NEW YORK-OCTOBER 22: LIVE WITHOUT THE ENEMY, a multimedia presentation exposing the cycle of violence by photographer DONNA FERRATO In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month on Thursday, October 22, 2009 before The Gender Fairness Committee of New York County Supreme Court, Civil Branch, 60 Centre Street, Jury Assembly Room, 4th Floor #452, New York City, NY.

The New York State Supreme Court Judges honored Donna Ferrato today for her influential encouragement of gender fairness through her talent as both an artist and activist photographer. Guests were welcomed by: Ann Rumsberg, Esq.(Co-Chair, Gender Fairness Committee, Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County) and Hon. Deborah Kaplan (Co-Chair, Gender Fairness Committee, Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County). Special remarks were delivered by Hon. Joan B. Carey, (Administrative Judge for Civil Matters, First Judicial District) Hon. Matthew F. Cooper (Co-Chair of the Domestic Violence Subcommittee) introduced the honoree, Donna Ferrato who made a multimedia presentation exposing the cycle of domestic violence. Gregory Testa, Esq. led the closing remarks and the award presentation. Among the VIP Guests in attendance was Rosana Rodriguez a survivor of domestic violence, advocate and activist who is presently the Voices of Women (VOW) Court Reform Organizer. About Donna Ferrato: Donna Ferrato has been a professional photographer since 1982, having become famous for and establishing her career by visually capturing the horrors of family violence. For ten years, she documented domestic abuse by spending time in battered women's shelters, living with couples in their homes, and riding with the police for weeks at a time. In 1991, Aperture Foundation published her documentation in a book titled,"Living with the Enemy", a photo-journey that engages the reader in the dark and often neglected realities of love and family life. Donna's unique ability to get behind closed doors has allowed her to capture the most complex moments in human interactions and relationships. Her commitment to society's darkest problems from domestic violence to child sexual assault has become landmark essays in the field of documentary photography. Her photographs have changed laws and consistently challenged ignorant attitudes promoted by society about violence against women and children. Her iconic book, Living with the Enemy, has been reprinted three times and sold a record number of 40,000 copies worldwide. Through exhibitions of her pictures and lectures worldwide Donna Ferrato is recognized as one of the pre-eminent forces in the fight against the oppression of women. She has become one of the most recognized American photojournalists working worldwide on personality projects as diverse as Bruce Springsteen, Guns AND Roses, and human sexuality. Today, Donna Ferrato lectures on domestic violence at universities, hospitals, and shelters. Ferrato has worked worldwide on assignments from Bruce Springsteen to the Gulf War. Her photographs have been published extensively, in publications such as Life, Fortune, The New York Times Magazine, Stern in Germany, DAS and DU magazines in Switzerland. Her domestic violence documentation has won numerous awards, including the W. Eugene Smith Grant, the Robert F. Kennedy Award, and the Kodak Crystal Eagle for Courage in Journalism. Donna Ferrato was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, raised in Lorain, Ohio, and is now based in New York City, in the Tribeca Neighborhood. Through exhibitions of her pictures and lectures worldwide Donna is recognized as one of the pre-eminent forces in the fight against the oppression of women. She has become one of the most recognized American photojournalists working worldwide on personality projects as diverse as Bruce Springsteen, Guns AND Roses, and human sexuality.

SEE ALSO: Abuse Aware | Domestic Abuse Awareness | Tribeca Trib, Donna Ferrato's 10013 | Love, Donna-Photographs by Donna Ferrato | NY Times, Showcase: TriBeCa Chiaroscuro

PHOTO CREDIT:Copyright ©Manhattan Society.com 2009 by Christopher London | tel: Private | e-mail: ChrisLondon@manhattansociety.com*****NOTE: More photos, notes and id's to follow.****