Ballerina – The Jet Linx Tutu Project
The Tutu Project began, as photographer and patient-advocate Bob Carey explains it, “as a lark.”
A cross-country move, a previous stint creating images for the ballet, and a long history of self-expression through photography came together following his wife’s breast cancer diagnosis in a heart-warming and surprising package. Now, Bob, his wife Linda, and the pink tutu are on a mission – raising funds to provide assistance to those facing breast cancer and promoting awareness for breast cancer patients and their loved ones through images that exude hope, heart and a hint of humor.
THE MOVE
Having lived 20 years in the southwest, Bob and Linda Carey took a leap of faith in 2002 when they grabbed their dog, packed a truck, and made a move to New York City. This change in lifestyle (and in geography) was a far cry from the established routines of their life in Phoenix, Ariz. – putting over two thousand miles between the Careys and their established network of family, friends and photography clients.
It was less than a year into this new adventure when Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer – a particularly aggressive presentation of the disease. “During her initial eight-hour surgery, she had 17 lymph nodes plus the tumor removed,” Bob recounts. He then adds with a laugh and a knowing tone, “Everyone at that facility was attached to Linda by the time the surgery took place – she has that effect on people. You get attached to her the moment you meet her.”
The diagnosis and treatment was “incredibly hard on me,” Bob confesses. “To see someone you love facing something so awful … I had to find a way to process what was happening, and to understand what I was feeling in the face of not knowing what the outcome might be.”
In processing this new reality, Bob deployed an unexpected weapon – a pink tulle tutu from one of his last professional shoots in Phoenix. “Just before we moved to Brooklyn, Ballet Arizona commissioned me to give them my interpretation of the ballet in photos. I was working a lot in black and white at the time. The original tutu image is actually a black-and-white shot of me on a stage in a tutu, taking a bow under the bright lights.”
“I’ve long used my professional passion as a way of dealing with difficult situations outside of work,” Bob admits. “Photography can provide a tremendous outlet for self-exploration and for dealing with moments of discomfort.” And so, as Bob and Linda forged ahead together against breast cancer, the tutu reemerged.
“It just felt right,” Bob says. His images of an isolated man, adorned only by a thin layer of pink tulle, provide a peek into his quest to understand and find peace with their situation. “It’s just like facing cancer,” he explains. “Each image shows something about being vulnerable, or feeling isolated … and absolutely, each one has an element of the absurd.”
The images were an instant hit with Linda. “Was I surprised? No!” she answers with a giggle. “I’ve worked with Bob for a long time. The first thing I thought when he showed me his new take on the tutu was ah, that’s Bob.” After a pause, she continues, “the second thing I thought was they were beautiful.”
The initial treatment for Linda’s cancer seemed a success. The couple went on with their new life in New York City. But in 2006, Linda’s cancer returned with a vengeance, this time spreading to her liver. Since then, Linda and Bob have taken life, and treatment, one day at a time.
Linda, a relentless optimist who is wired “to move and shake,” has never asked her doctor for statistics. “I am who I am. I am an individual. And every day I wake up knowing I am blessed to be alive and to share my story and now, to use Bob’s photos to inspire other patients and their loved ones.”
She started sharing the photos of Bob in his pink tutu with the other women at her chemo appointments. Linda explains, “The images resonated with them. They connected with them. These women, scared and tired and sometimes at their wits end, would smile and laugh and start a conversation.” From these conversations, Linda learned a lot about her fellow “chemo-mates.” “So many of these women faced incredible hardships in addition to having cancer – things we take for granted like childcare during appointments, or access to affordable wigs, or even transportation to and from treatment.” The conversations started by sharing photos of her tutu-clad husband gave Linda insight into the struggles of other patients. “I would sit there and think, you know one day – if I have the opportunity to inspire people, to help them through this experience – I’d be there. I’d be on it.”
THE TODAY SHOW
Bob and Linda both felt they were on to something – just how big of a something would come as a shock. “We realized one day how much we believed in the images, and in the impact we could see them have on other people,” Linda says. As she continued treatment and Bob continued his pursuit of therapy though photography, they decided to publish a book – one full of photos they hoped would bring needed light to those facing breast cancer.
“Every publisher we approached passed,” Bob admits. “But we were committed. We were driven. So we thought, why not publish it ourselves? We just needed to raise money to make it happen.”
A chance meeting at a university lecture provided an unexpected and incredible opportunity. “A guy approached me after my talk – a guy who happened to be a producer at the Today Show. He was inspired by the images and by our story, and said when we were ready to publish, to come to him and he would pitch the story.” And in 2012, Bob did just that. “Before you knew it, there we were, on the Today Show with Matt Lauer and Natalie Morales, with seven minutes and twenty seconds to tell our story.”
With the broadcast of their segment on the Today Show, the Project went viral. “We needed to sell $80,000 in prints to fund the publication of the book,” Bob notes. “In less than 24-hours, we sold over $60,000 worth. We thought people would respond to the images – but we were still floored by the interest.”
“I must have spent a full day responding to email after that segment aired,” Linda says. “The entire day following the Today Show appearance, and all through that night, we were online, not just fulfilling orders, but connecting with people … replying to folks sharing their stories and thanking people for their support.” This approach carries over to the online presence for the Project on social media even today. “We try to respond to people as much as we are able, because people are important to us. Bob and I are just like that.”
THE MOVEMENT
Things have changed a lot since that seven-minute and 20-second segment with Matt and Natalie on Today. Bob, Linda and their small crew of Tutu Project volunteers have taken social media by storm (with over 205,000 followers on Facebook and nearly 6,500 followers on Twitter), successfully sold out the first run of “Ballerina,” and raised over $250,000 to support their foundation and charity partners For3Sisters and CancerCare.
The incredible response to the Project online, from patients and supporters around the world, created new opportunities not only stateside, but in other countries as well. A long-form ad from T-Mobile documenting Bob and Linda’s story played regularly on German television for over six months. “We’re huge in Germany,” Bob laughs. “Even in New York City, even when I’m not wearing the tutu, I can promise someone from Germany will recognize me, or recognize Linda, and comment on that piece. It really connected with people.”
The Tutu Project and its mission to “reduce the added burden and stress of a breast cancer diagnosis” has also seen a groundswell of support from corporate partners. “We spend a lot of time on the road during the month of October,” Linda says. “Bloomingdales has been an active supporter of our foundation for several years now. Bob and I travel to their store locations across the country to do meet and greets. One of my favorite parts of these store visits is talking with customers that stop by and share their personal cancer story.” The Bloomingdales October circuit has helped Bob and Linda connect with people personally, and the company’s continued involvement offers important additional reach for their message and fundraising efforts. “This support really helps us further our mission of positively impacting those living with breast cancer,” Linda notes.
Jet Linx is proud to join The Tutu Project this October in advocating for breast cancer patients and their families to address the various hurdles encountered during treatment. This October, Jet Linx has dedicated space in each of our 11 private terminals to support The Tutu Project, including easy ways to donate on site, 2016 Tutu Project wall calendars for sale and a silent auction for a signed, limited-edition Tutu Project print. “The Tutu Project has had an incredible and positive impact through their imagery, book and fundraising efforts,” said Jamie Walker, Jet Linx President and CEO. “We were delighted to find unique ways to support their continuing development through our magazine and in our private terminals this year – and to offer a one-of-a-kind setting for the creation of a one-of-a-kind Tutu Project image!”
THE IMAGES
To this day, all of the images in The Tutu Project have a common thread – a man and a pink tutu (Bob is now on his fourth and fifth iteration of that iconic garment). The places featured, however, have evolved as the Project has gained a wider audience. “With these images, I was initially drawn to sweeping landscapes and wide open spaces, or private areas away from other people. You know, places where I could snap a photo without being seen or without explicit permission,” Bob admits.
This admission hints that some of his images come with a bit of a backstory. “Yeah, I’ve had the cops called on me more than once,” he laughs. “It seems a man wearing a tutu can cause quite a stir when there isn’t a proper introduction!” Fortunately, every police officer and good Samaritan encountered so far in this journey has instantly softened when Bob shares the story behind the tutu. “They leave the encounter with a funny tale and a greater understanding, and when they tell their friends or family, they continue to spread awareness for what we are doing,” he says.
“We’re now invited to places to shoot,” Linda notes with excitement. “From the Metropolitan Opera House to halftime with the New York Giants, we’ve had incredible opportunities to make incredible art with the help of some generous people.”
With the huge (and growing!) portfolio of tulle-laden shots in the Tutu Project, Linda – after a few moments of consideration – can point to one as a favorite. “It’s called ‘Corn,’ and it has these incredible textures to it. The beautiful, stately corn plants growing tall – against the odds – from the crackled, dry earth,” she muses. “It says a lot about the cancer journey. Where Bob is standing, right at the edge of the crop line… you can’t tell if he is emerging from the field, or disappearing into it. It’s really powerful.”
“I love how he pushes the boundaries of his art,” she continues. “I love how he creates these images – the thought and preparation behind each one. He has an incredible vision, and I appreciate it.”
Bob is quick with praise of his wife as well. “She’s a warrior,” he says without hesitation. “She is hard core. She is strong. And she has thrown herself into our foundation, using her personal experience to show others that even though cancer sucks, there is a way to live with it.”
THE FUTURE
Bob and Linda celebrated 27 years of marriage and creative collaboration this year. Their journey over the last decade in particular has shown them that, “while life is good, dealing with it can be hard. Sometimes the best thing we can do to face another day is to laugh at ourselves, and share a laugh with others,” Bob notes on their website.
The Tutu Project continues to do just that – offering humor and levity in the face of a difficult illness, promoting breast cancer awareness, and advocating for a better life for patients and their families facing cancer everywhere – all through a puff of pink tulle.
“The tutu is fun. Cancer isn’t,” Linda explains. “We have been blessed to find a way to start a conversation, to provide hope and humor, to help a husband support his wife or a wife support her husband. That is a wonderful outcome.”
WILL YOU #DARE2TUTU?
Join the Tutu movement! It’s easy to get involved.
This October, Jet Linx clients & friends can join us in supporting The Tutu Project at our Base locations.
- Participate in your Base’s silent auction for a signed, limited edition print
- Snap a #Dare2Tutu photo at your Base and Jet Linx will donate $20 to The Tutu Project for each image submitted!
- Make a donation through our dedicated microsite
For more information on ways to support The Tutu Project, visit:
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