Garrison Arts Center – Hiding in Plain Sight

December 21, 2023

Currently on view at Garrison Arts Center in Garrison New York, as part of the photo-centric exhibition “Hidden in Plain Sight”,  two Grace Project images have been selected by juror Jessica Brier, Curator of Photography at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College.  Charise’s photographs received a jurors award first in category in the […]

Hudson Valley Women in Business Award.

December 21, 2023

We are pleased to announce Charise (photographer, founder and executive director of The Grace Project).  Has recently received an award for Hudson Valley Women in Business, for her work with The Grace Project. CLICK HERE to read more

The Athena Division will be exhibited at the VAMC Houston for the month of October.

October 5, 2023

The Grace Project is featured in Der Spiegel.

February 17, 2023

So happy that The Grace Project has been featured today in Der Spiegel magazine. To view the article (It is in German, and I believe there is a pay wall)  CLICK HERE It is a fantastic article, the journalist asked many interesting questions… and the quotes from the subjects are powerful!  

MBC Travelers… Key West 2022 Bucket List Trip.

January 12, 2023

CBS Saturday Morning.

November 19, 2022

Grace Photographer Charise collaborates with songstress Rachel Burns to capture love, life, beauty and intimacy in the face of breast cancer for her new video NOT TODAY.

October 20, 2022

Grace Goddess Rachel Burns, a stage iii breast cancer survivor has released an album focused on her very own breast cancer experience.  With the release of her new Album “Living My Breast Life”, she collaborated with Grace Project photographer Charise Isis on an emotional video for her anthem, “NOT TODAY’.  The music and the video […]

13 News NOW. THE ATHENA DIVISION

September 26, 2022

Charise Isis chosen in Top 50 Photographers for Photo Lucida Critical Mass.

September 19, 2022

Charise has been chosen amongst the Top 50 photographers for Critical Mass. Critical Mass is an international juried photography competition where the photographers entered are put in front of a large panel of photography experts. Out of that massive group of photographers 200 of them are selected for the final panel. The final 200 are […]

Charise Isis Receives 2022 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship Grant for Photography

July 12, 2022

Photographer Charise Isis of Kingston, New York is a 2022 recipient of a NYSCA/NYFA artist fellowship grant. The award is in recognition of Isis’ 10 year-plus project The Grace Projectwhich features photographs of women and men who have had mastectomies as a result of breast cancer, set in heroic and goddess-like settings. “It was with […]

The Grace Project was recently in Nashville with MBC Travelers.

October 29, 2021

These brave women living with stage iv metastatic breast cancer bared it all for my camera in Nashville Tennessee!!

Grace Project featured in Ms Magazine.

June 29, 2021

Proud moment! The Grace Project Is Facing Breast Cancer Through Photography: “We Get to See Women Transform into Goddesses”

Here is why The Grace Project is important.

December 2, 2020

As 2020 comes to an end and you consider your end of year giving.  Please consider a donation to the Grace Project.  Here is a short heartfelt video revealing the transformative power of The Grace Project.  Please share it with your social media networks. Gratitude and Grace, Charise.   Follow us on Facebook: CLICK HERE […]

Meagan’s Story.

October 27, 2020

Did you know that young women can get breast cancer? Meagan found her lump at 17 years old. Now at age 25 her cancer has progressed to stage iv. – metastatic. Currently there is no cure for metastatic breast cancer. The average life span for a person diagnosed with metastatic breast is 3-5 years. You […]

Michelle’s Story – U.S. Military & Breast Cancer

October 20, 2020

Breast Cancer Awareness is all around us… especially in the month of October. Corporations benefitting from the selling of “pink”… exploiting a disease that affects many women and men throughout the world. There are however, aspects of breast cancer awareness that few are aware of. The Grace Project, uses its powerful platform to bring awareness […]

Double your Donation during breast cancer awareness month.

October 12, 2020

A generous donor has offered to double the donation that any individual gives during the month of October.  Your generous donation will help the Grace project reach its goal of creating 800 portraits of people who have had mastectomy surgery as a result of breast cancer.  Your contribution, will help many come to terms with […]

Spirit’s Story: Advocating for yourself as a woman of color.

May 8, 2020

Shot during Covid times, this is Spirit’s story… a stage iv, metastatic cancer patient. I photographed Spirit just two months ago. Since then her disease has progressed and it was heartbreaking to witness my beautiful friend struggle for breath during our conversation. In this video she shares her story, discusses the discrepancies in medical care […]

Samanthas Story: Mastectomy & Colostomy

May 1, 2020

Please note: This video was shot during Covid times on an impromptu zoom conversation. We were both wearing our Pjs!!! …Samantha recently posed for me for The Grace Project. Before her shoot and before she revealed her scars, she said to me, “Today I’m going to do something I’ve never done before and I suspect […]

Photographing in a time of Social Distancing

March 20, 2020

Obviously shooting in-studio portraits at a time of social distancing is out of the question.  Especially when you consider that most of my subjects are immune compromised. When I’m not working on the Grace Project, I am working at my commercial photography business.  For over 20 years I have specialized in boudoir/pin-up and personal and […]

FLATTIES: Our Bodies Are Beautiful!

March 11, 2020

  I recently received this message that made my heart swoon: “Visibility is a commitment that requires bold steadfast courage and humility. Your work brings to the forefront body validation, beauty and wellness after breast cancer. A glory of survival that might otherwise not be known to the woman herself, or experienced by those who […]

Come As You Are… exactly as you are…

February 25, 2020

A recent collaboration with ethereal songstress Ella Ray Kondrat singing an absolutely gorgeous anthem of self love and acceptance: “Come As You are”. The film footage was shot by Joules Evans as she documented Charise at work creating the powerful portraits that are The Grace Project. To hear more of Ella’s music: EllaRayKondrat.com

March 5th 2020 Flat Retreat Ball in Los Angeles!

February 25, 2020

  The option for no reconstruction, with clean scars is a valid choice and needs to be put on the table as a valid and healthy option when a woman is going through the process of breast cancer treatment.  The flattie community is on fire right now… a growing force in the breast cancer world […]

FearLESS – Ana Ono takes the runway – NYFW 2020

February 25, 2020

The past few years that I attended the Ana Ono show for New York Fashion week, I have grabbed a perch on the mezzanine and stuck it out there in order to get a good perspective of the show. I have no interest in photographing fashion shows, with this one exception…and it thrills me to […]

#NotJustOne

February 13, 2019

When I think of New York fashion week, my mind’s eye sees tall, hungry-looking, size zero models stepping out on the runway with gaunt, emotionless faces. A cacophony of perfume fills the air and the audience is abundant with women, clutching Prada purses.  When the models walk out, the audience oohs and aahs with frozen […]

Charleston SC – 3 Gallery exhibition!

September 28, 2018

We are excited to announce a three Gallery exhibition of The Grace Project in Charleston South Carolina. Opens: Thursday October 25th and runs through Sunday October 28th. John C. Doyle Gallery: 125 Church street, Charleston, SC 29401 (843) 577-7344 THE ATHENA DIVISION In 2012 the Department of Defense determined that women in the military had a […]

#Cancerland takes the runway

February 14, 2018

Everyone knows what happens at New York Fashion Week. Beautiful models show off beautiful clothes. But the runway on Sunday afternoon Feb 11th 2018, in New York City, tells a different story. Ana Ono intimates, designed by Dana Donofree, are beautiful, comfortable intimates for mastectomy patients. And, the models who rule the stage are all […]

Grateful for all of your support in 2017

December 30, 2017

Wishing you a magical 2018… May your year be one of joy, good health, prosperity, love and peace. Dear Friends, 2017 saw The Grace project shared far and wide and as a result touched many lives.  Some of the highlights included a collaboration with Cincinnati University Hospital which resulted in a stunning exhibition at Miller Gallery […]

U.S. Veterans affected by breast cancer.

August 28, 2017

Currently we are working hard to raise enough funds to make an exhibit of the Athena Division happen which we hope to launch in Washington DC. To read more about this part of the project or if you would like to donate to the cause through our GO FUND ME PAGE   CLICK HERE. If you […]

Upcoming exhibitions!!! Cincinnati, Ohio and Denver Colorado.

April 14, 2017

  Cincinnati: April 20th – April 22nd Miller Gallery  2715 Erie Ave, Cincinnati 45208 April 20, 6-8pm: Opening reception. FREE. Please RSVP to @kelly.hummel@uc.edu to be on Grace project’s guest list. Grace photographer Charise Isis will be giving a short Grace talk on the bookends of the evening. April 21: The exhibit is open to […]

Aim for the sky…

March 27, 2017

Today my heart breaks… we lost yet another dear friend to breast cancer, our 18th Goddess in fact to pass through the veil… to become an angel, an advocate, and most definitely a warrior on the other side for us. Champagne Joy was a force of nature.  Yes, that was her real name and she wore yellow […]

Saying Goodbye to Julie.

March 3, 2017

” I am not living with Mets, I am thriving with mets. How can I not share my blessing with the world! It is untraditional to the medical community that someone at first diagnosis be classified at 4th stage and then be offered surgery to beat it. I tell you my Spirit will not rest until […]

Love yourself!!

February 13, 2017

  Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand their shining. – Anne Lamott. Above all else… love yourself!  – Happy Valentines day. #breastcancer #mastectomy #selflove #truebeauty #lighthouse #valentinesday

Black History Month.

February 1, 2017

In honor of the first day of Black History month I am pleased to officially announce that in 2017 we will be working on putting together an African American Exhibition of the Grace project.  The project will honor and highlight the courage, beauty, and grace that these women embody in the face of breast cancer. […]

Message for the New Year!

December 30, 2016

Certainly 2016 was a challenging year of much difficulty, divisiveness and loss.  As with our bodies, it’s so easy to focus on the scars that pain, loss, disappointment and divisiveness have left on our hearts and we certainly have all had our fair share of this in 2016.  Our scars are fresh, raw pink and […]

End of year giving.

December 29, 2016

  What makes the Grace project so powerful? The women who stand before my camera are boldly and bravely presenting themselves to the world, revealing their scars, their loss, their wounded bodies and the pain they have endured. The are making a bold declaration, “I am imperfectly perfect, this is me, I can’t change this […]

A delicate gift.

December 9, 2016

  Fresh from surgery, Jojo still had her drains in.  Drains are ugly scary things that look like grenades with plastic tubes inserted into the breast wound. They serve the purpose of draining the blood away from the incision, slowly filling up plastic receptacles in order to reduce the buildup of fluid in the breast, […]

Bare, Naked

October 6, 2016

  CLICK HERE to check out the beautiful story written by author, breast cancer survivor and Grace Goddess Andrea Fisk Rotterman, about her experience of being photographed for the Grace project.  

Coming to a town near you…

August 12, 2016

The Grace project may be coming to a town near you!  If you are a woman who has experienced mastectomy as a result of breast cancer and would like to participate in our powerful project, please be sure to call Charise Isis at (914) 466- 4347.  We look forward to seeing you at many of […]

A Mothers Love…

May 7, 2016

Take a leap… it’s leap day!

February 29, 2016

  Happy leap day… Help the Grace project in leaps and bounds by donating to our cause. We need your support…. Click HERE This year we plan to leap to many cities throughout the United States, starting with Tennessee, Alabama, Florida and Texas, giving many women the empowering experience of standing not only in front of […]

No matter what your situation this Valentines Day…

February 13, 2016

Close your Eyes, Fall in Love, Stay there. ~Rumi Like us on Facebook at:   www.facebook.com/graceproject

Grace and Gratitude in 2015

December 29, 2015

Thank you so much to all who supported the Grace project in 2015. Thanks to all who made financial contributions to the Grace project, to those who lent us their homes and venues, to those who cooked us dinners on the road and welcomed us into their homes, to those who showed up at our events, […]

Scars

December 4, 2015

      “My scars tell a story. They are a reminder of times when life tried to break me. But failed. They are markings of where the structure of my character was welded.” ~Dr Steve Maraboli (author)

Giving Tuesday: Please support the Grace Project

November 30, 2015

Today is “Giving Tuesday”, please consider supporting the Grace Project so that more of THIS kind of beauty can  happen throughout the United States for other women who have had mastectomy surgery as a result of  breast cancer.   Our goal is to photograph 800 women affected by breast cancer. (The approximate number of women newly diagnosed […]

Spirant Caelum – Breathe the sky

November 25, 2015

“Breathe it all in, Love it all out.” – Mary Oliver Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Honoring Veterans affected by Breast Cancer.

November 11, 2015

Did you know that according to a DoD study United States Veterans have a 20-40% increased chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer? We don’t know the why of this as the study was not continued… what we do know is that with this information military women need to be vigilant advocates for their own […]

October is almost over

October 29, 2015

but breast cancer isn’t

Real Breast Cancer Awareness in October.

October 1, 2015

#MetsMonday  The hashtag that represents awareness for Metastatic disease, otherwise known as stage 4.  I am writing this on Thursday, but you might be reading this on Tuesday, Sunday, Friday or other. In the meantime, women (and men) with Mets (Metastatic breastcancer) have to live with cancer every day. As Lou Reed so perfectly put it, […]

Facing stage 4 with courage and grace.

August 19, 2015

Breast Cancer really sucks… second to losing someone to this terrible thief, is finding out that Cancer has ramped up it’s challenge in a friends life. My friend and Grace Goddess Rachell (pictured above) has recently been in the hospital with complications only to find that the bitter thief has snuck into her bones and […]

#fight like Sarah!

July 26, 2015

We mourn the loss of our beautiful Grace Goddess Sarah Amento. Sarah was a mother to five, a beloved wife, a dear friend to many and an inspiration far and wide to many more. Sarah had a meme… ‪#‎fightlikeSarah‬. She fought with grim determination until her dying breath and left a legacy of beauty and […]

Men Get Breast Cancer Too.

July 16, 2015

Many people, including some Doctors are unaware that male breast cancer exists.  This leads to delayed diagnosis, allowing the cancer to progress and sometimes leading to metastasis and increased mortality rates. Men once diagnosed are forced to deal with the complexity of living with what is commonly known as a “woman’s disease”.  No easy feat […]

Perfect Storm

July 2, 2015

Synovial sarcoma.  The name it’s self carries the sound of a storm.  Not the type of storm that has you cozying up in your home while you watch safely from your door feeling the slight spray of rain and a chill of excitement as lightning dances across the sky but the type of storm that […]

The Athena Division

June 17, 2015

This past weekend we launched the Athena Division of the Grace project. I spent the day taking up arms with women enlisted in the battle against breast cancer and body image. These were no ordinary warriors… These warriors were none other than United States military Veterans, women accustomed and trained for battle. Women who according […]

Persephone

May 28, 2015

  She walked into the setting sun, bare feet on cool dry sand, tan body wearing nothing but two bandaids where her nipples once had been. She came upon the branch of a desert tree.  A limb that had fallen, had become separated from it’s tree.  Removed from the other part of itself it was […]

Why are mastectomy photographs being flagged and removed from Facebook?

March 26, 2015

Why are mastectomy photographs being flagged and removed from Facebook? I wish for a second that those people reporting photographs of a mastectomy could see what I see when a woman comes to be photographed for the Grace project. I wish they could see the fear she experiences, the vulnerability that cloaks her every day, […]

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