San Antonio is a community of interesting and diverse and opinionated
interesting and diverse and opinionated
interesting and diverse and opinionated people we are forward thinking and eager
people we are forward thinking and eager
people we are forward thinking and eager to be a part of something bigger than
to be a part of something bigger than
to be a part of something bigger than ourselves we are young and old and from
ourselves we are young and old and from
ourselves we are young and old and from everywhere in the world and from right
everywhere in the world and from right
everywhere in the world and from right here together we are community and we
here together we are community and we
here together we are community and we need each other we need each other to
need each other we need each other to
need each other we need each other to create that human connection that
create that human connection that
create that human connection that community provides to fulfill the desire
community provides to fulfill the desire
community provides to fulfill the desire to belong that is at the core of our
to belong that is at the core of our
to belong that is at the core of our souls to lift each other up when we are
souls to lift each other up when we are
souls to lift each other up when we are down to grow and celebrate we need each
down to grow and celebrate we need each
down to grow and celebrate we need each other we need community my community of
other we need community my community of
other we need community my community of San Antonio as a photographer in San
San Antonio as a photographer in San
San Antonio as a photographer in San Antonio my camera takes me to places I
Antonio my camera takes me to places I
Antonio my camera takes me to places I wouldn’t otherwise have access to in
wouldn’t otherwise have access to in
wouldn’t otherwise have access to in 2013 I decided to photograph a thousand
2013 I decided to photograph a thousand
2013 I decided to photograph a thousand and five people to show this unique
and five people to show this unique
and five people to show this unique experience I get to have it began after
experience I get to have it began after
experience I get to have it began after a photo assignment for dream week which
a photo assignment for dream week which
a photo assignment for dream week which is a 12 day summit that took me to
is a 12 day summit that took me to
is a 12 day summit that took me to events across the city that promote
events across the city that promote
events across the city that promote meaningful conversations and
meaningful conversations and
meaningful conversations and celebrations of diversity and culture
celebrations of diversity and culture
celebrations of diversity and culture after taking a great deal of photos the
after taking a great deal of photos the
after taking a great deal of photos the founder of dream we commented that it
founder of dream we commented that it
founder of dream we commented that it would be interesting to pull out a
would be interesting to pull out a
would be interesting to pull out a thousand of these faces and place them
thousand of these faces and place them
thousand of these faces and place them side-by-side I liked the idea and I
side-by-side I liked the idea and I
side-by-side I liked the idea and I decided to start fresh a thousand would
decided to start fresh a thousand would
decided to start fresh a thousand would give me a great subsection of our city
give me a great subsection of our city
give me a great subsection of our city but a thousand and five would make it
but a thousand and five would make it
but a thousand and five would make it memorable in order to level the playing
memorable in order to level the playing
memorable in order to level the playing field and create the same context for
field and create the same context for
field and create the same context for everybody I photographed the images in
everybody I photographed the images in
everybody I photographed the images in the exact same light with the same
the exact same light with the same
the exact same light with the same background in same composition stripping
background in same composition stripping
background in same composition stripping away as many elements as I could that
away as many elements as I could that
away as many elements as I could that typically lead to preconceived notions
typically lead to preconceived notions
typically lead to preconceived notions and judgments it’s kind of like a mug
and judgments it’s kind of like a mug
and judgments it’s kind of like a mug shot each person involved was asked to
shot each person involved was asked to
shot each person involved was asked to write whatever they may like onto a
write whatever they may like onto a
write whatever they may like onto a small marker board there was no criteria
small marker board there was no criteria
small marker board there was no criteria for what they wrote I began with family
for what they wrote I began with family
for what they wrote I began with family and friends and the momentum grew is the
and friends and the momentum grew is the
and friends and the momentum grew is the call to action was spread via social
call to action was spread via social
call to action was spread via social media I had events across the city and I
media I had events across the city and I
media I had events across the city and I invited anyone who wanted to join the
invited anyone who wanted to join the
invited anyone who wanted to join the internet was the main home of the
internet was the main home of the
internet was the main home of the project but I was also able to take the
project but I was also able to take the
project but I was also able to take the portraits into public spaces
portraits into public spaces
portraits into public spaces I used a simple technique of wheat
I used a simple technique of wheat
I used a simple technique of wheat pasting to display on city streets I had
pasting to display on city streets I had
pasting to display on city streets I had wonderful gallery openings where I
wonderful gallery openings where I
wonderful gallery openings where I showed all 1005 faces side by side and
showed all 1005 faces side by side and
showed all 1005 faces side by side and finally I had them published into a
finally I had them published into a
finally I had them published into a single book it was a beautiful time
single book it was a beautiful time
single book it was a beautiful time capsule of our city after one year the
capsule of our city after one year the
capsule of our city after one year the body of work was complete and some
body of work was complete and some
body of work was complete and some interesting trends emerged 84 people
interesting trends emerged 84 people
interesting trends emerged 84 people wrote just one word 71 people wrote
wrote just one word 71 people wrote
wrote just one word 71 people wrote about love 54 people put their sign in
about love 54 people put their sign in
about love 54 people put their sign in another language and 90 people let their
another language and 90 people let their
another language and 90 people let their inner artist shine they showed us their
inner artist shine they showed us their
inner artist shine they showed us their instruments and their pets they asked us
instruments and their pets they asked us
instruments and their pets they asked us to dream and to smile and laugh and they
to dream and to smile and laugh and they
to dream and to smile and laugh and they encouraged our faith and almost everyone
encouraged our faith and almost everyone
encouraged our faith and almost everyone sought to inspire nearly everyone who
sought to inspire nearly everyone who
sought to inspire nearly everyone who took part in this project used it as an
took part in this project used it as an
took part in this project used it as an opportunity to share something positive
opportunity to share something positive
opportunity to share something positive to be a source of light and of love and
to be a source of light and of love and
to be a source of light and of love and of hope this positivity isn’t
of hope this positivity isn’t
of hope this positivity isn’t necessarily what I expected it’s exactly
necessarily what I expected it’s exactly
necessarily what I expected it’s exactly what I needed as an artist I was looking
what I needed as an artist I was looking
what I needed as an artist I was looking for these ways to find these ideas of
for these ways to find these ideas of
for these ways to find these ideas of community and diversity that were bigger
community and diversity that were bigger
community and diversity that were bigger than myself and create these universal
than myself and create these universal
than myself and create these universal connections but is just myself as Sarah
connections but is just myself as Sarah
connections but is just myself as Sarah my motivation wasn’t quite as altruistic
my motivation wasn’t quite as altruistic
my motivation wasn’t quite as altruistic I was desperately looking for a way to
I was desperately looking for a way to
I was desperately looking for a way to get out of my own head I had just begun
get out of my own head I had just begun
get out of my own head I had just begun a newfound road of recovery and sobriety
a newfound road of recovery and sobriety
a newfound road of recovery and sobriety and although from all external
and although from all external
and although from all external observations my life looked fine I was
observations my life looked fine I was
observations my life looked fine I was dying inside and I was terribly lonely
dying inside and I was terribly lonely
dying inside and I was terribly lonely even in a crowded room I was terrified
even in a crowded room I was terrified
even in a crowded room I was terrified of the isolation that occurs when I let
of the isolation that occurs when I let
of the isolation that occurs when I let my own thoughts overtake me and my hope
my own thoughts overtake me and my hope
my own thoughts overtake me and my hope was that if I focused on a thousand and
was that if I focused on a thousand and
was that if I focused on a thousand and five other people and I let somebody
five other people and I let somebody
five other people and I let somebody else have the stage I wouldn’t be in my
else have the stage I wouldn’t be in my
else have the stage I wouldn’t be in my head so much and so I listened
head so much and so I listened
head so much and so I listened I listen to my daughter Scarlett as she
I listen to my daughter Scarlett as she
I listen to my daughter Scarlett as she protested yet another photo by her
protested yet another photo by her
protested yet another photo by her mother knowing someday we would
mother knowing someday we would
mother knowing someday we would appreciate our struggle and I listened
appreciate our struggle and I listened
appreciate our struggle and I listened as Dana told me the stories of the
as Dana told me the stories of the
as Dana told me the stories of the symbols once written by her Native
symbols once written by her Native
symbols once written by her Native American ancestors how the symbols for
American ancestors how the symbols for
American ancestors how the symbols for bright prospects and hope would be
bright prospects and hope would be
bright prospects and hope would be weaved into the wedding dress you would
weaved into the wedding dress you would
weaved into the wedding dress you would wear to marry the man she had loved for
wear to marry the man she had loved for
wear to marry the man she had loved for 12 years and I listened to my
12 years and I listened to my
12 years and I listened to my grandmother tell me stories of being
grandmother tell me stories of being
grandmother tell me stories of being eight years old and roller skating along
eight years old and roller skating along
eight years old and roller skating along south alamo in the 1930s reminding me of
south alamo in the 1930s reminding me of
south alamo in the 1930s reminding me of where my roots are and I marveled at the
where my roots are and I marveled at the
where my roots are and I marveled at the expression of Amanda who’s larger than
expression of Amanda who’s larger than
expression of Amanda who’s larger than life or a drew me in her warmth inviting
life or a drew me in her warmth inviting
life or a drew me in her warmth inviting everyone around her to be exactly
everyone around her to be exactly
everyone around her to be exactly themselves and I cried several months
themselves and I cried several months
themselves and I cried several months later when I learned that addiction took
later when I learned that addiction took
later when I learned that addiction took her out of this world I’m at the royal
her out of this world I’m at the royal
her out of this world I’m at the royal court a fiesta speciale who used their
court a fiesta speciale who used their
court a fiesta speciale who used their disabilities as a way to bring joy and
disabilities as a way to bring joy and
disabilities as a way to bring joy and laughter an awareness to the world
laughter an awareness to the world
laughter an awareness to the world around them and I listen to bill sink in
around them and I listen to bill sink in
around them and I listen to bill sink in a man who was a hundred years old who
a man who was a hundred years old who
a man who was a hundred years old who had been a leader of integration in our
had been a leader of integration in our
had been a leader of integration in our city who was pushing for renewable
city who was pushing for renewable
city who was pushing for renewable energy before it was trendy I listened
energy before it was trendy I listened
energy before it was trendy I listened as he made ricci jokes without a care in
as he made ricci jokes without a care in
as he made ricci jokes without a care in the world because he was enjoying all of
the world because he was enjoying all of
the world because he was enjoying all of his life to the fullest I saw how
his life to the fullest I saw how
his life to the fullest I saw how Augusto quail are created fashion where
Augusto quail are created fashion where
Augusto quail are created fashion where the imagination can transport you into
the imagination can transport you into
the imagination can transport you into his own beautiful world of dreams and I
his own beautiful world of dreams and I
his own beautiful world of dreams and I found myself at the walls of geekdom
found myself at the walls of geekdom
found myself at the walls of geekdom where technology wizards had created
where technology wizards had created
where technology wizards had created their own incubator that was lifting the
their own incubator that was lifting the
their own incubator that was lifting the city to a new place of recognition and I
city to a new place of recognition and I
city to a new place of recognition and I saw the power of the relationships being
saw the power of the relationships being
saw the power of the relationships being created on a tenth floor in downtown San
created on a tenth floor in downtown San
created on a tenth floor in downtown San Antonio and I learned of B story who was
Antonio and I learned of B story who was
Antonio and I learned of B story who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and
diagnosed with thyroid cancer and
diagnosed with thyroid cancer and confined to a small room during her
confined to a small room during her
confined to a small room during her treatment unable to have any visitors
treatment unable to have any visitors
treatment unable to have any visitors the window in her room became a lifeline
the window in her room became a lifeline
the window in her room became a lifeline to the world outside of her confinement
to the world outside of her confinement
to the world outside of her confinement and I saw the just love tattoo that Suzy
and I saw the just love tattoo that Suzy
and I saw the just love tattoo that Suzy and all of her love tripa gotten after
and all of her love tripa gotten after
and all of her love tripa gotten after the brutal death of her young daughter
the brutal death of her young daughter
the brutal death of her young daughter and granddaughter at the hands of an
and granddaughter at the hands of an
and granddaughter at the hands of an abusive man I learned of her struggle
abusive man I learned of her struggle
abusive man I learned of her struggle for justice and
for justice and
for justice and I saw the fire and determination that
I saw the fire and determination that
I saw the fire and determination that can only come from a mother who will
can only come from a mother who will
can only come from a mother who will never give up the fight and I found a
never give up the fight and I found a
never give up the fight and I found a friend in Enrique whose own beautiful
friend in Enrique whose own beautiful
friend in Enrique whose own beautiful road to recovery had given him a new
road to recovery had given him a new
road to recovery had given him a new life after he lost everything because of
life after he lost everything because of
life after he lost everything because of addiction and he showed me how to walk
addiction and he showed me how to walk
addiction and he showed me how to walk step by step with hope and courage I met
step by step with hope and courage I met
step by step with hope and courage I met Robert at haven for hope he had come
Robert at haven for hope he had come
Robert at haven for hope he had come into their doors addicted and homeless
into their doors addicted and homeless
into their doors addicted and homeless and had gone through their programs to
and had gone through their programs to
and had gone through their programs to find a new life on the other side with a
find a new life on the other side with a
find a new life on the other side with a heart full of gratitude for what God had
heart full of gratitude for what God had
heart full of gratitude for what God had done for him he became a source of
done for him he became a source of
done for him he became a source of inspiration and guidance to others on a
inspiration and guidance to others on a
inspiration and guidance to others on a similar journey he passed shortly after
similar journey he passed shortly after
similar journey he passed shortly after this photo was taken the express-news
this photo was taken the express-news
this photo was taken the express-news ran a wonderful story on him they asked
ran a wonderful story on him they asked
ran a wonderful story on him they asked to use this photo as it was the only one
to use this photo as it was the only one
to use this photo as it was the only one of him the family had I learned how when
of him the family had I learned how when
of him the family had I learned how when Nina was a small girl her mother was
Nina was a small girl her mother was
Nina was a small girl her mother was battling MS in cancer and her father
battling MS in cancer and her father
battling MS in cancer and her father worked 80 plus hours a week and cared
worked 80 plus hours a week and cared
worked 80 plus hours a week and cared for her and the dogs in her home became
for her and the dogs in her home became
for her and the dogs in her home became her source of love and companionship
her source of love and companionship
her source of love and companionship when she felt alone I met Charlie who
when she felt alone I met Charlie who
when she felt alone I met Charlie who had just opened up bakery Lorraine I saw
had just opened up bakery Lorraine I saw
had just opened up bakery Lorraine I saw his passion and his investment in the
his passion and his investment in the
his passion and his investment in the city and it was contagious and I met
city and it was contagious and I met
city and it was contagious and I met Miguel who although wheelchair-bound has
Miguel who although wheelchair-bound has
Miguel who although wheelchair-bound has the life of three people we became
the life of three people we became
the life of three people we became connected on social media and I saw a
connected on social media and I saw a
connected on social media and I saw a person who is constantly putting in time
person who is constantly putting in time
person who is constantly putting in time and effort to make his community a
and effort to make his community a
and effort to make his community a better place I met Norma whose family
better place I met Norma whose family
better place I met Norma whose family was the first to sell beauty supply
was the first to sell beauty supply
was the first to sell beauty supply products to african-american women in
products to african-american women in
products to african-american women in San Antonio who still works on the same
San Antonio who still works on the same
San Antonio who still works on the same street where her father’s store was
street where her father’s store was
street where her father’s store was built in nineteen sixty eight on the
built in nineteen sixty eight on the
built in nineteen sixty eight on the east side she is fierce in her resolve
east side she is fierce in her resolve
east side she is fierce in her resolve to bring every resource possible to her
to bring every resource possible to her
to bring every resource possible to her neighborhood I met women like me who are
neighborhood I met women like me who are
neighborhood I met women like me who are providing for the household I even met
providing for the household I even met
providing for the household I even met Jesus
I learned about the Sikh religion from
I learned about the Sikh religion from Parham and jess i was invited to their
Parham and jess i was invited to their
Parham and jess i was invited to their place of worship where they taught me
place of worship where they taught me
place of worship where they taught me about their fundamental belief in the
about their fundamental belief in the
about their fundamental belief in the inherent equality of all people I had a
inherent equality of all people I had a
inherent equality of all people I had a wonderful meal in their home where I
wonderful meal in their home where I
wonderful meal in their home where I embarrassed myself by thinking the wife
embarrassed myself by thinking the wife
embarrassed myself by thinking the wife for the wonderful dinner to learn that
for the wonderful dinner to learn that
for the wonderful dinner to learn that parem the husband had been in the
parem the husband had been in the
parem the husband had been in the kitchen all day and I learned humility
kitchen all day and I learned humility
kitchen all day and I learned humility when I photographed David Robinson and
when I photographed David Robinson and
when I photographed David Robinson and he patiently waited through the chaos as
he patiently waited through the chaos as
he patiently waited through the chaos as I cut my hand and the flash broke and
I cut my hand and the flash broke and
I cut my hand and the flash broke and the background tumbled to the ground and
the background tumbled to the ground and
the background tumbled to the ground and my ego was put into check and I saw the
my ego was put into check and I saw the
my ego was put into check and I saw the strength of a military wife who’s giddy
strength of a military wife who’s giddy
strength of a military wife who’s giddy excitement over her husband’s return was
excitement over her husband’s return was
excitement over her husband’s return was that of a school girls and Mario who in
that of a school girls and Mario who in
that of a school girls and Mario who in Native American tradition cleansed me
Native American tradition cleansed me
Native American tradition cleansed me with burning sage and listened as I
with burning sage and listened as I
with burning sage and listened as I aired my troubles and although he cannot
aired my troubles and although he cannot
aired my troubles and although he cannot see could somehow tell I had changed my
see could somehow tell I had changed my
see could somehow tell I had changed my hair and I was reminded to never give up
hair and I was reminded to never give up
hair and I was reminded to never give up and then it would be okay that I was not
and then it would be okay that I was not
and then it would be okay that I was not alone and I knew I would never have to
alone and I knew I would never have to
alone and I knew I would never have to be alone again my community had grown
be alone again my community had grown
be alone again my community had grown into a loving diverse and inspiring
into a loving diverse and inspiring
into a loving diverse and inspiring group of people you were all around me I
group of people you were all around me I
group of people you were all around me I needed all of you and I didn’t even know
needed all of you and I didn’t even know
needed all of you and I didn’t even know it it’s not my responsibility to be
it it’s not my responsibility to be
it it’s not my responsibility to be alive and aware and present in this
alive and aware and present in this
alive and aware and present in this moment sober and just as I am so that I
moment sober and just as I am so that I
moment sober and just as I am so that I can be here when you might need me
can be here when you might need me
can be here when you might need me because this is what community does for
because this is what community does for
because this is what community does for each other and we all need each other we
each other and we all need each other we
each other and we all need each other we can all have this community around us
can all have this community around us
can all have this community around us with the intentionality to listen and
with the intentionality to listen and
with the intentionality to listen and the willingness to get out of our own
the willingness to get out of our own
the willingness to get out of our own heads it happens one small interaction
heads it happens one small interaction
heads it happens one small interaction of time one moment of listening one
of time one moment of listening one
of time one moment of listening one sentence on a marker board thank
”
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