Deirdre Heavey
What is the Strangers Project?
Ten years ago, Brandon Doman began collecting hand-written stories from strangers in New York City’s Washington Square Park. 60,000 stories later, the Strangers Project connects strangers from around the world and serves as a platform for authentic storytelling.
“The Strangers Project is a celebration of the stories we’re surrounded with every day—both from the strangers we share our space with every day, and our own stories we carry,” Doman said. “It’s about a connection with ourselves, with people around us, and with something greater than ourselves.”
On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Washington Square Park, it’s common to stumble upon the Strangers Project. New Yorkers and tourists alike sit around the crowded park with a clipboard and a ballpoint pen in hand. Under the Washington Square Arch, one can typically find Brandon handing out clipboards alongside his public installation of submitted stories. Strung on a clothesline between fairy lights, strangers’ stories are set on display for passersby to read. Readers laugh, cry, and call their friends over to read a specific story before picking up a clipboard themself and contributing to the Strangers Project.
What are the stories about?
Brandon Doman says the stories can be about “anything and everything.” Doman encourages strangers to share an honest story or experience that demonstrates what it’s like to be you. Some stories are sad and deal with issues such as violence, tragedy, and loss. Other stories are happy and mention experiences such as love, marriage, and self-love. Some stories are short with doodles, and others long filling the entire page. The subject of the story is solely up to the writer. Each story is unique and contributes to the project in its own special way.
How Can I share my own story?
An important component of the Strangers Project is how Doman collects the stories. Typically, Doman only collects stories in person during a Strangers Project event. Events are usually in parks throughout New York City, but Doman also creates exhibits in studio spaces, in schools, and at street fairs. Doman tries to travel with the Strangers Project to as many cities as possible.
For the first time in the history of Strangers Project, Doman is accepting online submissions due to the coronavirus pandemic. This means that people from around the world can contribute for the first time. To submit a story, Doman requests that participants write on a blank sheet of paper with a black pen and scan it back to him using Adobe Scan. Submissions can be emailed to [email protected].
The Strangers Project has the ability to connect more people than ever before at a time when our world needs it most. The best place to participate virtually with the project is on Instagram @strangersproj.
