Different Hats a conceptual project ©jimallen

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I remember my Grandmother Rae Allen tell me that charity was something we all do when needed to support people who may not be as fortunate as ourselves. It was simple enough and I admired her because she set the example in our family by becoming one the early funders of Variety Village in Toronto.. She led by example, an nd others in our special family took up her advice by givng when needed. When you have it, give something back for others to share became a symbol for the many parts of our large family.

Different Hats was an event that did follow a concept I produced in 1994 to support children who experienced tough beginnings. Each child had what is known as Facial Cellular Problems. As I am or was a beauty and celebrity photgrapher, my way was to choose this group to work with as I remembered my Grandmothers words. The first event, In Your face had people looking thru glass while pressing parts of thier faces onto the surface of the glasss covered with letraset black typography.. I produced about 200 photo portraits of celebrity and people from the streeetd that I knew or simply would stop someone to ask if I might do a studio portrait. It was a great evening as it was on my 50 th birthday. I managed not to tell anyone, but my real present was the gift of some extra funds that would go to these especially brave young people who at times would have to pull themselves together for the next operation. One child can go through as many as 15 Operations before getting to look decent enough not to be hiding. Other children and even adults can be insulting. So there are many social issues that come to plaque these gutsy kids while they go through the process of getting well.

After my first show I had another Program that was called Different Hats.
I had moved back to Toronto after living in New York for about ten years and as I had witnessed the terrors of 9/11 I was not well mself suffering from the side effects of seeing the event from two blocks away. The best thing to do when your struggling is to give to the same group and with a new Concept. 300 Photgraphs later I had celebrities and local people all of whom made hats for thier individual portraits. I had pretty well lost all my life savings after the accident in NY but I felt that giving is the best way to rise about tradgedy. In short I believed in transformation to another level of maturity. It comes wih hard work and determination, as helping others is the goal.Here is a good look at the work and I will continue to shift in new photos and would ask that you follow the way this sections delights others as the creative idea was a perfect match to help children who depend on thrid party givers for thier support.

Lets look at the photos over some time and I would ask you to please feel welcome to ask quetions or make comments when you see the work. Often the history of one event may lead to another.


Jim Allen