ONE

The family in the 21st century has more recently become controversial. An English man and a Cuban man come together in love and adopt two fully biological African American boys. A female pastor and her chogs (child dogs) bond after surviving breast cancer and a radical hysterectomy. She finds deep joy in caring for so many children through the churches, families and shelters she serves. Grandparents come into full care of their grandchildren due to the death of their own children to AIDS or to drugs. Every family depicted here has its own story, commanding a sense of respect in the viewer for who they are but at times is tinged with unease. Therefore, do we, as a product of the human race, have the right to place parameters on others? Is the labeling of people as a family the intention to satisfy our own voyeuristic inclinations in which we are most comfortable? Nicole Maloney’s emotionally charged images are not meant to be controversial or to make a statement... but they do make us think. The inspiration was fueled by Nicole’s passion to capture the true essence of love amongst people. People of all races, clans, religions, backgrounds, and ethnicities are documented in black and white photographs to move the viewer closer to their real selves. Our brief glimpses into the lives of these people are partial and fragmented views of the stories behind the images. Unease is acceptable. Judgment of people is not. Love is evident. Let it shine. We are all the same. We are ONE.