BLACK
If you haven’t seen it yet, have a look at this nice sentimental piece by one of my dearest friends and favourite Australian photographers, ELVIS DI FASIO
Photography – film – direction – styling – all by Elvis Di Fazio
Music By Bain Wolfkind
Subject Zack Vickers from chic
www.elvisdifazio.fr
9/11
PACIFIC BEACH, CALIFORNIA
Beach, Bears, Bikes, Bros and Um… Brellas.
RYAN – WHEN WE WERE SOLDIERS
(THESE IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT OF PAUL GUNN AND ARE NOT TO BE REPOSTED OR USED WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION BY PAUL GUNN)
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Marysville, California, but the last couple of years of my life before the Marine Corps were spent where my family moved in Arkansas. Now obviously I am here in San Diego.
Why did you join the military?
I joined the military because it looks good on a resume. So it was pretty much the life experience I wanted. My college was paid for either way because I had scholarships. The job market is competitive nowadays and I think my time in the service will help put me ahead of other people for sure.
What would you do if you were not a marine?
I would still be in school. Two years from now I would be graduating med school with my PHD in Pharmacology.
I think suffering is a strong building block and am impressed how some people deal with it. What is the hardest suffering you have endured in your life?
I have been through a lot for my age so this is kind of hard to answer. Let me think for a second…I would have to say that it was the time that my friend shot himself in the head in Afghanistan. He put the barrel underneath his chin and put back a three round burst. I was the first person in the tent…at first it was all reaction and I screamed for the corpsman (our doctor) and already started to help treat his wound. Finally he left in the ambulance to go to the hospital. THEN it set in. I started asking myself why he killed himself because he was a really good friend of mine. Everybody in the unit cared about him you know? I just lost a good friend and it was a lot to take in. Anybody that has dealt with somebody close committing suicide can relate to me really. Minus all of blood and stuff for most cases.
You’re perspective on happiness seems more of an Eastern philosophy. Could you tell me a bit about it?
Yeah, it’s pretty simple really. I believe that happiness is not achievable and that it is just an idea really. There will be happy moments in your life and that is about it. It is more of an American dream if anything. Get rich, have a beautiful spouse, beautiful children, and a white picket fence sort of philosophy. Hell, I don’t think happiness would even exist if pain and suffering weren’t there to begin with. You wouldn’t be able to define happiness in that case.
How do you feel when you play the guitar?
I don’t know. I guess you can say that I feel at peace. All of my problems seem to just disappear for the time I play. It’s a really nice feeling actually.
So you use the guitar as a peaceful escape. Do you ever serenade the ladies with it?
No, I don’t serenade the ladies with it. I don’t have one to serenade to if I wanted to now I think about it. I guess you can say that I’m sitting and waiting for a chance for a girl to come to me. Like the town rapist would anticipate a public stoning.
ERIC
Country boy and Emergency Room practitioner Eric, got together with me in the studio to take some shots. I was surprised that he has never had photos taken before.
GAYDAR BY PAUL GUNN
I was recently commisioned by Gaydar, a socially responsible premier gay dating site, to do an artist series for their new relaunch. On discussion with the team at Gaydar HQ, I was really impressed with the effort they put into their brand and in particular the images that represent it.
One issue that we discussed was how images create desires. I found this particularly important to note. I remember when i was a teenager looking at the images of men that were available at the time I thought, I wish one day i could be the one to produce such imagery. I remember seeing Calvin Klein ads and being inspired by the eroticism, beauty and strength of the male form. Recalling that feeling and that time makes me feel extremely honored to think that potentially I may now be inspiring other people. I hope to portray men indiscriminate of sexuality as i believe sexuality is quite fluid and varied for everyone but also to show the strength, beauty and eroticism of men as I saw it as a teenager.
So thank you Gaydar for pulling out a warm moment of childhood memory and giving me the chance to share my images with the world. I hope they inspire and create healthy desires.
To get your Gaydar on check out this link – gaydar.co.uk
INITIATION II
Initiation II stems from Initiation I in its dealings with the themes of control, fear and initiation creating a continuing story about the duality of choice shown in the double exposure.
The opening of Queer from 0 to 100 was such a great night. If you haven’t seen it yet drop by and check it out including my initiation II story. It will be on display at the TNC Gallery at 155 First Ave New York until August 8. Here are some photos of what you missed for those who can’t make it.
For those of you who follow me regularly my apologies for not posting on my blog for the last month. I’ve been on a big road trip for my next project and would rather keep my posting for when i have something interesting to share. Like my next exhibition in New York City tomorrow night at the TNC Gallery 155 First Ave Ny, NY. It will be a very large show with about 10 other very talented and cool artists mainly from New York and I am excited to be sharing part of my Initiation installation in the show. The opening is from 6-9pm and it is going to be a rad event! If you are in the NY area drop by and say yo. http://www.tncgallery.com
If you are not in the area to catch my shows but see something you would like to purchase you can now go to the STOREon my website with framed and unframed editions available.
And to keep tabs of what I’m up to you can now go to PROJECTS
Last month in Sydney, I met this amazing boxer Paul ‘Showtime’ Fleming we clicked pretty much instantly over a pub steak. Showtime is a pretty interesting character of mixed Aboriginal, Malay and Aussie decent and I asked him to sit for me in my studio before I headed back to California. Although he may seem intimidating with all his mad ink, I reckon he could chat with and get along with just about anyone. Maybe that’s a byproduct of living fearlessly.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a very small and very hot town in North Queensland called Tully with my Mum, Dad and little sister. Spent most my time swimming exploring and playing footy.
Tully is said to be the wettest city in Australia, did you experience anything growing up like the recent cyclone that devastated that area?
Tully was hit pretty bad, the cyclone just destroyed everything its very sad seeing the place where you grow up and have so many memories be unrecognisable. The floods were a very hard time for everyone to go through and my heart goes out to all the families that lost so much. 
What made you go into boxing?
I always had an interest in fighting all my life and finally started boxing when I was 13. I moved away from home when I was 16 to give myself the best chance to succeed and do what I love. I competed in the 2006 world junior championships where I won a silver medal and was in the top 4 under 19s in the world.
Do you travel much to fight?
I competed all over the world in countries such as Russia, Morocco, England, Germany, Thailand, and America just to name a few. I also competed for Australia in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing, China. I lost my first fight by 4 points to the eventual silver medalist its was a close tough fight. I was then approached to see if I was interested in turning professional by my now manager and signed a 4 year contract with American based boxing promoters who are among the biggest boxing promoters in the world to rank.
What’s next?
I’m now pro and have had 9 fights 9 wins 6 ko’s and my next fight is looking to be in the states either in LA or Vegas.
