Photos by W.i.g. Magazine (for Women in General) at www.WigMag.com
Keep A Breast Foundation celebrated their 10th anniversary September 10th at the Brick Building in Los Angeles, CA, featuring amazing art of surfers breast casts painted by surfers, and attracting a who’s who in action sports, music, and street art. Scores of people came to participate and celebrate one of the most successful non-profits in youth culture in America, as it reached a milestone, and yet at the same time, is charging to the next level with the launch of their Non Toxic Revolution (www.kabntr.org). This is Keep A Breast’s (KAB) new campaign to lower the organization’s own carbon footprint while also educating others on ways to live a less toxic and more healthy lifestyle.
Shaney Jo Darden, co-founder of Keep A Breast, with event host, Sal Masekela (he%uFFFDs wearing a cool Aviator Nation shirt).
Co-founder Shaney Jo Darden shared the story of how the organization got started while X Games host and sportscaster Sal Masekela hosted the event, appropriately titled “Save Our Sister” or S.O.S. featuring beautiful breast casts presented on surfboards. Attendees could bid on the breast casts, which have become featured art items in street art culture, specialty boutiques, and progressive art galleries, as a fundraising effort for KAB’s Non Toxic Revolution. Castees included pro surfers such as Megan Abubo, Rochelle Ballard, and Sofia Mulanovich, with surfer artists such as Jeff Ho, Micah Wood, CJ Nelson, and others.
In addition to the artistic breast casts was a photo exhibition by Kassia Meador featuring moody insider shots of beach culture from a girl surfer perspective. From stretching on the beach pre-surf session, to exploring new breaks with other girlfriends, the images evoked a dreamy quality of what it’s like to be a true surfer girl, traveling to different parts of the world in seek of waves.
Rell Sunn memorial. This is actually the breast cast of Rell’s daughter Jann Sunn, painted by artist Phil Roberts.
One of the most touching areas was the shrine breast cast to Hawaiian surfer, Rell Sun, who passed away from breast cancer, and who has been memorialized in the surfing community for all of her work in the industry and inspiring girls to learn to surf.
As usual with KAB events, there were also many interactive features, such as raffle packages ranging from a cool beach cruiser bike, to baskets of “Boobies” stickers, T-shirts, rubber wrist bands (which are hugely popular among teens across the country), and even a trip to Australia. On sale also were the latest collections of S.O.S. T-shirts and tank tops, plus the popular Boobies merch that can also be found in stores such as Zumiez, and on the Vans Warped Tour each summer.
KAB has always been involved not only in art, but also fashion and music cultures, and all three elements were present at the event. From a 4-piece acoustic set that launched the show, to DJ Pubes and Make Love, it was a love fest celebrating the hard work and success that KAB has achieved by reaching thousands of people globally through their various campaigns to educate and increase awareness about breast cancer.
Photo exhibition by Kassia Meador represented beautiful dreamy visions of life of a surfer girl.
The new Non Toxic Revolution takes things a step further by asking people to take a look at what they can do to decrease the potentially toxic elements of their lifestyles, such as usage of plastics, and providing new science and insight on the various toxic elements found in our environment, food, water, and other sources that may be at the root cause of why young women are getting breast cancer to begin with. Unlike other diseases, where youth can be on your side to fight off an illness, with breast cancer, it can be the opposite: like air catching on fire within a young, healthy person, rather than moving more slowly in an older person. Which is why starting at the root, through the Non Toxic Revolution, makes complete sense.
If ever there was a non-profit to get involved with based on its cultural crossover and reach, this is one that not only performs, but inspires other to do something -from volunteering to creating art and music to spread a message and change lives. For more information on how to get involved, go to www.keep-a-breast.org. Keep A Breast also has an iPhone app, free on iTunes, which Label Networks%uFFFD Mobile Culture Lab created as part of assisting this organization.
Keep A Breast’s Save Our Sisters Event and 10th Anniversary was presented by Emergen-C Pink and the Malibu Surfing Association.
KAB swag featuring raffle packages with cool merch T-shirts, stickers, rubber braclets, and more.
Photos from the exhibition–they are available in large format and small. Go to www.keep-a-breast.org for more information.
Beautiful artistic breast casts featuring top surf artists made this event special. Proceeds for sales went to Keep A Breast%uFFFDs Non Toxic Revolution.
The S.O.S. Skateboard, signed and ready to be raffled.
Jeff Ho painted breast cast.
Acoustic musicians started off the event.
More breast casts displayed on bamboo surfboards.
Shaney Jo Darden takes the stage to tell the story of how Keep a Breast got started and where the organization is headed next with the Non Toxic Revolution.
One of my favorite breast casts.
Surfer girls from Kassia Meador%uFFFDs photo exhibition.
