secret

Posted on January 1, 2012

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……….Elizabeth currently studies English at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She hopes to pursue the field of Public Relations upon her graduation. She sought out modeling at the end of May 2011, and currently spends her free time partaking in shoots. She was signed to Reinhard Agency in Philadelphia in August of 2011. She hopes to continue modeling full-time upon graduation and model internationally.

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Her interests include volunteering at the Camden County Animal Shelter in Blackwood, NJ. She specifically nurtures felines in preparation for adoption. Other interests include: tutoring elementary age children, fashion, reading the classics, baking, traveling, and attending cultural events in the Philadelphia area.

Copyright 2012