Fate & There’s Featured Artist Fundraiser

Daniel Mollohan is an American artist. He's a photographer who aproaches documentary, portrait, and even pet photography as if he was, where he feels most comfortable, in the streets searching for that elusive decisive moment. For over seventeen years, Daniel has managed to consistently remain both in print and relavant as his images have been published in a great number of publications around the world. He has also been the subject of many articles and of a short PBS peice (featured). Upon examining his accomplishments as an artist and viewing his timeless images one would most likely draw the conclusion that this is an artist who has "made it", that Daniel is a success story. Unfortunately, for a number of American artists, critical success, global appeal, and a turn-of-the-century work ethic does not equal finacial success. It doesn't even equal finacial security. Daniel's photographs are important to America and the world but due to circumstance and what most would simply call bad luck, the fact is that he can not afford to give the world his gift.

Daniel has always had to work a "normal" job to survive. For the majority of his adult life, he's juggled one, two, and sometimes three jobs while doing his best to create spectacular art peices. There have been months where he has not had a camera due to damage or because he has had to pawn gear to pay rent. Another fact that is disturbing is that Daniel is, by professional photographer standards, a stark minimalist when it comes to equipment. He has never been able to afford a back up camera like most pro's, and he, at most, only uses three different prime lenses, rarely uses a flash, and over the course of a seventeen year career, has purchased two tripods. Before his life was struck with several tragedies (the past two years), though, he was planning on purchasing some lighting equipment for the first time.

It would be easy to base a fundraiser only on the facts of a talented and productive artist who does not have enough money to properly do what he does best. That alone would be justification for charity. One could even, in Daniels case, make the arguement that he has struggled enough, his body of published work proves his abilities (not to mention the hundreds of 35mm negatives he has never been able to print due to poverty), and he managed to make those images, complete those projects, while holding down "normal jobs" and barely getting by, so isn't it time to see what he can do while not held back by finacial burdens? There is more, though. Daniel needs your help, your support, not only for the sake of his art, but for the sake of his mind.

For as long as Daniel can remember, he has felt a weight pushing down on him-- invisible hands holding him back. Daniel is a long-time sufferer of mental illness. He has been diagnosed as many things as is common in the world of mental health. Chronic depression, manic depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and most recently borderline personality disorder. As an adolesent (13), Daniel discovered a way to ease his pain. He discovered some artificial light in his dark world. Photography? Unfortunately, it was not photography. He discovered alcohol, and for the 23 years to follow it would be a physical and emotional necessity. At first, it enabled him to feel normal, but eventually he became physically dependent and without alcohol he could not function.

In June of 2015, Daniel tossed his crutch aside, put himself in a hospital, and has remained sober ever since. He always feared that without alcohol his work would suffer but once he began to take to the streets with his long-time friend once again and without that artifitial light he found that it did not hinder his talent. Daniel believes his work has improved, actually. So, you may be asking yourself, "what's the problem? He overcame his addiction and his photos improved so why is he having trouble now?". The explanation is simple, without the alcohol, Daniel had realized that he did not know who he really was. For all of his adult life he had been drunk. Dealing with his illness sober is a daily challenge. Working those "normal jobs" now feels impossible. He does it, and he will continue to if he has to, but what if he had a chance? What if he could afford to purchase the nessecary equipment to use photography as his "normal job"? What if he could afford to travel to a places where he could create even better images, and write about his travels? Then maybe he could prove himself in another field even? It is hard to understand for some but Daniel has never had the chance, like the photographers who are earning a living, to go to places that have the air of the exotic. If he can find beauty in the place where his photos were taken then imagine what he could do in a place like India or Peru?

The challenge of being sober and having an illness was put to the test early in his first year when first, his exgirlfriend (with whom he had shared a long and emotionally taxing relationship) passed away suddenly and whose family placed the blame on Daniel. This was followed by the death of his father when he lost a short fight with pancreatic cancer, and who was loosely the subject of his project "On the Road". Daniel had a difficult time holding down those jobs that helped him get by. His camera was in and out of the pawn shop, and as much as he hated to, he reached out to friends and family. Daniel, due to his years of drinking, found that people had a hard time trusting an ex-addict. He understood. He had a family member who did help at every turn. When his camera finally died, she was there to put another one in his hands. The new camera, which was not easy for his family member to purchase, did not have a long life. This is the proverbial STRAW. This is why we are at this point, attempting to raise the funding he needs. We figured that, hey, while we are here, let us not stop at a new camera. Let us give Daniel an honest fresh start.

As it stands right now, Daniel does not have a camera, he is working two jobs that can pay his bills if he works, does absolutely nothing else, and nothing out of the ordinary goes wrong. Daniel needs a decent psychiatric doctor. Daniel needs a car, and very soon he is going to need a new computer. We also think that after 38 years of only working, Daniel needs a vacation.

So, give if you can, and if you can't then pass this along to five people who can. Daniel needs your help.