Anthony Alden / Photojournalist
Anthony Alden Vines, pen name “Anthony Alden”, is the youngest of ten children, eight boys and two girls. Anthony has been fortunate enough to have had many positive role models that shared their infinite wisdom to help him navigate his way through life. He grew up in Toledo, Ohio, a small Midwest manufacturing city located on the doorsteps of Detroit, Michigan. He grew up understanding that he had “two roads to walk” to find his way out of the inner city the right or the wrong road. His childhood motivated him to start a non-profit (2 ROADS 2 WALK) to help at risk teenagers navigate through life choices.
Anthony grew up in a working class family, his humble beginning was rich with things that money could not buy such as, unconditional love, morals, and strong family values. His father died when he was young, yet, his mother had enough love to compensate for his loss. Anthony has so many blessings that have been bestowed upon him by the Creator who blessed him with the gift of creativity. He dedicates his life to advancing his own creative energy; as well as others particularly young emerging artists. Anthony has always been amazed how a vision can be transformed into a work of art. This transformation process was the motivation for launching Soul on Canvas Publishing, an art publishing company dedicated to advancing the creative spirit of African American visual artist and writers.
Anthony grew up influenced by the music genre favored by his older brothers, such as, old school soul (Blue Magic, Ohio Players, and Dramatics) and old school rap (Eric B, Public Enemy). This experience motivated him to launch Buzz Music Magazine.
Another significant childhood influence came from his fascination with looking at old family photos. The photo images mirrored kinship ties taken by Anthony’s father, the late Clifton Vines, a self-taught photographer. His passion for documentary photography grew from these old family photos.
The Vines’ men are connected by four generations of photographers and writers. In the tradition of Anthony’s great, great grandfather, Cornelius Edwards, who started Toledo’s first African-American newspaper “The Observer” in 1922; Anthony started Ohio’s first hip-hop lifestyle magazine “Urban Flava” in 1998.
As a self-taught photographer, Anthony's love for writing and photography combined to help him convey his creative spirit in journalism focusing on the plight of the urban Black male. His writing aspirations began with documenting the demoralizing effects of racism and poverty through poetry. The famous African-American photographer, Gordon Parks, influenced Anthony’s use of words and photography. Learning to trust his instincts, Anthony’s style is to use as little equipment as possible allowing his pen and camera to do the talking.
A quote from Anthony Alden:
“Its not art if you aren’t connected to your subject because of the restraints place on you by excessive equipment. I still enjoy putting pencil to the paper before plugging it into the computer. My motto has always been keeping it simple because creativity equals infinity”.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Education: University of Utah
Soul on Canvas Publications, founder, 1997
Founder Endangered Magazine 2009
Buzz Magazine, founder, 2003
Urban Flava Magazine, founder, 1998
“Clenched Fist: The Anatomy of Rage”, Authored, 2010
“Love doesn’t end with goodbye” Novel schedule for release 2011
Curator:
“P.O.W. Exhibition”
“I Am Who I Am Collection”
“Rebirth” Photography of: Sam Tyus