“#bOObs for Life” Exhibition in Los Angeles by Greek photographer, Sylvia Kouveli

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Interview

“#bOObs for Life” Exhibition in Los Angeles by Greek photographer, Sylvia Kouveli

#bOObs for Life is a compilation of visually portrayed stories about physical trauma, personal struggle, survival, and the celebration of life. The exhibition is the fruit of the collaborative work of photographer Sylvia Kouveli and artist Ted Meyer, presented with the support with the American Cancer Society.

Sylvia’s work for breast cancer awareness in young women is a series of bold photographs depicting the diversity of female chests. It is meant to motivate the subject, as well as the viewer, to proactively monitor their breast health. #bOObs aims to inform and educate women, regardless of their medical history, while providing a safe space for open conversation within the community, both in the studio and on social media.

Ted creates artwork from scars that celebrate strength and survival. Through his art-making, photography and stories, Ted portrays the beauty and humor of physicality while exploring narratives of the human condition. Scarred for Life consists of artistically enhanced monoprints taken directly from the scarred skin of his subjects. Each image tells a unique story of medical crisis, resilience and healing.

Visit the #bOObs for Life website

We asked them a few questions about the convergence of politics and art and the inspiration behind this exhibition:

What inspired you to create this exhibition?

We have both been doing work on body issues, Sylvia on breast cancer awareness in young women with “#bOObs” and Ted with scar acceptance through “Scarred for Life”. We met in Greece a couple of years ago and thought our work is a good match.

What is your relationship with the American Cancer Society? Are you collaborating with their US branch? Do they have a presence in Greece?

We have been collaborating with the Los Angeles Central Coast area branch of The American Cancer Society and the Making Strides LA event team. The ACS has been supporting us throughout the planning phase by helping us reach local breast cancer survivors who are interested in being a part of our work. They have connected us with a medical expert who will say a few words at the opening reception about breast cancer and early detection, as well as her own experience with the disease.

American Cancer Society representatives will be present at the opening reception on Saturday, October 12th, 2019, to provide relevant informative literature and to answer any questions that may arise.

The American Cancer Society’s presence in Greece is limited. If I’m not mistaken, they have received some grants from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation in the past.

Where did the current health care system in place influence your art?

Sylvia: The current healthcare system is designed to provide women who are 40 years old and older with information and access to regular mammograms. Unfortunately, the fact that women in their 20s and 30s are being diagnosed with breast cancer and the lack of information on the BRCA gene mutation, on dense breast tissue and alternative screening methods, in combination with doctors often saying “it’s probably nothing, you’re too young for breast cancer” is sometimes costing them their lives.
When we speak about breast cancer awareness, we need to go deeper than just the 1 in 8 statistic. Knowledge sharing through photography sessions, exhibitions and community building via social media is an alternative way for vital information to reach more people.

Ted: I was born with a genetic illness and I have been in and out of the medical system my entire life. In my mid 40s a new treatment was developed that took away a lot of the symptoms of my illness and after years of doing art about myself and my illness it seemed like the right time to focus on other people’s illness and their stories. I decided to use people’s scar narratives as the focus of my ongoing series. I have been doing the scar print work for 20 years now.

Breast cancer is primarily known as a women’s cancer, however, the number of men affected has been increasing. Is your focus on “#bOObs” a literal approach to cancer or a metaphor for something more about gender equality?

Caught your attention, didn’t it? It’s definitely not literal, as in fact, my work is not so much about boobs per se, as it is about chests and their diversity. In order to truly know our own body, love and accept it, we must first realize that there is no generic “normal”. There are no two boobs alike and there are female chests with saggy, perky, “cross-eyed” breasts, one breast or no breasts and all that is OK.

The “#bOObs” social health initiative is bold and attention-grabbing. Men and women alike need to know that what’s over our ribcage is not a Victoria’s Secret ad and that cancer isn’t always a lump.

In fact, we have 
two men in the exhibition, both of whom felt their inclusion was an important step in educating other men that breast cancer is a possibility for them.

What are the political messages you hope to convey through your work if any?

Sylvia: The attitude towards breasts and covering them up has changed in the past decades, becoming more conservative as we regress into the future. “#bOObs” is in many ways fighting the social norm. Instead of using allusions and euphemisms for cancer and breasts, we tell the whole story – no censorship, no retouching, no filters. Exposing yourself both physically and emotionally gives you a surprising amount of empowerment.

Ted: “Scarred for Life” started out as an art project but now it’s a big documentation project and it’s hard to keep politics out of it. The art itself is not overtly political, but because a lot of the focus is on the narrative, sometimes in people’s stories, the health care system comes up, if they couldn’t pay for treatment, or had to wait for treatment.

Would you hope that your exhibition attracts younger audiences and what would you hope it elicits in them?

Absolutely, in fact the main target audience of our work is young women. As mentioned previously, we need to raise awareness precisely on the fact that women under the age of 40 are developing breast cancer and have limited resources when faced with it. The issue spans into the medical community, where doctors send women away for being “too young for breast cancer”. It’s essential that the diagnosis happens as early as possible so that the treatment can be as non-invasive as possible, and with a higher survival rate.

I truly hope that when younger people look at our work, they come one step closer to discovering their bodies and learning how to take better care of themselves.

How do you think a Greek audience’s reaction to your work will differ from an American audience’s, if at all?

Sylvia: I am already able to see the difference in the response of the people who have reached out to us in order to participate in the project. There is also a big difference in the level of self acceptance when it comes to the new image of the body after surgery, where Americans are more open about their new reality. Also,  in the USA people are a lot more open about their cancer diagnosis and there is more community spirit, whereas in Greece people tend to hide their diagnosis even from friends and family, and there are only a few organized support groups targeted to breast cancer fighters and survivors. For all these reasons, I believe that an American audience is more likely to understand the work they are seeing.

Ted: It never occurred to me that people participating in this would want to maintain their anonymity. This is a large part of Sylvia’s work, where people want to be part of her work, but only as long as their identity is not revealed. In the 20 years I have been doing my scar prints, women have asked me to not show their breasts in the photos, but I don’t think that anyone has asked me to remain anonymous.

Do you have any ideas on future exhibitions?

We want to take the exhibition with this format to Greece next year and work with breast cancer fighters and survivors in Athens, Thessaloniki, as well as in smaller towns. We are looking for sponsors or partners to support us with this, as this initiative has been self-funded for both of us.

We’d like to expand the reach of our work to a lecture series and possibly workshops that could benefit both art students, as well as cancer patients who seek healing through art.

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Dr James & Virginia Kallins

Dr. James and Virginia Kallins

Longtime stewards and servants of the Greek Community and Hellenism, Doctor James and Virginia Kallins have never forgotten their roots and an appreciation of blessings.

Doctor Kallins was the youngest of five children. He grew up on a small farm in the mountains of Arcadia in Greece, surviving multiple occupations during World War II. Seeing his village’s doctor caring for so many ill and injured inspired Doctor Kallins to study medicine at the University of Athens.

Hoping to become a surgeon, James then sailed to the USA and settled in Chicago, training in OB/GYN, surgery, and pathology at the University of Illinois School of Medicine, where he also served as an associate professor.

At a Greek Orthodox Church party, Dr. Kallins met his beloved wife, Virginia, nee Evgenia Lambropoulou, whom he married in 1957. Growing up in Chicago during the Great Depression, Virginia had lost her father and her older brother. Her mother spoke only Greek and supported herself and Virginia by knocking on doors, holding up a needle and thread to let people know she could sew. Fortunately, Virginia’s mother met and married Nicholas Mannos, loving stepfather to Virginia. Virginia’s mother encouraged her education, spurring her to become a Master Teacher mentoring others.

Dr. Kallins and his wife moved to California in 1959 where he launched his own medical practice. James encouraged his family to preserve their Greek culture, and honor charitable organizations in both the United States and Greece, which he fondly calls his “two countries and two mothers.” James and Virginia became the parents of three children (Barbara, George, and Nicholas) and now have five grandchildren (Anastasia, Evgenia, Dimitri, Nicholas and Eston).

Doctor Kallins retired from medicine in 1997, and continued the couple’s charitable initiatives, including serving as stewards for St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, Assumption in Long Beach, and as co-founders of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Downey, named after Dr. Kallins’ father George Kallinteris.

Doctor Kallins was a member of the Cathedral’s Parish Council and a founder of the Hellenic Medical and Dental Society. He also founded the Alpha Beta Society – the Greek School – in Downey, and supported the Hellenic Library in Bellflower, California. Virginia worked closely with parents at St. Sophia Cathedral to reenergize the Greek Orthodox Youth of America.

When Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974, Dr. Kallins joined the Save Cyprus Council, flying to DC to advocate for safety and justice for Hellenes in Cyprus and Greece.

The tragic and untimely passing of the couple’s son, Nicholas, was a time of great sadness. However, James and Virginia used that difficult time as an opportunity to honor Nicholas’ life by establishing the Greek Orthodox Memorial and Cultural Foundation of Southern California, and the Saint Nicholas Chapel at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

The philanthropy of James and Virginia Kallins extended to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, the Archdiocese, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. As an Archon Exarchos in the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Doctor Kallins served as the Regional Archon Commander. He has been a member of the Metropolis and Archdiocesan Councils and served with the Pan Arcadian Federation on a local and national level. He was elected as Supreme President of the Pan-Arcadian Federation, helping to raise funds for a hospital in Tripoli, Greece. The couple was honored with the Metropolitan Anthony Humanitarian Award at the FDF Festival in 2013.

The American Hellenic Council takes great pleasure in honoring Doctor James and Virginia Kallins with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. Doctor James Kallins and Virginia Kallins, thank you for your unwavering love and support of humanity and Hellenism, and for the promotion and preservation of our Greek culture and community in America.

Arianna Papalexopoulos

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Arianna has produced and starred in numerous short films that have premiered at various festivals around the globe. Her latest short films, Como, Ti Amo and Greek Enough display the tradition of excellence in filmmaking. Building on this success, she produced and acted in her first feature film, Jaunt, which took home the Audience Award at the 2024 Los Angeles Greek Film Festival.

Arianna is currently fresh off a Canadian, Midwest, and Florida stand up comedy tour where she opened for fellow Greek comic, Angelo Tsarouchas. In addition, she performed her comedy set and hosted the 18th Annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival Orpheus Awards. Arianna recently received the Greek America's Forty Under 40 award in New York City and was also selected as a “Modern Muse” speaker at the

Hellenic American Women's Council in Los Angeles, which celebrated Contemporary Hellenic American Women in the Arts.

Arianna's popular digital content celebrates both her roots and the experiences of American immigrants and their first-generation children. Arianna’s most notable character, Greek Mom, has garnered her almost 1 million followers collectively across all her social media platforms and continues to generate dozens of millions of views.

Apart from performing, you can find Arianna on the islands or mountains of Greece, cheering on the Golden State Warriors, or getting lost off the 101 Freeway.

Instagram & TikTok: @ariannapapalexopoulos

Hon. Ambassador of USA in Greece, George Tsunis

Hon. Ambassador of USA in Greece, George Tsunis

Mr. George J. Tsunis was the United States Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic for 3 years. During is successful term, Greek officials/partners speedily approved American requests critical for U.S. and NATO operations in Greece. With the signing of a $3.54 billion agreement for 20 American F-35 fighters, Greece was able to modernize its military. Following multiple collaborations with governments in Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Greece became a leader promoting energy connectivity and resiliency in the EU. Mr. Tusnis efforts promoted the Greek Prime Minister’s almost two-year political rappochement with Turkey, enhancing peace and stability in the region. Mr. Tsunis was awarded the Order of Phoenix by the Foreign Minister to The Hellenic Republic, George Gerapetritis during his three-year tenure as Ambassador.

Mr. Tsunis is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chartwell Hotels as well as an attorney, developer, philanthropist and public policy advisor with a strong interest at the intersection of economic and foreign affairs. Chartwell Hotels owns and manages Hilton, Marriott and InterContinental Hotels Group franchises across the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states. The firm also focuses community renewal, supporting tourism, business travel and investment dollars.

Mr. Tsunis’ public service includes time as a Legislative Attorney at the New York City Council, Special Counsel to the Town of Huntington (NY) Environmental Open Space Committee and Counsel to the Dix Hills (NY) Water District. He was appointed by Senator Alfonse D’Amato and served as an advisor to the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Mr. Tsunis served in the cabinet of the Governor of the State of New York and served on the Board of Directors of four New York State Public Benefit Cooperations.

Mr. Tsunis was a director of the New York Convention Center’s (Jacob Javits Center) Operating Committee and Director of the New York Convention Center’s Development Committee. Mr. Tsunis’ tenure as director came at a seminal time – during a 1.5 million sq. ft. expansion – transforming Javits into one of the world’s most modern and beautiful convention centers.

In 2021, His Eminence Elpidophoros, Archbishop of America, appointed Mr. Tsunis as the Vice-Chairman of the national coordinating committee for the 200th anniversary of the Greek revolution of 1821, organizing nationwide festivities and commemorative events to be held throughout the year to honor the revolution’s bicentennial. Mr. Tsunis was a founding trustee of the Hellenic Initiative, a global movement of the Greek diaspora, investing in the future of Greece through direct philanthropy and economic revitalization. The Hellenic Initiative empowers people to provide crisis relief, encourage entrepreneurs and create jobs. Mr. Tsunis was also a founding member of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, a national civic advocacy organization, and until recently served as the organization’s National Vice Chairman. HALC comprises a national network of Greek American community leaders to encourage an active form of citizenship committed to the Hellenic American ideals of democracy, rule of law, and philanthropy. Mr. Tsunis has also served on the Board of Directors of the Coordinated Efforts of Hellenes (CEH), a national umbrella organization for the major Greek-American advocacy organizations.

Mr. Tsunis was recognized by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios with the Saint Paul’s Medal, the Greek Orthodox Church of America’s highest recognition for a layperson. Mr. Tsunis is a member of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the highest ecclesiastical honor that can be bestowed upon a layman by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Mr. Tsunis was the recipient of the Cyprus Federation’s Justice for Cyprus Award, which was personally awarded to him by the President of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias, in 2010. In 2012, President Christofias presented Mr. Tsunis with a plaque of sterling silver olive branches, signifying peace. This award is traditionally reserved for heads of state. In 2013, the new President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, similarly honored Mr. Tsunis for his philanthropic efforts on behalf of the children of Cyprus.

In 2017, Mr. Tsunis was the recipient of the Athens-Wishner Award jointly presented by the American Jewish Committee (“AJC”) and Hellenic American Leadership Council (“HALC”) for his dedication to Greco-Israeli-Cypriot relations.

Mr. Tsunis received his Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law. Mr. Tsunis established the James and Eleni Tsunis Endowed Distinguished Academic Scholarship at Hofstra University, the George J. Tsunis Scholarship at the Maurice Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, the James George Tsunis Memorial Scholarship at Pennsylvania College of Technology and the George James Tsunis ’92 and the Karloutsos Scholarships at St. John’s University’s School of Law and created the James and Eleni Tsunis Endowed Scholarship at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Mr. Tsunis also underwrote the James and Eleni Tsunis Library at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons in honor of his parents. In 2019, the Hellenic Lawyers Association of New York named Mr. Tsunis as its honoree for his dedication to professional development in the Hellenic community.

Mr. Tsunis and his wife, Olga live in Matinecock, NY, with their three children. It is a great honor for the American Hellenic Council to welcome Ambassador Tsunis to Los Angeles and our Annual Gala and award him the AHC Aristeion Award.

Christos Vassilopoulos

Christos Vasilopoulos was born and raised in Athens, Greece. He started acting at the age of 17 as a stage actor and graduated from the "Iasmos" Athens Drama School. Christos was one of the few young actors who worked professionally during his drama school years.
Two years after his graduation, he became a member of the National Theatre of Greece, where he performed for four years. After seven years of continuous work in theatre and TV commercials, Christos landed a series of regular roles on one of the biggest daily shows of that time, taking his career to the next level.

During the first 14 years of his career, having worked on major TV shows and collaborated with some of the most renowned theatre directors in Greece, he decided to transition to the United States. His credits in the U.S. include films, campaigns, commercials, recurring roles on the hit shows Banshee (created by Alan Ball) and The Last Ship, as well as guest-star roles on The Closer, Blindspot, Whiskey Cavalier, Warrior, and Kabul.

Christos holds a 3rd dan black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He served in the Greek Special Forces as a marine and attained the rank of sergeant. He rarely uses a stunt double.

Alongside his fellow actor and friend Yorgos Karamichos, Christos translated Ivana Chubbuck’s The Power of the Actor into Greek—one of the most influential books on modern acting techniques. He is also the only Greek-certified acting coach trained by Ivana Chubbuck.

For the past five years, Christos has been working as a creative producer on films and TV shows.