Every week in 2017 I will feature a different person's smiling face. Science tells us that seeing a person's smile will elicit a smile in the viewer. This project aims to make everyone smile as much as possible. If that doesn't work, I'll at least get to make some pretty sweet portraits of friends, family, co-workers, and people I encounter every day. Check back each week for your dose of happy!
Tomás Bowens, 6 months, baby
What makes you smile?
"..."
December 22, 2017
Lisa Pomerantz, 54, Artists' Representative
What makes you smile?
"My girls, our family, and the ability to contagiously make a stranger smile by looking them in the eyes and genuinely smiling first."
December 16, 2017
Michelin Cahill, 30, Intake Attorney, ACLU PA
What makes you smile?
"My work, my boys, and my life."
December 8, 2017
Anthony Mangini, 32, Writer
What makes you smile?
"Old ladies with green hair and little girls who use the word 'superb'"
November 30, 2017
Carol Petraitis, 65, Student of life
What makes you smile?
"The three guys in my life."
November 17, 2017
Wright Gatewood, 25, Musician
What makes you smile?
"The gravitational pull of an unexpectedly serendipitous moment makes me smile. The more people included, the faster the corners of my mouth start reaching for the roof"
November 30, 2017
Jamie Pauls, 35, Member Engagement Manager
What makes you smile?
"My cat when she is licking her paws and talking."
November 10, 2017
Kelli Coyle, 29, Development Operations Manager - Anthropologie
What makes you smile?
"Coming home to my two awesome boys after a work trip. So many slobbery kisses from Ruxin... and Mike :)"
November 10, 2017
Elisa Bowens, 31
What makes you smile?
"Watching my kids hug each other makes me smile every time."
October 20, 2017
Dan Bowens, 37, A Decent Fella
What makes you smile?
"When my children read to each other."
October 27, 2017
Megan Cribbs, 33, Lawyer
What makes you smile?
"DIY projects; Em's (cheesy) puns; wild flowers"
October 6, 2017
Reggie Shuford, Executive Director
What makes you smile?
"The ocean and sunshine!"
October 13, 2017
Trisha Graham, 40, Business and Operations Manager
What makes you smile?
"My kids, Max and Lexie, make me smile!"
September 22, 2017
Emily Hurwitz, 33, Family Medicine Doctor
What makes you smile?
"Movies on the deck with Meg, hummus and pilates."
September 29, 2017
Danielle K Sanislow, 32, Registered Dietitian
What makes you smile?
"Sunshine, sunsets, and the peacefulness of the ocean waves."
September 8, 2017
Chris Gibbons, 35, Wealth Manager
What makes you smile?
"What makes me smile are the great moments of life that seem to only get richer and more profound the further away from them we grow."
September 15, 2017
Waqar Rehman, 34, Full-time law student
What makes you smile?
"Running, pancakes, and '90s hip-hop"
August 25, 2017
Sara Mullen, 45, Associate Director, ACLU of PA
What makes you smile?
"Not having my picture taken, my amazing kiddo, and my neurotic but loving dog."
September 1, 2017
Naiymah Ariana Sanchez, 33, Community organizer
What makes you smile?
"Creating change for transgender individuals make me smile. Coming home to my 3 dogs and my fat cat always makes me smile. Fighting for the civil rights of everyone makes me smile."
August 11, 2017
Jess Sharp, 30, Wine & Spirit Sales
What makes you smile?
"Seeing other people smile, my family, my dog, and I guess a really nice bottle of wine."
August 18, 2017
Lyne Pitts, 62, Retired Journalist
What makes you smile?
"My sons, Ben and Dan, have always made me laugh harder than anyone. My beautiful grandkids make me smile!"
July 28, 2017
Ayo Patterson, 36, Emergency Room RN/Entrepreneur
What makes you smile?
"People make me smile... and I'm going to see Dave Chappelle tonight. He makes me smile!"
August 14, 2017
Anita "Honey" McCormick, 89, Retired Teacher
What makes you smile?
"Seeing my grandson makes me smile"
Note: Honey is my grandmother and I didn't influence her answer in any way :)
July 14, 2017
Jenna McElroy, 31, Major Gifts Officer
What makes you smile?
"Seeing someone else smile always makes me smile, and of course, puppies!"
July 21, 2017
Cindy Solano Bowens, Social Work/Education
What makes you smile?
"People in my life that I'm grateful for!"
Jul 5, 2017
Mitch McCormick, 55
What makes you smile?
"Chocolate cake and a glass of milk."
July 7, 2017
Kitty McCormick, 53, Social Worker
What makes you smile?
"My 10 year old puppy makes me smile...a lot!"
June 16, 2017
Jeff Haas, 66, Retired HS English Teacher
What makes you smile?
"The excitement of re-inventing my life"
June 23, 2017
Cory-Alice Andre-Johnson, 29, Graduate Student
What makes you smile?
"My husband (Julien) twerking and then probably some combination of motor neurons and facial muscles" :)
June 1, 2017
Alvin Bowens, 67, Video Editor
What makes you smile?
"The view at tunnel view in Yosemite - Mateo & Sabina doing their twirly dance."
June 9, 2017
Georgia Castellano, 30, Creative Director
What makes you smile?
"The sound of my son giggling, my wiener dog Zelda, and a couple of other things."
May 19, 2017
Julien Dourlen, 32, Physical Education Teacher
What makes you smile?
"My 200 students and my family."
May 26, 2017
Steffi Aspero, 31, Mom of 3
What makes you smile?
"Coffee, my silly twin toddlers, and alone-time."
May 5, 2017
Mariana Argenziano, PhD , 32, Postdoctoral Fellow
What makes you smile?
"You make me smile, Jackson makes me smile and funny animal videos!"
May 9, 2017
Brendan Mance, 32, Financial Analyst
What makes you smile?
"My wife, my dog, family and friends and maple syrup."
April 21, 2017
Ryanne, 7
What makes you smile?
Ryanne (Rainbow Dash) - "When my mom says funny things."
April 26, 2017
Hillary Kleppel, 31, High School Math Teacher
What makes you smile?
"Being in the Sun on the sand on any vacation and coming home to my boys"
April 6, 2017
Ahmad Mahmoud, 30, Otorhinolaryngology Resident
What makes you smile?
"Not being on call."
Note: o·to·rhi·no·lar·yn·gol·o·gy - (noun) the study of diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.
April 13, 2017
Lindsey Parkes, 31, Robotic Oncologic Physician Assistant
What makes you smile?
"My dog, Meatball."
Note: Meatball makes me smile, too! :)
March 24, 2017
Jarret Kleppel, 33, Director of Strategic Business Planning
What makes you smile?
"My kid on the way!"
March 31, 2017
Mike Coyle, 28, Claims Adjuster
What makes you smile?
"Crushing my enemies and hearing the lamentation of their women."
Note: Mike plays lots of video games
March 10, 2017
Kyle Beatty, 40, IT Support Specialist
What makes you smile?
"Funny pictures of our President."
March 17, 2017
Jim Samilson, 27, Territory Sales Manager
What makes you smile?
"Driving sideways on dirt roads."
February 24, 2017
Elizabeth Pease, 27, Closing Coordinator
What makes you smile?
"I guess anything with water. Being in the water and playing in the water. Even shower time is sacred for me, it's where I feel most comfortable (not the shower, just water in general)."
March 3, 2017
Peggy Curchack, 68, Grants Coordinator
What makes you smile?
"Random encounters with unexpected wonders – like the time we were in Manhattan, at 66th and 5th Ave, and a workman in an open manhole on the corner was blowing bubbles from a bubble wand. Or a really good poem. Or Winnie the Pooh. Or the sight and sound of the ocean. Or a baby zebra!"
Note: Peggy invited me to "see the picture of the baby zebra that I keep in my desk to make me smile" :)
February 10, 2017
Sabina, 3 & Mateo, 1
What makes you smile?
Her: Tickles from the tickles monster.
Him: Hide-and-seek. Peek-a-boo.
February 17, 2017
Liz Green Schultz, 30, Law Student
What makes you smile?
"I've become a law nerd, so, thinking about justice and getting to join the work as an attorney soon"
January 27, 2017
Jacque' "Sci-Fi" Scott, 27, Barber
What makes you smile?
"My growth, my success and my faith in God"
Note: Check out AnotherPlanetBarberShop
February 3, 2017
Kelsey Woida, 25, Social Worker
What makes you smile?
"Most things. I think I'm a pretty toothy person"
January 13, 2017
Rain Benson, 13, Student
What makes you smile?
"My mom always makes me smile"
Note: Her mother is my coworker and she was standing in the room. I think Rain's smile validates her comment.
January 20, 2017
Ben Bowens, 32, Photographer
First up, ME! I find that I rarely smile at myself when I look in the mirror and so it's not often that I get to see my own smiling face. Also, since I'm going to be subjecting other people to this close up portrait, I might as well force myself to endure it all the same. Here's to a happier 2017!
January 1, 2017
Lauren Marsh, 30, Lawyer
What makes you smile?
"I'm pretty much laughing and smiling all the time. I don't know why, but everything makes me laugh... Smiling is my default"
January 6, 2017