The Compassion Project
Proposal for March 2012 FEAST
The Compassion Project
Project members
Leader: Mitchell Stier
Project summary
At public gatherings and events, I will set up a portable camera station. I will photograph all participants in the same way; straight forward and cropped to the head, removing all identity except the face and eyes. The participants will then provide a message of compassion in 10 seconds or less in a private room for audio recording, remaining completely anonymous to their identity. The images will then be printed at 8"x10" and mounted in public areas in a large grid-like pattern with the statements of compassion printed below the portraits without disclosing statement to face.
How will your project manifest at the next FEAST, to be held in approximately 12 weeks?
I will be presenting the project in public spaces to start a movement of planting seeds of compassion throughout the Twin Cities. I will also be reaching out to larger donors, organizations, and other grants to help grow the project into an interactive audio/visual installation in hospitals, airports, and other public hubs to influence civil compassion.
How will you use funding towards the realization of your project?
The funding will help with audio gear, printing costs, and the construction of a project website to link people together and share ideas. By utilizing the funding as a launching pad, I can test the project and its public reaction to request additional funding to increase its exposure towards a national scale.
Why is this project critical to the community?
By viewing the multiple faces and reading the anonymous statements, I hope to plant seeds of compassion in our hectic daily lives. The photographed faces may be familiar to some people, and the statements will serve as a friendly reminder that we all inherently strive for the golden rule and friendly compassion.