Can I Take Your Picture? by Dana O'Shea

Stranger 1 He asked me to take ...e Street in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 1 He asked me to take his picture and inspired me to make this project. Taken on State Street in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 3 He is not her boyfri...e Street in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 3 He is not her boyfriend. Taken on State Street in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 8 She deals with a lot...stal Bar in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 8 She deals with a lot of rejection on her sales job. Taken outside The Crystal Bar in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 10 This is Amanda. Ama...9;s West in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 10 This is Amanda. Amanda is 25, she has 0 children. Her sister is 32 and has 7. Taken at Pedro's West in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 12 She got engaged jus...9;s West in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 12 She got engaged just before going to work tonight as a bar security guard. Taken at Pedro's West in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 13 He is the other sec...9;s West in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 13 He is the other security guard at the bar. He was engaged, but 2 months ago his fiance slept with one of his close friends. Taken at Pedro's West in Madison, Wisconsin.

Strangers 15 Her name is Demitr...9;s West in Madison, Wisconsin.

Strangers 15 Her name is Demitra. They don't know each other, He just wanted to be in the picture. He moved from Detroit to Madison in search of a better life. Demitra and her friend Tara are moving to Atlanta. Demitra wants to be a fashion stylists. Taken at Pedro's West in Madison, Wisconsin.

Strangers 17 Former co-workers,...9;s West in Madison, Wisconsin.

Strangers 17 Former co-workers, now friends. Taken at Pedro's West in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 18 She is very shy and...9;s West in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 18 She is very shy and had the giggles. Taken at Pedro's West in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 19 I think her name wa...The Echo in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 19 I think her name was Jenny. This woman had quite a story. She said she just got off a bus from Colorado with 30 dollars to her name. On the way to Madison she bought this pink battery in order to have a conversation starter. She had a southern accent but, swore she was from Colorado originally. She left because her boyfriend was physically abusive and caused her to have an 'abort...miscarriage'. She is currently pregnant by him again but she doesn't want that to 'interfere with her lifestyle' - she was smoking and drinking. I asked her if she considered getting an abortion and she said she doesn't believe in them. She left that night with the bars bouncer. Taken outside The Echo in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 20 This is Jeralynn. J...utside The Echo in Madison, WI.

Stranger 20 This is Jeralynn. Jeralynn says she is a working girl. She says she cleans houses and works with special needs people. She has 7 sons. Her only daughter died. She said, "God choose her to be an angel but I have 7 lovely sons." Taken outside The Echo in Madison, WI.

Stranger 21 This is "The G...utside The Echo in Madison, WI.

Stranger 21 This is "The Gambler". I believe I named him "The Gambler" because he was singing that well known song by Kenny Rogers. He said he was getting on a bus and going to Canada but, I saw him in the same area, in the same outfit a couple weeks later. Taken outside The Echo in Madison, WI.

Stranger 23 I believe he is fro...utside The Echo in Madison, WI.

Stranger 23 I believe he is from Laos. He did not speak English very well, but could speak French. He asked if we could speak French - none of us could. Taken outside The Echo in Madison, WI.

Stranger 24 Andrew Norris is a ...edro's West in Madison, WI

Stranger 24 Andrew Norris is a Professional Skateboarder. He's part Australian and Japanese. Taken at Pedro's West in Madison, WI

Stranger 25 When he's not ...on Broom Street in Madison, WI.

Stranger 25 When he's not drunkenly rolling around the ground, this guy is a teacher. Taken on Broom Street in Madison, WI.

Stranger 26 This is Laura. She ...outside Alchemy in Madison, WI.

Stranger 26 This is Laura. She is a musician. She was trying to pull people out of one bar to go see her band at another. Taken outside Alchemy in Madison, WI.

Stranger 28 This is Jeff, he is... Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 28 This is Jeff, he is an education grad student and history major interested in the Civil War and the Antebellum period. We talked about Bauhaus and politics. Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 29 This is Will. He�... Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 29 This is Will. He's into Graphic Art. He quit smoking 3 months ago. Jeff is his best friend. He drew me two pictures in my notebook when I left him to go see the blood in the girls bathroom. Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 30 This is Katie. She ... Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 30 This is Katie. She is a really sweet girl from McFarland. She's been a vegetarian since she was in 5th grade. She became a vegetarian because she saw a TV show about animal slaughter. Katie gets her independence and strength from her mother. Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Strangers 31 This couple was re... Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Strangers 31 This couple was really into each other - and into a random boy they took home that night. Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 34 Doesn't he bea... Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 34 Doesn't he bear a striking resemblance to Andrew Jackson? His grandfather was a cowboy and an actor, who was in many John Wayne movies. He is/was an agent for a bail bondsman. He served 2 years in county jail for a gun charge but his record was expunged and he won a settlement. He is also a local artist. Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 36 This is Tiffany, sh...The Crystal Bar in Madison, WI.

Stranger 36 This is Tiffany, she talked a lot about honesty and openness. She asked me if I was a lesbian and when I told her I wasn't, she lost interest in our conversation and walked away. Taken at The Crystal Bar in Madison, WI.

Stranger 37 This is Stephie. Sh...t Mickey's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 37 This is Stephie. She is going to nursing school. She has a very unique, childlike voice. She said she has the opportunity to do some recording for the people at Adult Swim, but she is hesitant to go through with it. Taken at Mickey's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 43 This is Sam. He is ...t The Dog House in Dubuque, IA.

Stranger 43 This is Sam. He is from Alabama but has lived in Dubuque, Iowa for 33 years. He moved to Dubuque to go to college and play basketball at the University of Dubuque, but over the summer of 1977 he got a job at A. Y. McDonald Manufacturing Company and decided not to attend college. Out of a family of 6, he is the only one without a degree. Taken at The Dog House in Dubuque, IA.

Stranger 44 This is Brett. He i... and Anne's in Madison, WI

Stranger 44 This is Brett. He is originally from Michigan but now live in Madison. He has a passion for boardgames, especially German ones. He also likes to make beer. Brett's mom made his hat. You can check out a game he designed at www.sjgames.com/nanuk/ Taken at Woody and Anne's in Madison, WI

Stranger 45 This is Brian. He a...at Genna's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 45 This is Brian. He always wanted a silver calculator watch because he says calculator watches are grown-up. He searched Ebay for 4 days to find this one. It cost him 50 bucks. Brian informed me that calculator watches can cost as much as 2-3 thousand dollars. This particular watch is a reproduction of a Casio Datebank. It has a stopwatch, alarm, timer and it lights up! Taken at Genna's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 46 This is Maggie. She...t Mickey's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 46 This is Maggie. She has the bestest best friend in the world! Her best friend got her tickets for The Colbert Report in New York for her birthday. Taken at Mickey's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 53 This is Elizabeth. ...t Mickey's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 53 This is Elizabeth. She is traveling the country with her boyfriend. Elizabeth got pretty drunk at the bar and started obsessing about her boyfriends behavior. She was really angry at him and at one point gave a stranger the ring he had given her. Taken at Mickey's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 54 This is Zoltan Guly...partment in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 54 This is Zoltan Gulyas, he grew up on the south side of Madison. His father gave him the Hungarian name Zolika and then left he and his mother. His mother then modified the name to Zoltan. As a kid, Zoltan was ridiculed because of his name. Taken at Mike's apartment in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 55 This is Mike, he is...partment in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 55 This is Mike, he is a graduate student in linguistics. He is from Atlanta but has no accent. Mike says that in metropolitan areas of the south no one has an accent. Taken at Mike's apartment in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 56 This is Ben, he has...apartment in Madison, Wisconsin

Stranger 56 This is Ben, he has lived in Madison for 4 years but is originally from Birmingham, Alabama. He is a graduate student in linguistics. He taught me a new word, Kituwah which means Cherokee. Ben is Kituwah. www.manataka.org/page838.html Taken at Mike's apartment in Madison, Wisconsin

Stranger 59 This is Michael, he...s Tavern in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 59 This is Michael, he says, "Everything we know is going to fall apart but the people who matter will come together." Mike is a handyman and one of his favorite places to go is Ace Hardware on Willie St., "I can walk into that 3500 square feet and find everything I need." Mike is currently reading, "The Good Life", by Helen and Scott Nearing. Taken at Woody Anne's Tavern in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 61 This is Leaha. Leah...The Echo in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 61 This is Leaha. Leaha will be homeless in a week. Her current roommate is moving to Baraboo and told her she can not move with her because they don't like black people in Baraboo. Since getting out of jail in October, Leaha hasn't been able to find a job. In order to make ends meet, she has had to do things she is not proud of doing. Leaha showed me pictures of her three little girls. The first child she had when she was 18, she is 28 now. Leaha regrets that her situation does not allow for her children to live with her. Taken outside The Echo in Madison, Wisconsin.

Stranger 64 This is Heather. He... Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 64 This is Heather. Heather is 40 and lives in Reedsburg, Wisconsin with her husband. Before moving to Reedsburg, she lived in Madison's East Side for 10 years. Heather used to wear combat boots and have her head partially shaved. Heather told her husband she went to a badgers game earlier in the day but she actually just went to the tailgating. She says that she will tell him the truth later. Heather loves Henry Rollins and she gives great hugs. Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 65 This is Jay. Jay sa... Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 65 This is Jay. Jay says he's lonely. He was in a relationship for 3 years but, he says, "I fucked it up...she dates white guys now" Jay will be 41 in December and he is a printer operator for the state of Wisconsin. He has 2 sons, the oldest, Joesph is 19 and is in the military - he calls him Joe-man, the youngest, Jordon is 11. His sons mother would like to be back with Jay but he doesn't want to be with her. Jay was born in Little Rock, AR., but moved with is family to the Quad Cities as a child. His father still works at the John Deere there. Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 66 This is Bill. Bill ...s apartment floor, Madison, WI.

Stranger 66 This is Bill. Bill is an artist. He draws and makes creatures out of little pieces of paper that he methodically rolls and glues together. Bill has a girlfriend named Lynn, they have been together off and on for 3 years. Bill is 40, his birthday is January 12th. Bill rolls his own cigarettes and likes to drink hard liquor. He is a very gentle and apologetic drunk. Taken on Bill's apartment floor, Madison, WI.

Stranger 67 This is Lynn. Lynn ...039;s apartment in Madison, WI.

Stranger 67 This is Lynn. Lynn has dated Bill on and off for 3 years. She says when they break up she sees other people but Bill doesn't. In the 1950's Abercrombie and Fitch was a sporting goods store and her mother worked there. Lynn has an 18 year old son that lives with her and she has a daughter that she gave up for adoption at birth. Lynn likes to peak at her daughter's Facebook page but she does not want to disrupt her life by telling her she is her mother. Lynn is an Aquarius. Taken at Bill's apartment in Madison, WI.

Stranger 68 This is Kathy. Kath...Woody-Anne's, Madison, WI.

Stranger 68 This is Kathy. Kathy is a hospice nurse. "When I tell people I'm a hospice nurse they say, 'oh, how horrible' but no! I say we are helping them get to heaven." Taken at Woody-Anne's, Madison, WI.

Stranger 73 This is Sandra. San...Woody-Anne's, Madison, WI.

Stranger 73 This is Sandra. Sandra was born in Chicago but moved back and forth from Puerto Rico with her family as a child. Sandra is a Salsa singer about town. She also drives cab. Sandra is dating Blues Stu. Taken at Woody-Anne's, Madison, WI.

Stranger 74 This is Blues Stu, ...Woody-Anne's, Madison, WI.

Stranger 74 This is Blues Stu, in the late 70's to 80's he brought blues acts to Madison. He says 'Baby' a lot. He is dating Sandra. Taken at Woody-Anne's, Madison, WI.

Stranger 76 This is Joe. Joe is...d. Taken at Ideal, Madison, WI.

Stranger 76 This is Joe. Joe is a private chef. Joe grew up in Spain, Portugal, Denmark and France. Joe's mom was a nun and his father a priest before they got married. Joe spent 8 years in the Marine Corps. Joe said his brother is like his dad, his sister is like his mother and he liked sports. Joe is adopted. Taken at Ideal, Madison, WI.

Stranger 81 This is Meggen. She...t Mickey's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 81 This is Meggen. She likes to wear wigs because she enjoys different personalities. She has an identical twin. She said, "I am finally in love with life." Meegen has a 2 1/2 year old son named Atlas Ridley. Her ex-husband picked the first name and she picked the second. She likes to make cranes and write inspirationals on them. She has made 800 hundred of them and wants to get to a thousand. Her great-aunt Violet, (who was a dancer at the Coco Cabana) gave her a crystal bowl which Meegan has filled with cranes. When people come over to her place she offers them a crane. Meegan is 22 but seems much older. She said she like to associate with older women because they inspire her. After I asked her if I could take her picture, she requested we go in the bathroom by this artwork. Taken in the bathroom at Mickey's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 82 This is Julia. She ...t Mickey's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 82 This is Julia. She grew up in Missouri. Her parents were idealists hippies who thought they could make a difference by moving to the South. She witnessed a lot of racism there. Taken at Mickey's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 84 This is Rebekah. Re...ody-Anne's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 84 This is Rebekah. Rebekah is from Milwaukee. She said, "I hate Madison...no, Madison is growing on me." She and her husband and best friend plan on taking off and doing some traveling soon, they have been planning this adventure for 2 years. For practice they all are sleeping in a tent in someone's backyard. I asked her what is most important, "Doing what you find important, not getting caught up in materialism...living life. " Taken at Woody-Anne's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 85 This is Ben. He say...t Mickey's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 85 This is Ben. He says he is intense about finding out about things. He says he wants to make sure people reach their dreams and enjoy themselves. Taken at Mickey's in Madison, WI.

Stranger 86 This is Kat. Kat sa... Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 86 This is Kat. Kat says everything she does, she is really good at doing. I asked her what brought her out that night, "Drugs and alcohol!" she said. Taken at Ideal in Madison, WI.

Stranger 88 This is Mike. Mike ...Woody-Anne's, Madison, WI.

Stranger 88 This is Mike. Mike lives on the north side of Madison and has been a bee keeper for 15 years. Taken at Woody-Anne's, Madison, WI.

Stranger 89 This is David. Davi...Woody-Anne's, Madison, WI.

Stranger 89 This is David. David is a family man, he is married and has two children. Taken at Woody-Anne's, Madison, WI.

Stranger 91 She brought this fl...Woody-Anne's, Madison, WI.

Stranger 91 She brought this flower in and decided it would flourish in a shot glass full of vodka. She is a lawyer and she tends to bring something to work on when she comes into the bar alone. Taken at Woody-Anne's, Madison, WI.

Stranger 93 This is David. Davi...ken at Malt House, Madison, WI.

Stranger 93 This is David. David is a vet, he is also homeless. David stopped to ask us for a cigarette and started talking. David is from New Mexico. He was on his way to pick up is wife at Rehab, she was in treatment for crack. He use to work in a carnival, I asked him if the games are rigged, he said, "I'm an honest man so I will tell you yes ma'am some of them are." David is sorry for the lives he took while in the military he said, "I followed a different God then." I asked him what God. "The President" he said. Taken at Malt House, Madison, WI.

Dana O'Shea

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