If this is your first time visiting, welcome, and if it isn’t, welcome back. I am glad you’re here.

While my website is being updated, this is the place to learn all things about the Faces of Fortitude project, the work that has bloomed from it, and all things coming up in the future.

Who am I?

My name is Mariangela but you can call me M. I survived my own severe suicide attempt at the age of 17, and then 15 years later lost my brother to suicide in 2007, when he was only 26 years old.

I am the creator and photographer for a project called Faces of Fortitude, a project providing space and care for people touched by suicide and mental illness in any way; be it loss, survival or first responders.

It began in 2017, and the first portrait was of myself. When I released the photo online with my story, the response was shocking. People I had never met wanted to participate and have their stories shared. I was an amateur photographer when I began this work, but after seeing how many people wanted to share their experiences, I was determined to honor their stories the best way I could. I educated myself online to improve my skills, taught myself to edit and how to manage my own social media.

To date there are over 200 Face of Fortitude and counting. The emergence of COVID and the experience during quarantine created a few pivots that were not expected but in hindsight, were absolutely essential for my work. I currently travel to speak at conferences, for orgs and companies as well as have delivered two TEDx talks, sharing the stories and important lessons I have learned during the journey that this project continues to take me on.

I am currently working on a small book about the things I have learned and specifically what my plants have taught me about processing trauma, coming out in December entitled The Little Bloom Book.

Our Goal

The Faces of Fortitude project aims to provide safe spaces for healing through interactive art pop-ups and exhibits, speaking events and one-on-one portrait sessions around the world. The mission of this ever evolving work is to provide an ongoing conversation that brings often stigmatized topics and issues into the light and out of whispers. Connecting with people at moments of intense pain or joy – is part of our human nature. 

It is our hope that, if someone out there finds themselves in space where they are faced with a moment in time where they are questioning if they want to be alive or not, and it feels too difficult to sit in that space alone…that they will remember this space exists. Who knows, THAT could be just the light someone out there needs to see in order to stay.. just one more day. 

FAQ

Where are you located?

I currently am located in Seattle, WA which is where my sessions are. If you are approved for the project and are out of state, your name goes on a waiting list for either the opportunity for me to travel to your city for work arrises, and we then will fit in a session if possible during my travels. Approved applicants are also welcome to communicate with me if they find themselves visiting Seattle and want to try to fit a session in that way, all depending on timing of course.

Do I have to have lost someone to suicide in order to apply?

No, this project is open to anyone who has been touched by suicide in ANY way. Be it suicide loss, suicide attempt, suicidal ideation or mental illness struggles. 

How do you choose your Faces?

Decisions are based on a few things. First of all safety – these sessions are not therapy. I am a photographer and not a therapist. It is imperative for everyone’s safety that applicants have a self care plan in place and some time has passed since your traumatic event, as the sessions can oftentimes get very emotional. Approval is also based on project curation, to be sure everyone feels seen and represented.

Because there is no cost for these sessions, the selection and approval process is at my discretion and I do reserve the right to reject an application as I see fit.

How can I apply for the project?

You can apply for the Faces of Fortitude project HERE.

How can I see an Exhibit or hear you speak in my city?

All booking for suicide awareness speaking events, traveling pop-ups and full photo exhibits – Please contact Kate DesRosier kate@gotham-artists.com