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Last Updated: April 25, 2024 by joshmeltzer

2024 Portrait

An image of a person that reveals the essence of their character.

First Place: Evie Linantud

Dysean McNair prepares to have his portrait taken at the ROC City Skatepark on March 4, 2024 in Rochester, N.Y.

Second Place: Travis LaCoss

Andrew Wollschleger looks with intensity at the camera as he would if looking for negative energy surrounding me in Greece, N.Y., on Sept. 14, 2023. Wollschleger heavily used cocaine and alcohol for years. During a meeting with a medium he was told that he had two demons on his body, one on his shoulder and one on his ribs. Wollschleger attributes some of his life changing attitude and actions to the heavy use of psychedelic plants. During a “heavy dose” of mushrooms Wollshleger had an epiphany that he was the reincarnation of Saint Andrew. He believes he has lived many lives including that of a saint, tree, bush, and Poseidon. Wollschleger has not used cocaine or alcohol for years, “It’s my rise from scum to saint, that’s truly what I believe.” When reflecting on his past he stated “I was not born scum, I was a good kid, but I lost my way, but here I am again.”

Third Place: Liam Myerow

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Honorable Mention: Travis LaCoss

James Von Sinn, a Pagan Satanist and frontman for a punk band Rotten, talks about the upcoming solar eclipse in the Sunken Garden of Warner Castle in Rochester, N.Y., on April 6, 2024. When asked about the significance of the solar eclipse Von Sinn remarked, “As an anarchist, I identify with the concept as a moment of…power that can be stopped. It gives a sense of hope that I need, and I think others could possibly need and it’s a symbol for that. You know, the sun is fire and fire is a symbol of oppressiveness to me, so with that, it is being eclipsed out, it just gives me a sense of feeling that things can change.”

Honorable Mention: Travis LaCoss

Will Carroll “The Outsider,” professional wrestler, punk, and wrestling manager in Rochester, N.Y., on Feb. 21, 2024. Carroll manages and wrestles with a faction known as Total Fucking Chaos Inc. (TFC.) The faction is comprised of wrestlers throughout the country that first and foremost are punks. What is unique about the wrestlers in TFC is they do not are their character in a way, they do not just dress up like punks, they are punks. Carroll says, “When I started wrestling I did not see anything that reflected what I wanted to see in wrestling, so I started bringing punk into wrestling.” “So punk was always the most important thing to me, which is why I lived the life I live. I’ve never had much money, I’ve never had a good job. I’ve always been a fuck up, and I’ve always been like, well it’s because I’m punk and it’s a good excuse to avoid accountability,” says Carroll.

Category: 2024 What We Do, What We Do Tags: Evie Linantud, Liam Myerow, Travis LaCoss