Pictured at left:
BARB LUVS BONNIE, 2004
Pre-Smooch! Project historical photograph

IN THE BEGINNING, PART 1 of 4:

"Take a picture of us," my twin sister said, as she stood beside me with her arm across my shoulders. Barb and I were standing in the atrium of my apartment building in Saint Paul, Minnesota, exhibiting our creative wares with several other artists during a public art event. It was October 2004.

My task was not an easy one to perform, given the size and weight of my camera. I recall struggling to point the lens, not at all sure of what I was capturing. Then, just as I snapped the shutter, Barb turned her head and smooched me on the cheek.

As you can see, I didn't succeed in capturing very much of us. In fact, from a professional standpoint, this is a rather lousy photo. Even so, I simply loved it! I framed a print of it and every time I came home and saw it on my wall, my heart lifted, no matter what my mood. A small thing, perhaps, but I was pleasantly puzzled to find that this effect on me never seemed to diminish. I didn’t realize that the answer to this small mystery was soon to be revealed to me.

Pictured at right:
JIM LUVS IVY, 2008
Smooch! Project Archive category –
Together: The Middle Years (5-20 years)

IN THE BEGINNING, PART 2 of 4:

In January 2005, out of curiosity, I decided to take an Introduction to Buddhism class at a local meditation center. Without even realizing I had even been on a search, I had managed to stumble into my spiritual home. The 2,500-year-old teachings I was introduced to explained much to me, including the reason why the photo above made me feel so happy.

For me, Buddhist teachings are more of a pragmatic life science than a religious practice. I have found the teachings an invitation to deeply study my own human heart: How it works, how it hurts, how it heals. In my practice, I have learned much, including several new words from the Pali language, which was used at the time of the Buddha. Here's one: Mudita (Moo-DEE-tah).

Mudita is often translated into English as 'appreciative joy.' It is a word used to describe the feeling one experiences when witnessing another’s good fortune. We feel happy when we see happiness in someone else. I learned that mudita is physically experienced as an energetic lifting of the heart.

Pictured at left:
DAVID LUVS AMY, 2008
Smooch! Project Archive category –
Together: Old Marrieds (21 years)


IN THE BEGINNING, PART 3 of 4:

The Buddhist concept of mudita explained why my heart lifts whenever I see that photo of Barb and me. I was also taught that mudita is a universal human experience, a theory I decided to test. I wanted to find out if I could duplicate the experience of mudita. I started a photographic documentary experiment. I called it 'The Smooch! Project.'

I can now state with assurance that those 2,500-year-old teachings are true. Happy photo, happy heart. Time after time. Even though the majority of the people I photograph are perfect strangers, it doesn’t seem to matter. The mudita effect is the same. The Smooch! Project has become my very own personal 'mudita-machine.' Now, with the wonder of the internet, it can be yours as well.

I remain amazed at the incredible momentum The Smooch! Project has so far enjoyed. Dozens, then hundreds, and now thousands of people have open-heartedly placed themselves in front of my camera and allowed me to document their affection for a loved one. Happily, I doubt very much that I will run out of subjects in my lifetime. What a lucky photographer I am!

Pictured at right:
BONNIE LUVS BARB, 2008
Smooch! Project Archive category –
All in the Family: Siblings


IN THE BEGINNING, PART 4 of 4:

The images I have so far succeeded in capturing for this project are amazingly beautiful. Sometimes stunningly so. I do not believe this is due to any special skill I might have. I simply provide the setting and invite beauty to pause for a moment. Then I wait, watching, with camera in hand. I have never been disappointed.

One small, seemingly insignificant gesture of love between siblings has now grown into a project that may succeed in reaching around the world. Even now, years later, that original photo of my sister and me continues to lift my heart every time I see it.

In August 2008, I asked a photographer friend to take some photos of me and a loved one at the end of a very grueling three-day Smooch! shoot. She did an excellent job, as you can see in the photo at the right. My sister had traveled more than 250 miles to spend a long weekend with me and help run one of the biggest Smooch! shoots held so far for the project. She took such good care of me. Her help was invaluable. Good job, Barb! (Didn't I already say I was one lucky photographer?)

Photo at left
KATIE LUVS ISA, 2008
Smooch! Project Archive category
All in the Family: Moms luv Kids


THE SMOOCH! PROJECT
A reminder to all of the enduring human capacity to love and care for another.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Smooch! shoots are often set up near or as part of large public events, such as art festivals or in creative settings, such as museums. Most of the people photographed for the project did not know The Smooch! Project would be present during the event they happened to be attending. Most people were intrigued by the concept but often had questions that needed answering before deciding whether to participate or not. Below is a synopsis of the most frequently asked questions and their answers.

Photo to the right:
MADELON LUVS JODY, 2008
Smooch! Project Archive category –
All in the Family: Kids luv Moms


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, PART 1 of 5:

What is The Smooch! Project?
The Smooch! Project is a personal photographic effort of Minnesota photographer Bonnie Fournier. It is intended to serve as a documentary record demonstrating that all humans, regardless of social, economic, or political barriers, share a joyful willingness to welcome love and affection into their lives. The artist’s goal is to collect 10,000 exhibition-quality images. You are invited to “pucker up” and be part of this historic, heartwarming effort.

How does a Smooch! shoot work?
Your first decision will be who gets smooched first. Once this is decided, the rest is easy! To be included in the project, all participants must first register, a task that usually takes about five minutes. When it is your turn to be photographed, the artist will have one person face the camera. The other person will then be asked to demonstrate their affection for their companion by kissing them on the cheek. Once this set of photos are taken, it will be your partner’s turn to smooch you! On average, photographing a pair of people during a Smooch shoot takes less than five minutes. It’s quick, painless, and — quite frankly — very enjoyable! All affectionately-inclined people are invited to try it!

Photo to the left:
MELISSA LUVS VIVI, 2008
Smooch! Project Archive category –
All in the Family: Moms luv Kids


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, PART 2 of 5:

What do I need in order to participate?
All that is required is a companion to demonstrate your sincere affection towards and a willingness to have your picture taken. During most shoots, participants are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reservations are usually not required. There is NO fee to participate in The Smooch! Project.

What do I get by participating?
You mean, besides the opportunity to publicly demonstrate your sincere affection for a loved one? First, you’ll be part of the historic record and included in the official list of Smooch! Project participants. You and your loved one will then Be A Part of Art. But even more importantly — if you are willing to welcome love and affection into your life for just this moment — you’ll have gained an opportunity to directly experience the universal joy shared by all humans when receiving affection from someone who loves them. Why not give it a try and see for yourself?

Photo to the right:
MARTHA LUVS AUTUMN, 2008
Smooch! Project Archive category –
Animals & Their Humans


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, PART 3 of 5:

Does it cost anything to participate?
There is NO fee to participate in The Smooch! Project. All affectionately-inclined people are invited to join this documentary record and become part of this creative effort.

Following each shoot, the photographer selects one photo per couple to include in The Smooch! Project Archive. With very few exceptions, each participant appears only once within the archive. When all photos selected for the archive have been uploaded, an email invite containing a link to their personal photo is sent to individual participants.

Participants do have the option to request that all photos taken of them be prepared and uploaded to the website for private viewing. For this service, a digital file preparation fee based on number of people within each group is required. These participants will receive a second email from the photographer that displays a sample image from their personal collection of photos as well as a link to the group of pics. From this site, exhibition-quality prints may also be ordered. Basic prints cost $10 per 4-by-6 print. The decision to choose the download option or purchase prints is entirely optional. All proceeds support the future efforts of The Smooch! Project and are gratefully appreciated by the artist.

Why participate in The Smooch! Project?
In a world troubled by cynicism and terror, a simple act of affection has the power to transform not only our personal lives, but the lives of others as well. As a photographic record of the human capacity to love one another, the goal of The Smooch! Project is to demonstrate this fact by gathering 10,000 images of affectionately-inclined people from throughout the world. You can help create this legacy by participating in The Smooch! Project. You are invited to join the thousands of others who have already become part of this powerful, heartfelt and historic photographic documentary record.

Photo to the left:
CATIE LUVS ESPN, 2008
Smooch! Project Archive category –
Animals & Their Humans


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, PART 4 of 5:

How did the 10,000 photographs project goal come about?
Setting this goal required much thought. First, the artist came to the conclusion very early that a goal needed to be set, especially considering how many people there are in the world who love another – quite literally billions! But setting the goal at 200 images, for example, seemed far too low. As the photographer these could be gathered from within a 20-mile radius of her home in Minnesota. The Smooch! Project was far too universal to be represented by such a small pool of people. The original concept for The Smooch! Project calls for gathering images from throughout the world. As this sweeping aspiration would require considerable funding, a secondary aspiration came to the forefront: Collecting 200 images from each of the 50 U.S. states. The simple calculation (50 times 200) spelled out the new goal. The clincher: the audacious idea of collecting 10,000 photographs of anything, let alone people smooching, made the photographer laugh. Humor, in combination with simple math noted above, confirmed the final decision. The Smooch! Project would culminate when 10,000 archive photographs had been collected.

Photo to the right:
JEFF LUVS TIAN, 2008
Smooch! Project Archive category –
Together: Young Love (1-4 years)


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, PART 5 of 5:

I love the concept! How can I help?
There are LOTS of ways The Smooch! Project could use your help. Here are just a few:
- SPREAD THE WORD. Tell all your friends and family about the project. Go to the Smooch! Archive section of this website, find a photo or two that you love and forward it to as many people as you’d like. The more people who find out about The Smooch! Project, the easier it will be to reach the goal of collecting 10,000 photographs.
- FINANCIAL SUPPORT. The Smooch! Project really needs to ‘get out of town’ and begin collecting images from throughout the US. as is to be expected, financial constraints are the major impediment. Revenue sources (such as corporate sponsors, grants, etc.) to support this effort are essential. If you or someone you know is interested in providing financial support, please contact the project photographer directly at photogirl@thesmoochproject.com.


I want to Be A Part of Art! How can I get a Smooch! shoot scheduled in my area?
The Smooch! Project is always interested in learning about new venues for shoots and will seriously consider all proposals. Be aware that there will be travel expenses that must be covered. Send an inquiry email to the project photographer at photogirl@thesmoochproject.com to begin the discussion.