Amanda Seyfried photographed by Malerie Marder

She is a starlet, not a distant star. Google her and a thousand pictures pop up beautiful. Money doesn’t mean much to her. Paychecks fall from her purse, unaware. I bet she has a tea cosy in her apartment and keeps loose change in her sock drawer.  Her eyes, twice the size of normal, crave experience, the kind that scare and intimidate men. The house is like an opera with Los Angeles as the backdrop.   

- Malerie Marder

nude gown: Theyskens’ Theory shoes: Christian Louboutin necklace and bracelets: Ugo Cacciatore

dress: Dolce & Gabbana earrings and ring: Ugo Cacciatore

bodysuit and stockings: Wolford hat: Lanvin shoes: Christian Louboutin

dress: Isabel Marant bracelet: Mara Carrizo Scalise

fashion editor: Romina Herrera Malatesta hair: Rob Talty at The Magnet Agency using Rene Furterer makeup: Jo Strettell at The Magnet Agency using Cle De Peau fashion asst: Carolyn Brennan retoching: Virginia Digital

Amanda Seyfried took some time out of her birthday celebration to sit for “drip” coffee, and a cappuccino with actor/writer PeterSarsgaard. The two star together in the new biopic Lovelace, based on 70’s porn star Linda Lovelace.  Edited by - Thom Lonardo

Click here to read the interview

The Self Portrait Project

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Five varied artists participated in UTP’s first Self Portrait Project. We chose individuals whose work has been inspired by sexuality at one time or another. Each created an original self portrait using any medium they saw fit. Anthony Goicolea’s self portrait was inspried by Dorian Gray, a diptych which sparks an interesting conversation on beauty and mortality betweeen Anthony and writer James Servin. Xaviera Simmons self portrait took place during a train ride in Sri Lanka while posing in a state of undress. Writer Yona Backer gives us an insigthful look into Simmons process. Aneta Bart o’s self portrait holds an erotic appeal for which she has become know for. Writer Mike Albo shares insight into her haunting world. Richie Culver’s self portrait incorporates his trademark style of words and photo, while writer Alec Holland shares his ten quirky questions with Culver. Finally Sandro Kopp ’s self portrait touches upon his likeness. Laura Antonia Jordan skypes herinterview with Kopp something he often does when painting many of his subjects.

CLICK BELOW TO VIEW THEIR WORKS AND READ THE INTERVIEWS

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ANTHONY GOICOLEA                          RICHIE CULVER

Sandro Kopp                                                                          Xaviera Simmons

intervews by top clockwise: Anthony Goicolea by James Servin Richie Culver by Alec Holland

Sandro Kopp by Laura Antonia Jordan Xaviera Simmons by Yona Backer

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Dorothea Barth Jörgensen

Self Portrait - Dorothea Barth Jörgenson

Swedish born model Dorothea Barth Jörgensen won the Elite modeling competition at the age at 16, moved to New York City a year later and has not stopped working since. Dorothea is a true beauty inside and out. She lights up the room upon entrance, her eyes filled with light and smile with warmth.  She has become a muse to many photographers, myself included.  Working with her for issue 5 was a true collaboration. She understands the art of photography as a model and photographer, she is the epitome of what it is to be a New York artist. She is known as a photographer, writer, blogger, model and actress. Her blog displaced bones has garnered much attention since it's inception and recently Jorgensen has been auditioning for some of the top directors in hollywood. Dorothea shared with us some of her artwork  as well as taking the time to answer a few questions below.

Golonka - You moved to New York from Sweden at the age of 17 after winning the Elite modeling competition. What was your initial impression of of NYC?

Jörgensen - My first impression of NYc was overwhelming, and I think it was because Its such a inspirational chaos-energy, Poeple places, restaurants, stores, in all shapes, forms and from different cultures and religion, its like a versatile meeting point with people representants from every corner of the world.

Golonka -  I read an interview recently where you you said "Everyone who's in NY has some sort of goal" What is yours?

Jörgensen - My goal is to live and work in a environment where everything is possible… Outside your comfortable zone in a world of extreme demanding outside pressure, Like NYC.  To stay true to who I am, and the one I am becoming to be, treat people with honesty and respect, and in all that, work with what I love, to create.

Golonka -  In addition to modeling you are also wonderful photographer and talented writer. Showcasing much of your work on your blog Displaced Bones. Tell me about your blog, How did it begin and what has it become?

Jorgensen - Displacedbones started as a joke actually, I needed a playground for my writing and pictures, a place where i could also share and be vulnerable and inspire other to share some of their creative processes. A lot of it, i some subconscious material that is not to "edited" and more about sharing the imperfect and raw. Thats what makes me inspired.

Golonka -  Your photography has a wonderful softness and organic quality about it. Who are some of your artistic icons you draw inspiration from?

Jörgensen - Thank you! I´m very drawn to atmospheres, its more that then the composition and object that excites me.... Sally Man and Francesca Woodman, Juergen Teller. They all have a very strong unique esthetic, and they all have a strong atmosphere, that you can't really see, but Its for real and you feel it deep within when you look at their work.

 

Golonka -  What is beautiful to you?

Jörgensen - Beautiful is real and complex, doesn't have to be organic, but its need to be something capture my attention, that the approach is so clear and honest and "naked" but still have something to hide, that surprises me.

Golonka -  You interviewed illustrator Liselotte Watkins on your blog and asked her to share a "secret about herself?" Now it is your turn, tell me a secret about yourself?

Jörgenesen - I have never been in Love but trust that I will come to me when time is ready.

 

Golonka - What are you working on now?

Jörgensen - Since work is very great at the moment, I have less time to work on personal projects… But when I have time I write on a Screenplay, also working on a series of Illustrations for a magazine.Then hopefully I will be able to do more acting.

 

Golonka - What advice would you give a young girl looking to begin a career as a model?

Jörgensen - Be yourself, and even if your amazing and beautiful from within don't expect to be a model, since its out of our control, its a unfair business, with ups and downs. Focus on what makes you happy to do in life, regardless anyones else's opinions, and follow that. And if modeling work out. GREAT!

TO SEE DOROTHEA"S BLOG DISPLACED BONES GO HERE:

OR HERE TO SEE HER PORTFOLIO -  ELITE MODELS:

Rebecca Greenfield

Greenfield grew up in Virginia and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Photography. Upon graduation in 97, Rebecca worked at Harper’s Bazaar, first as an assistant to Fabien Baron and then as an Associate Photo Editor. After two invaluable years, Rebecca left to pursue a career in photography. 

Greenfield has received great acclaim for her personal project titled "Coming of Age" involving the documentation on female rites of passage and coming of age traditions in the United States. She has photographed everything from proms and Bat Mitzvahs to lesser know events such as Quinceaneras, the 15th birthday parties elaboratly celebrated within the Latin-American Culture to an "Apach Sunrise Dance", a commemoration of Native American girl's first menstruation.

 Greenfield was recently invited to document the Star Wars Celebration VI, a convention that occupies the Orange County Convention Center in Florada. It is known as the ultimate fan experience and the biggest party this side of the galaxy, Star Wars Celebration brings fans of all ages together, from all points of the globe, to celebrate the pop-culture phenomenon that is Star Wars.

UTP - How did you get your start in photography?

Greenfield - I started taking pictures when I was fifteen years old and then studied photography in college at RISD. After graduating, I worked in the photo department at Harper's Bazaar magazine for two and a half years, and when a new editor took over, all of my colleagues there scattered to various magazines. Those contacts gave me a foot in the door and that helped me make the initial leap into freelance editorial photography. 

UTP - Your coming of Age Project has gained a lot of attention and praise. Can you tell us a bit about that series? How it began and how you went about choosing your subjects?

Greenfield - The Coming of Age project is very close to my heart as I've been working on it for over four years. I began by shooting Quinceañeras, the elaborate 15th birthday celebrations for Catholic girls of Latin American descent that signify the transition from girl to woman. I've probably photographed more than 10 of those events now, but eventually I realized I was interested in rites of passage for girls in a broader sense, and expanded my subject matter to include Debutantes, Bat Mitzvahs, Prom, Homecoming, Sorority Rush, evangelical Purity Balls (where a girl vows to God and her family to remain a virgin til marriage), Apache Sunrise Dances (a four day ritual of dance and prayer after a girl menstruates for the first time), and more. I've been lucky in that once I identify an event that I'd like to include in the series, I've been able to rely on word of mouth through friends and family, and failing that...google!

UTP - How did your Star Wars Series come about? 

Greenfield - I got a call out of the blue from Lucasfilm...they wanted to document Celebration VI, a huge gathering of fans in Orlando. They'd never before documented one of these events in a comprehensive manner, so it was exciting to take on that assignment. I loved every minute of it.  

UTP - When you work on a series such as Star Wars do you have a game plan of what you are looking to achieve...moments you are hoping to capture?

Greenfield - The Star Wars convention was held in an enormous, typically mundane convention center- what really interested me was the juxtaposition of the over-the-top, often exquisite attention to detail that the Star Wars devotees applied to their costumes/appearance, and the every day ugliness (for lack of a better word) of the surroundings. I wanted to capture moments that encapsulated that contrast, and when I couldn't find it organically, I constructed it myself. Darth Maul eating pizza, for example, was something I specifically wanted to find, and I couldn't believe my luck when I encountered it! But the storm troopers at the ATM were my idea and I think I made those guys walk almost a mile to an ATM I had spotted... 

UTP - Are you a fan of the Sci-Fi Genre?

Greenfield - I'm not really a fan of sci-fi so much myself, but I feel like I am by proxy...so many of my friends are, and that has given me a working knowledge of the genre. i've also been known to watch some battlestar gallactica from time to time! and Star Wars of course! A million of my friends wanted to stow away in my suitcase when I told them about my Star Wars assignment! 

UTP - Those Sci-Fi fans take their passion very seriously.  I'm sure you had some interesting encounters. Tell us about your most memorable moment from shooting the series?

Greenfield - Too many to even share...from people "using the force" to open the convention center's automatic sliding glass doors, to storm troopers in the hot tub at my hotel (that photo is under wraps for now I'm afraid!)

UTP - Do you have a dream event or situation you would like to gain access to in order to document it?

Greenfield - Hmm, good question! I guess my brain is occupied with the Coming of Age project at the moment, so right now I'm hoping to find a Muslim girl who I can photograph when she puts on a veil for the first time. Also, the Cotillion at the Waldorf Astoria that happens just after Christmas every two years...I keep missing it! 

UTP - Advice you would give someone starting out in photography and photojournalism?

Greenfield - No matter how you pay your bills, make time to consistently create personal work. 

TO SEE MORE OF GREENFIELDS WORK GO HERE:

Ron Mueck

Ron Mueck is known for his extraordinarily lifelike, empathetic renderings of his subjects. he was born in 1958 in Melbourne, Australia and is based in the UK. Mueck explores the ambiguous relationship of reality to artifice. His earlier pieces were sculpted with fiberglass, but recently he has begun to work with silicone, which is more flexible and allows greater ease in shaping body parts and implanting hair. He is the son of German-born toy-makers, he grew up making creatures, puppets and costumes in his spare time, experimenting with materials and techniques. Mueck's early career was as a model maker and puppeteer for children's television and films, notably the film Labyrinth for which he also contributed the voice of Ludo, and the Jim Henson series The Storyteller. In 1996 Mueck transitioned to fine art and in 1999 he was appointed as Associate Artist at the National Gallery, London.

Mask II Self Portrait 2002

The Portrait represents the features of his own face with unstinting accuracy but on a superhuman scale. It wavers between realism and abstraction, monumentality and intimacy, and between the states of life and death.

In Bed, 2005. Mixed media, 63 3/4 x 255 7/8 x 155 1/2 in. (161.9 x 649.9 x 395 cm). Private Collection

Ron Mueck (Australian, b. 1958). Big Man, 2000. Mixed media, 80 x 47 1/2 x 80 1/2 in. (203.2 x 120.7 x 204.5 cm). Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

The sculpture "Boy" by artist Ron Mueck, is the symbol of ARoS Aarhus Museum of Art. The five metres tall and 500 kg heavy impressive Boy is crouching in the northern end of the foyer of special exhibitions.The artist spent eight months turning a 40 cm tall clay model into the current five meter tall sculpture made of silicon and glassfibre.

Wild Man’ shows signs of extreme anxiety, even terror; he grips the stool and his toes press down onto the floor. The artist has made him look doubly vulnerable. Despite dwarfing us mere mortals who look at him – he is nearly three metres high – his state of ongoing fear elicits a sympathetic response from us. Instead of our feeling intimidated by him, he seems intimidated by us.

“A Girl” (2006) is newborn baby, with part of umbilical cord and some blood. Acrylic on polyester resin and fibreglass 110.5 x 134.5 x 501 cm