Robert Fogarty and Jonah Evans found a way to work around the initial discomfort of self-expression to strangers through photography.
Dear World, a photography project with New Orleans roots, came to the Student Union on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The project allows people to tell their personal stories through body art.
Participants write phrases on their bodies that sum up their lives, and then a Dear World crew member captures that story by taking the participant’s photograph.
“Dear World is an amazing program, and it is truly your message to the world,” said assistant director of leadership and involvement Kathy Jones. “You can express a dear moment through a photograph.’
Dear World has been telling people’s unique and inspirational stories for five years.
Fogarty, Dear World’s founder, and Evans, the project’s executive producer, met at a bar when Fogarty hosted the first Dear New Orleans photo shoot.
Evans said the day he got involved with Dear World was the best day of his life because the Saints won the Super Bowl, he met his wife and he met Fogarty.
Once Fogarty realized that the photography project could stretch further than New Orleans, Evans said Fogarty decided to name the project “Dear World.” Today, the team has traveled from places like Nebraska to Nepal.
“Dear World is a way that people can come together and tell stories that they don’t often talk about,” Evans said.
Dear World came to campus after information systems and decisions sciences junior Tyler McMorris reached out several months ago.
McMorris said it was important for the University to have an event like Dear World because he felt the school was not talking about certain issues that affect students on campus.
“There are so many issues in the community that are not being talked about that should be brought to light so more people can be aware of them and fix them in a positive way,” McMorris said.
Evans said he felt honored to be able to come to the University.
“Some people don’t like to express how they feel, so it was great that this event allows them to write their stories on their bodies and express themselves,” said marketing sophomore Carly Leday.
Coordinator for leadership and involvement Delia Madrid-Nothdurft said the event empowers people to be able to open up at their own speed.
“You see everyone’s message and you get informed on who your community is, but also you are vulnerable,” Madrid-Nothdurft said.

Gallery • 12 Photos

Haskell Whittington

Executive producer of Dear World Jonah Evans photographs students with written messages to the world during the Dear World event on Thursday Sept. 22, 2016, in the LSU Student Union.