These photos are the beginning of a project I call "the Community Project" based here in NE Portland, OR. It's an old idea, using a black or white background to neturalize the space for each subject. Erasing commonality, creating it, the subjects chose their backdrop. This first round was taken at the Alberta St. Market. The market, famous for it's fried chicken and the attached salon famous for it's fades has aced as a cultural hub in the neighorhood for over 15 years. Some patrons find themselves here more than twice a day.