#kevinharry

NATIVE SON AWARDS

On Wednesday, November 30, 2016, I hosted the inaugural NATIVE SON AWARDS to celebrate Black Gay Men and pay homage to three men who have been mavericks in their professions and community, and who also live their lives authentically. CNN’s Don Lemon, Black Lives Matter’s DeRay Mckesson, and two time Tony Award winning playwright, director and producer George C. Wolfe were honored. 

The NATIVE SON AWARDS were held at Cadillac House in lower Manhattan and sponsored by Cadillac, HBO and Belvedere Red. 

The music for the evening was curated by Bill Coleman of Peace Biscuit. Singer, actor, educator and Mister of Music at First Corinthian Baptist Church Charles Anthony Bryant performed “Let Them Hear You” from Ragtime. Photographer Kevin Harry created a KH Zine X Native Son Portrait Studio to capture striking images of the attendees. And the food for the evening was catered by Chef Max Hardy. 

EXCLUSIVE: KH ZINE ISSUE 2 COVER

Last summer, my good friend Kevin Harry, a New York based TV producer, art collector and style aficionado, told me about a secret photographic project he was working on. It was a zine, yes a self published mini-magazine that has become popular for creative types and an underground reaction to the general market magazine downturn and the explosion of digital media. Hipsters and fashionistas still like their paper, they just want their periodicals to be niche, beautiful and speak directly to their interest. Perfect timing and focus for Kevin’s vision.

“I wanted to create a zine of portraits that celebrates people of color...our beauty, diversity, strength, style...our vibration,” Kevin says. “As a longtime collector of zines, I saw a place for it in the marketplace.”

Kevin went where the audience was and photographed subjects at AfroPunk Festival in Brooklyn, the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Manhattan’s tony 5th Avenue, the West Indian Day Parade and Carnival in Brooklyn, and at his alma mater Howard University’s Homecoming in Washington, D.C.

“What I really try to capture is a ‘come as you are’ spirit,” Kevin explains about his vision for KH. “When people are in front of the camera they often ask me "what should I do, what do you want me to do?" And I always say... Be yourself, do whatever you want to do!!!!”

He continues, “I have found that the people I photograph really appreciate being acknowledged, they appreciate being seen. Often, people will embrace me after I take their picture...saying "thank you"!”

Literally a labor of love, Kevin is a one man brand. He takes the photos, edits thousands of portraits, prints the photographs, and then works with a local printer to put together the in-your-face zine that captures the subjects beauty, individuality, creativity and otherness. The powerful photos display confidence, vulnerability, character, pride, humanity and are sometime provocative and sexually charged.

Kevin launched KH Issue 1 (above) last year at the New York Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1 to rave reviews and it sold out at almost every small magazine store downtown. It was immediately picked up by Printed Matter and several other stores in NYC and LA. Each issue is signed so they are instant collectibles.

KH Issue 2 (top photo) will be released on Wednesday, September 9 in New York and L.A. For more information about how to get your hands on this red hot issue check out MrKevinHarry on Instagram.