Music photographer, Irene Young has created “Glass Half Full, A Music Photographer’s Vision of Hope” (Grazie Recordings), a compilation CD highlighting her renowned client’s most powerful and healing songs. The inspirational album which features 23 women musicians performing songs of comfort and strength will benefit the national organization, the BREAST CANCER FUND and SHARE, a New York State-based organization that provides support to women with breast and ovarian cancer.
According to Young, “When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, many of the extraordinary artists and friends I had worked with over the years asked what they could do to help. The power of their music provided consolation and support during the most challenging of days. I wanted to share that experience with other women for their own healing process, to promote breast cancer awareness, and to champion the cause of independent music. A community of musicians came together to help me to help others, and I created Glass Half Full during my months of chemotherapy and healing.”
The women musicians -- all influential in their own genres which range from rock to jazz to folk and even traditional Irish music -- donated their work for this CD to help the breast cancer cause. They include: Suzanne Vega; Ireland’s Queen of Music Mary Black; Windham Hill jazz favorite, Barbara Higbie; singer/activist Holly Near; New York’s endearing Suzzy & Maggie Roche; the legendary Laura Nyro; Christine Lavin; Patti Larkin; Cris Williamson; grammy winners, Cathy Fink & Mary Marxer; Grace Griffith, Deidre McCalla, Mae Robertson, Ilene Weiss, Anne Hills, Jennifer Cutting, Freyda Epstein, and west coast favorites Jennifer Berezan, Laurie Lewis, Chris Webster and Sheilah Glover.
Irene Young, a New York City-based photographer, has created images for more than 500 CD covers. According to Young, “The art of seeing does not start and stop with our eyes. The key to photographing people is to do so with a wide open aperture of the heart, with no judgment,†and with a true belief that everyone is beautiful.”
Among many artists and writers she has photographed are Sonia Braga, Lance Henrickson, Sarah Wayne Callies (Prison Break), Euan Morton (Taboo), Vicki Randle (The Jay Leno Show), Shawn Colvin, Suzanne Vega, XTC, Al Jareau, Loudon Wainwright III, The Roches, Daniel Rodriquez (NYC’s Singing Policeman), Tom Paxton, Liz Story, Turtle Island String Quartet, Patti Larkin, Tom Bodett (NPR); Windham Hill founder,Will Ackerman; the late Michael Hedges, Laura Nyro and blues great Brownie McGee; Judy Collins, Holly Near, and the UK’s favorites The Boys of The Lough, Dougie MacLean, and Mary Black; and writers, Susan Griffin, Ann Jones, and Shakti Gawain.
Her diverse clients include Warner Brothers, Sony/BMG, Columbia, Motown, Windham Hill, Narada, Virgin, Rounder, Red House, and Blix Street Records (Eva Cassidy); Harper Collins, Fawcett, CBS, Doubleday, and Henry Holt and Company Publishers; Hewlett Packard, Panasonic, The Sinclair Intimacy Institute, and Paula Dorf Cosmetics.
Irene Young’s photographs have appeared in many national and international publications, including Oprah Magazine, Us Magazine,†People Magazine, The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post, The Washingtonian, The LA Times, and The Utne Reader.
Young has been a guest lecturer at The San Francisco Art Institute and The School of Visual Arts in NYC. She resides in Manhattan, and frequents her family home of Atlanta.
Following Article by Howard Brainen
Irene Young is a very special, talented and loving person, who also happens to be a succesful photographer. I got to know Irene as one of my photographer clients at Custom Process. She was living part time in the Bay Area and the rest in New York, making portraits for musicians and record companies. In fact, Irene has done more than 500 CD covers.
Back then we were cross-processing Irene's film so she could get interesting color. What came through so clearly in her work was Irene's connection with her subjects.
When Marsha and I wanted our portrait done, we hired Irene. We still remember the day we spent with her in Sausalito. The prints are all over our house and offices; bringing smiles to our faces every time we look.
Irene moved to New York fulltime in 2001 and we've stayed in touch. This year Irene spent most of her energy fighting breast cancer, and she produced a CD of songs that comforted her during her recovery. I've been enjoying this lovely collection of music for the past few months.
Here's what Irene has to say about the CD: "These are special songs. They comforted me during my treatment for breast cancer, and I cherish each one like a dear friend.
The musicians and songwriters on this compilation gave up their royalties to help me - and women like me. Their generosity inspires me to give what I am able. So, it is with love and pleasure that I have compiled these songs of comfort & strength for you."
Irene Young’s Glass Half Full calls you to the sacred space of celebrating life, friendship, and art. She has reached beyond the barriers of a devastating disease to touch others with her powerful compassion, optimism and hope.
Jeanne Rizzo, R.N. Executive Director
Breast Cancer Fund
This collection of music, so mindfully focused upon the healing of body and spirit, is a testament to one woman’s commitment to being part of the community of healing and health so that others might go there as well.
Will Ackerman, Producer/Musician
Founder, Windham Hill Records
The lightening-speed pace of current everyday life makes it imperative that we take time to rejuvenate ourselves. Listening to music for comfort and strength is a perfect prescription.
Deborah Axelrod, MD, FACS,
Director of Clinical Breast Services and Surgery,
NYU Cancer Institute
Irene’s act of creating Glass Half Full while undergoing medical treatment is filled with contagious optimism.
Paula Klein, MD
Attending Physician, Oncology
St. Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center
The whole thing is bursting with love!
Suzzy Roche, Musician
As a photographer Irene Young captures what is within her subjects, not simply what is without. She sees with compassion the many prisms of the spirit. It is therefore not surprising that she approached her personal journey with cancer just as she approaches her work: with compassion, studying it from all sides, distilling the essence and turning that experience into something beautiful. That something beautiful is her CD Glass Half Full.
Heather Raffo
Actor/Playwright, 9 Parts of Desire, The Play
Irene’s response, as she went through surgery, chemo, and radiation, was to initiate the Glass Half Full project to bring hope and comfort to others. She is such an inspiration with her generous soul, and this CD is the perfect woman to woman gift. This is the kind of story--and music--that does your heart good.
Ann Jones, Author
Looking For Lovedu
Kabul In Winter
Glass Half Full is a wonderful compilation of inspiring music - just as inspiring as Ms. Young’s ability to cope with her illness and treatment. Her optimism was truly contagious to us all.
M. Juliano, M.S.N
Clinical Nurse Specialist
St. Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center
The songs are full of light and life, coming from industry pros who not only pack a punch with their weighty names, but with their alternating styles of folk, rock, jazz, pop and everything in between. - CD BABY
