166024689

Hello, my name is Luna and thank you for taking the time to look at my page. I had an exciting time putting it together. I wanted to share with you a little about who I am and about the work I do in the arts as well as well as the work I do with young people... I am of Puerto Rican descent, and I believe it is the diversity of Puerto Rico’s many cultural traditions that has helped me survive, given me the drive to create and has kept my spirit strong.
A duet with Kimora Lee Simmons
I learned photography early from watching my father take pictures...I enlisted in my father’s interest from the age of 13. By 18, I began photographing my friends and creating my body of work that is still powerful today. By the 1990's I was an intern at a magazine and later met David LaChapelle when he was printing work from his Cuba photographs and he needed assisstance. I was asked to assist David LaChapelle by QW magazine and it changed my life. I'll never forget working with him in the darkroom and getting to know the real David LaChapelle. Later I also worked with photographer Nan Goldin and her work influenced my work, she was very supportive of my early years as a photographer and helped me get into SVA in 1993. Through the 1990's I've received letters of support from Mayors of New York Edward Koch & David Dinkins for my work in the arts and HIV prevention.
I was a featured artist on MTV, VH1, Telemundo and PBS artist documentaries in 1994, and again on MTV & VH1 in 2006. My work graced the cover of SHADE: An Anthology of Fiction of Gay Men of African Descent for Avon Books, as well as appearing in such publications as OUT, BLUE, VIBE, Gay Times, Teen People, Contact Sheet 103, The New York Times, Advocate, POZ, Callaloo, Time Out New York, Daily News, HX, QV, Gay City News and A&U. In 2001 I joined the permanent collection at the Kresge Art Museum at Michigan State University, so my work will be studied and featured for many years to come.
I taught photography to a new generation of gay artist and photographers at the Hetrick- Martin Institute from 2000- 2007, that was exciting times. Today I continue my passion by being armed with my camera so that I can produced remarkably intimate and beautiful pictures of everyday events; a sort of visual diary of my life you might say. Sometimes my work gets published in magazines and exhibited in galleries in New York and nationally which include Paul Morris Gallery, Thread Waxing Space, Art In General and National Arts Club. My installation work has been shown at the Boston Center of the Arts, Seagram Gallery and the New Museum of Contemporary Art. It's a great feeling knowing people like my work...In 2006, I received a Damien Award and an Emery Award for my contributions to my respected communities as well as the Distinguished Service Award from the State of New York.
I am not limited to just photography work. I also produce & direct short films. One of the films I produced and directed won a Peabody Award in 2007 (I'm Not a Boy: The Julie Joyce Story), it was a part of a series of short films titled Beyond Borders.
I was also assisstant director of (How Do I Look), a documentary about the New York City House and Ball scene.
Emery Award 2006
The Peabody Award 2007
On a personal note besides my passion for the arts, teaching photography, walking balls, mentoring gay youth, preventing HIV among our youth; I am all about love, respect and dedication to the things I believe in. I'm an open book, never being afraid to tell you what I like, dislike, love, need, want, share...I am kind, attentive, silly, generous, warm, intelligent, educated, affectionate, romantic and passionate. I spent all my life trying to do what's right by being honest and true. I have a tremendous sense of humor that some love and others don’t understand. I truly enjoy life and all it's lessons...I'm a total optimist. I'm always chasing rainbows because I know deep inside on the other side of that rainbow there is something worth the effort...
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