See Me As Program

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Creative Team MISTINA HANSCOM (she/her) Creative Director

NICOLE BOUCLIER (she/her) Director of Production

LUKE HANSCOM (he/him) Associate Creative Director

DYLAN CALLERY (he/him) Technical Director

CAITLIN DALTON (she/her) Costume Director

CATHY MASON (she/her) Costume Shop Assistant

HOPE CHÁVEZ (she/her/ella) Artistic Producer

AVERY JENNINGS (he/him) Draper

DOUGLAS MACUR (he/him) Projection & Lighting Design

DELARI JOHNSTON (she/her) Stitcher

ROBERT ROCHE (he/him) Composer

EVELYN MASSEY (she/her), WINTER CARSON (she/her) Makeup Artists

TRAVIS CARBONELLA (he/him) Videographer & Editor MARSHA MOVSHOVICH (she/her) Illustration/Animation MAHER MAHMOOD (he/him) Videographer MIKE DEMATTEO (he/him) Audio Specialist LIAH SINQUEFIELD (she/her) Still Photography Portraits JAY HEPBURN (he/him) Production Still Photography

ALLISON M.J. BACKHAUS (she/her) Scenic Charge Artist BRIAN FAGAN (he/him) Props Manager KATRINA LEWONCZYK (she/any) Operations Manager TIM PLUMMER (he/him) Lighting Supervisor BRIANNE REYES BOLANTE (she/her) Light Board Operator

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“SEE ME AS” LOTTA STUDIO (“See Me As” Producer) is an East Coast-based, boutique studio specializing in product, editorial, and fashion photography. We’re focused on keeping the set design, lighting design, retouching, and printing in-house while offering a full-service production studio for commercial and local clients.

In 2015, we branched out to serve the larger creative community by offering CoWorking and Private studio opportunities in our home neighborhood of Westville, New Haven, encouraging an organic collaborative environment for artists across many different media.

Along with our photographic careers, our investment in the Arts community as a whole is loaded with local collaborations. We value high production team efforts paired with creative workflow.

“See Me As” Models ISAAC BLOODWORTH (he/him) is a New Haven native and Black Artist.

He is a graduate from the University of Connecticut’s Puppet Arts Program.

Bloodworth’s works centers around his blackness and the experiences of the black community in America. He envisions a world in which his original characters not only survive, but thrive. An experienced muralist, Bloodworth collaborated with Citywide Youth Coalition to paint a permanent installation at their Black and Brown Power Center on Chapel Street. His latest mural was installed by The City of New Haven’s Department of Arts Culture and The Town Green Special; Services District at City Hall. One of his favored methods of storytelling is through puppetry, using a style called “Crankie.” He has performed his puppet works for the Lineage Group at Art Space and at City-Wide Open Studios. Through his murals and puppet performances, he hopes to inspire youth in the black community to see themselves in a positive light and help them understand their lived experiences. Bloodworth is on

staff at the Yale Center for British Arts. He is also a member of A Broken Umbrella Theater.

EMILY BYRNE (she/her), M.P.A., is the Executive Director of Connecticut Voices for Children. She has extensive experience in developing humancentered policies and programs as well as driving effective advocacy strategies in service of progressive change. Byrne has led and contributed to work that has been recognized by past White House administrations and has appeared in numerous publications. Most notably, she was the founding Executive Director of New Haven Promise, a nonprofit at the intersection of education and economic development. Emily earned an M.P.A. from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a B.A. in Political Science from Providence College. A public servant by training, she started her career as a policy analyst for the City of New Haven, CT where she helped design the nation’s first municipal identification card for residents irrespective of immigration status. Since then she has held various

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governmental leadership positions as a systems intrapreneur within the social and economic justice arenas. She is also a past U.S. Visiting Fellow with the Robert Bosch Foundation in Germany.

Her research focused on migrant rights and racial justice vis-à-vis democratic participation and education.

KIKI LUCIA (she/her) Bio above MERCY QUAYE (she/her) has built a storied career in journalism, communications, and public relations in New Haven and statewide for more than a decade. After working in the public and non-profit sectors, spearheading communications strategies in a variety of industries, she launched The Narrative Project to offer high-quality communications for organizations who seek to do good in the world.

THABISA RICH (she/her) Bio above

“See Me As” Stylists MELISSA GONZALES (she/her) (Vintanthro Modern & Vintage) Vintanthro Modern & Vintage is located in Westville and was founded in 2011.

Inside this expertly curated shop you’ll find vintage and modern clothing, shoes, accessories and home goods for women, men and kiddos. Vintanthro also carries locally made and small batch goods like candles, letterpress cards, handmade jewelry and textiles. Owner/founder and local art teacher Melissa Gonzales scours the state of Connecticut (and the Midwest and Deep South from time to time) to bring hard to find clothing, shoes and accessories from times past, along with modern eye-catching, unique gifts to the New Haven area. Vintanthro is currently in their third brick and mortar location but was previously known for their vintage pop up shops around the city and for operating the first (and only) roving vintage shop (the Vintanthromobile) in the state of Connecticut.

ASHLEIGH C. HUCKABEY (she/her, they/them) (Empath Vintage) Ashleigh C. Huckabey is a Fashion Director, Community Organizer, Entrepreneur from New Haven, CT. For 10 years she worked as a Visual Merchandiser and Manager at a large Fashion Retailer, leading her to receive experience working in larger Creative markets such as New York City, Boston, And Dallas, TX. Ashleigh is currently the Creative Director and owner of Empath Vintage, a vintage, retro and modern clothing resell business.

Ashleigh holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism. Ashleigh hopes to inspire others to always do what they can and what they love to lead to radical transformation in the world—individually and collectively.

TODD LYON (she/her) (Fashionista Vintage and Variety) is an artist, stylist, writer, and co-owner of Fashionista Vintage & Variety, a favorite shopping destination of New Haven eccentrics for nearly two decades. She was thrilled to be given access to the astonishing costume collection of the legendary Long Wharf Theater, and felt like the luckiest stylist in the world to have Patrick Dunn/Kiki Lucia assigned as her model. Here’s hoping that LWT can continue to team up with local creatives to cement a lasting future for meaningful, adventurous theater with a world-wide reach.

BUSHRA MAHDI (she/her) (Bushra Fashion) is a designer who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Iraq in 2014. Having been inspired by fashion at a young age Bushra has spent her time here in New Haven incorporating American and Iraqi fashion trends into these now blended cultures. Having special fabrics shipped here to CT, she can keep aspects of her traditional textures and colors while producing her highly desired glamour ware for women.

In addition to her own name brand and custom work, Bushra has worked collaboratively with other New Haven designers like Neville Wisdom. Thankful For the community that has surrounded and supported her, Bushra hopes to be

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a leading example of dedication and determination for others in this creative field.

TEA MONTGOMERY (he/him) (Threads by Tea) Born and raised in New Haven, Tea Montgomery is owner/style architect of Threads by Tea. Through his wearable art, in form of clothing and accessories, his mission is to inspire and empower others to realize their own potential.

“See Me As” Creative Team MISTINA HANSCOM (she/her) (Creative Director) Mistina Hanscom has developed a skill set that balances art making and the business operations needed for supporting a creative entity and growing the larger community that supports the artists themselves.

Mistina is the Co-Founder of Lotta Studio as well as a community organizer, college professor, and small business entrepreneur. Founding West River Arts, a physical brick and mortar studio space in New Haven, CT, was a new goal for Mistina after seeing the need for it in the Westville section of New Haven. The curated list of artists, organizers, activists and art supporters that are housed at West River Arts and Lotta Studio is testament to the vision of community that Mistina is constantly nurturing. As an artist, Mistina has developed a belief that visual language should be as strong as the written word. Her artistic expression has its own narrative but is also openended enough to stimulate the viewer to draw their own conclusions, to insert their memories and connections into an image’s storyline.

that later led to a coast to coast transition from California to New York City in 2005.

Here on the East Coast, he has worked with industry-leading photographers such as Richard Pierce, Peggy Sirota, and Annie Leibovitz, in addition to his own commercial ventures. His fine art work explores the use of clean, graphic lines and strong saturated colors partnered with strong lighting design elements.

CAITLIN DALTON (she/her) (Costume Director) has been the Costume Shop Manager at Long Wharf Theatre for almost three years. She has over 10 years of experience in direction Costume Design within television, film, pre-Broadway and regional theatre. “See Me As” was an opportunity for her to use her skillset and years of experience to uplift and support the artist in the Greater New Haven Area.

She hopes you enjoy the inside look at the artists that occupy your city and that you can see just how much talent lies in our own backyard. Big shout out to the designers for their hard work, and the models for their performance! Bravo!

HOPE CHÁVEZ (she/her/ella) (Artistic Producer) is a creative producer, facilitator, and non-profit arts consultant.

Hope is an Associate Producer at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF). Prior to her appointment at OSF, Hope was the Director of Artistic Planning at Long Wharf Theatre. In addition to her service at OSF, Hope maintains a practice as a facilitator and consultant for arts organizations specializing in artistic and educational programs, anti-oppression work, budgeting for small to mid-sized organizations, and organizational change management. She has been a guest lecturer at Juilliard Drama and The King’s College. Hope is a proud alum of the 2019 artEquity Facilitator Training Cohort and the 2018 Leadership LUKE HANSCOM (he/him) Through Mentorship Program administered (Associate Creative Director) Before becoming the Co-Founder of Lotta Studio, by Women of Color in the Arts (WOCA).

Hope is proud to serve as a board member a commercial and editorial photographic of The New Haven Pride Center and boutique that specializes in high-end production of people and product imagery, advisory board member for Broken Box Mime Theater in NYC. Luke Hansocm attended the Brooks Institute of Photography in CA, earning high recognition throughout his schooling

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‘Google’s Year in Review’, ‘The Washington DOUGLAS MACUR Post’, Democracy Now! and during Bill (he/him) (Projection & Lighting and Melinda Gates annual ‘Goal Keeper’s’ Designer) is a freelance Lighting & event.

Projection Designer and the Assistant Professor of Lighting, Projection, & MARSHA MOVSHOVICH (she/her) Scenic Design at Southern Connecticut (Illustration/Animation) Born in Moscow, State University in New Haven, CT. He raised in New York City, educated at The is excited to be working with Long Wharf Rhode Island School of Design, Marsha Theatre. Recent design credits include: is a multi-skilled artist, with a professional American Theatre Group (The Evolution focus in motion graphics design and of Henry Mann), Seven Angels Theatre animation.

(The Legend Of Georgia McBride), American Theatre Group (Bridges Of MAHER MAHMOOD (he/him) Madison County), Tri-Cities Opera (Faust, (Videographer) is a photographer/ An Italian Girl in Algiers), Pan Asian videographer/public speaker. He was given Repertory Theatre (No No Boy, A Dream his first camera at Of Red Pavilions), Crossroads Theatre the age of thirteen when he still lived in (College Colors), Kitchen Table Works his home country of Iraq. This was a time Theatre (Birdbath), 59E59 Theatres (Lift), of war in his country and he learned that Signature Theatre (Incident At Vichy). he could use photography as a way to tell MFA, University of Missouri – Kansas his story and the stories of those around City. BA, Binghamton University. Please him. Since then, photography/videography feel free to view more of his work at www. has been his passion. In 2014, he was douglasmacurdesign.com. welcomed into the United States and New Haven, Connecticut became his ROBERT ROCHE (he/him) new home. For the past eight years, He (Composer) has had the privilege of helping people capture the moments most important to TRAVIS CARBONELLA (he/ them including graduations, weddings, and him) (Videographer & Editor) is a the growth of their families. He is grateful videographer, producer and heart-led storyteller who specializes in the creation for the opportunities he had to learn from fellow artists from around the world, as of short form human interest pieces. well as his former colleagues at American Since 2010, he has created over 300 organizations such as Google and Yale, videos for over 100 community-serving organizations that promote social justice, for helping him grow his passion for photography and film and marketing skills. activism, anti-racism, and liberation for all. Taking a two-way conversation-based Photography and video will forever be his passion and my purpose. approach to filmmaking, Travis engages with the individuals he documents to MIKE DEMATTEO (he/him) (Audio encourage storytelling from a personal, Specialist) is a multi-media producer, emotional and creative level. The results director, audio recording specialist, are films that humanize impact-based musician and marketing consultant. His information and statistics, and challenge credits include working on a number of viewers to rethink the stereotypes and reality TV shows, including Survivor, Super assumptions they hold. Travis has Nanny and The Apprentice. In 2012, Mike received numerous awards for video partnered with top reality TV producer making, including the Arts Award from Kevin Harris to co-executive produce the New Haven Arts Council (2016), the American Chainsaw, a series that aired Excellence in Electronic Publicity award on Nat Geo. Mike is the owner of The (2020), the NHDocs Audience Award Establishment, a multi-media content (2020), and an EMMY nomination for “To development and marketing company Live Better, We Must Live United,” a PSA in New Haven, CT. In memory of his late for United Way of Greater New Haven) brother, Mike and his family started The (2020). His footage has been used for

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Publications and work include Vogue Italia, Jonathon Patrick DeMatteo Scholarship MAC cosmetics, Art New England, Lotto Fund for a Hamden High school student who is attending college. So far, the Fund Studio, and active involvement with the has donated $15,000 to 15 students over Westville community. Evelyn is a Native New Havener currently residing in Westville. the past 15 years. Mike enjoys playing his sax with his band Sgt. Scagnetti and WINTER CARSON (she/her) (Makeup snowboarding. He is a 2001 graduate from the University of Connecticut School Artist) Owner, Beauty & Wellness Educator + Community Activist Winter Carson has of Journalism. created a space where holistic healing meets clinical results. From fashion shows, LIAH SINQUEFIELD (she/her) editorial photography and weddings to (Still Photography Portraits) I’m a managing multiple high-end beauty retail freelance documentary & commercial stores. Winter has over a decade’s worth photographer based here in New of experience in the field of cosmetology Haven, CT. My work path was inspired invested into her community & newly by my formative years which unfolded remodeled beauty and wellness center. in homes along the East Coast; each Blush Beauty & Wellness, now newly place a revolving door for various located at (ConnCorp at The Lab), is a familial matriarchs. Summers, breaks, space of beautification & restoration. Relax. and weekends were on the road or in Renew. Release. Restore in the essence the sky. This lifestyle bound me to the fixation of documenting what Dr. Resmaa of aromatherapy with services curated by Winter to assist with healing & peace.

Menakem calls: “clean & dirty pain”, that which informs our souls perspective and in turn our societies. After a two year stint in NY building sets and my industry backbone, the pandemic came. With it came a renewed understanding that in bringing to light the boundaries of my own communities, I’m making imagery that exudes power and most importantly familiarity. This craft has fed the holes of my own dismantled identity, providing some relief in the tension rooted in our larger grand awakening. (liahsinq.com) JAY HEPBURN (he/him) (Production Still Photography) As a photographic and visual artist, Jay has spent the past few years developing his skills in the photographic field, with a strong focus on the analog form. Through a local Westville connection, Jay was introduced to the Lotta Studio team 3 years ago and quickly took on the studio’s assistant role. While assisting with Lotta Studio, Jay has enjoyed documenting local events and gatherings.

EVELYN MASSEY (she/her) (Makeup Artist) is a self taught makeup artist/ instructor/ product developer with 30 years+ experience in the beauty industry and also owner and curator of Noir Vintage Company out of New Haven.