THE LOVE PROJECT — Photographer & Interviewer
25 participants

Feeling love far from my reach, I embarked on this project to face my own myths about love, that it was only for a select few. Like an anthropologist would, I began to survey. I accosted people I encountered on the street, asking, “Who are you in love with?.” Almost everyone I approached agreed to participate in this series called, the LOVE PROJECT. I was struck by the quickness of these strangers to respond so directly, immediately sharing such an intimate part of their life. Every participant returned the question to me. Upon hearing my answer, they offered condolence, solace and hope to me, even those who had said they never wanted to love again. One man asked me out. The whole exchange usually lasted 15 minutes. We’d then smile, shake hands, sometimes even hug, and move on.

Artist statement I collect the stories of the everyday person. I like the idea of spontaneously entering someone’s life for a moment, and asking them to tell me something very intimate. Because of the honesty one can have with a stranger, a kind of truthful exchange happens, and then they’re gone. There is an electricity that occurs. People want to tell their story. Camera: Mamiya 67

Exhibited at Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, Oregon, 2003, 20x24” and 30x40” with Artist Talk

Audience shift: Everyone holds a love story in their — present, past, or hopeful future — heart.

I was in love with my ex-wife, but she cheated on me. My little sister walked in on them… I never want to fall in love ever again. It’s overrated. I feel jaded now I don’t want to open up to anyone again. Can I be blunt? I work here, and I see pretty girls and I have sex with them all the time. I can have sex with them, but I won’t give them my heart. That probably won’t happen. I don’t know if my heart will ever heal. But I hope so, maybe one day.

This is like a déjà vu–I was just thinking about love. I love my wife. We split right now. If this ever get out, I want everybody to know this is how I am. It just happened like this: Okay, my wife I’ve been knowing her maybe since I was maybe 19. She was probably 16. Ever since the first time I seen her, I knew I wanted her. Are you getting this? We finally hooked up. We from Army Street. She was the only thing I trusted and lived for, she the only thing I always figure one day would be great because of her, right? Well, that’s because she’s a female. She had a better education than me. She was qualified to get on in life better than I was. I figure one day when I get away from all this–survival and selling–whatever life is out there. I always thought she’d be the one who’d bring me up out of this. Instead, she was the one who did a lot more damage to me. But I do love her.

I’m in love with a guy I’ve been seeing him for about a year now. I don’t know. We’re best friends. We’re both married. So, it’s been interesting. We’re both going through some hard times with our marriages. I’m planning on leaving my husband. He probably won’t leave his wife, but that’s fine. I need to be alone for a little while. Yeah, it’s an interesting love life right now. My husband doesn’t know, but I think he suspects. We haven’t had any relations for over a year now. I think he knows something’s up but he doesn’t know what. We’ve been married for 13 years and we have two boys. It’s kind of sad thing, but the reason I’m still with him is for the kids. This other guy is a lot more my type. It’s a great love life right now but not with who I married unfortunately.

I love women on TV. They’re beautiful. But, I’m not in love right now. The woman out here break your heart. All they want is your money. They don’t want love, they just want to hurt you. I like women. I’ve been gay for all my life. I’m 26 years old right now. Maybe I’ve been in the wrong places to meet women because I’ve been in the drug world. We’re all dope fiends. They’re beautiful. Women are sensitive…if you meet one that’s sensitive. They got a lot of feelings. I’m mean, I know I’m a woman. I’ve got feelings, too.

I haven’t had anybody to love really, to tell you the truth. Nobody has ever loved me. I’ve never really loved anybody either. I’ve had girlfriends, even a wife. But I still don’t know what love is yet.

Currently I’m homeless so I don’t have a current love interest. I’d love to get off the streets. I had one girlfriend. I grew up in Houston, Texas. She’s married now. So, you know, that love has faded. But that was the strongest love I had. I loved her for 5 years. We met through mutual friends in high school. I don’t still love her or think about her. I’ve been so tied up in my own shit. I haven’t really been thinking about love.