For three years, Robert Rosenheck criss-crossed the country photographing people holding a bright red and yellow LOVE sign that he found in a Barstow, California, thrift shop.
"It was made of plywood, painted bright red with yellow trim, about the size of a cornet and just as curvy. 'I figure some guy on acid back in the '60s cut it on a band saw," Rosenheck said.("Fool for Love," Michael Vitez, Inquirer.)
"He has made more than 1,000 photographs of people holding LOVE. And what people! Gorbachev, Thatcher, Oprah, Hillary and Bill. Homeless men on steam grates, ghetto kids, three octogenarian aunts. Batman!" ("Fool for Love," Michael Vitez, Inquirer.)
"I want
to turn it into a LOVE peep show that the whole family can enjoy! A giant
red and 
yellow LOVE sign
replica, suspended in the window will attract
passers-by. As they gaze through the darkened storefront windows via one
of four peepholes, they will be treated to the sights and sounds of LOVE.
(Robert Rosenheck in
original installation proposal.)
"He has remained true to his mission, which he sees as nothing less than fostering world peace." ("Fool for Love," Michael Vitez, Inquirer.)
"Two synchronized
slide projectors will display pairs of LOVE Pictures linked in a continuous
loop. The projector on the left will show celebrities and political figures
ranging from Bill Clinton to Oprah Winfrey to Oliver North to Nelson Mandela.
[The right projector will show ordinary people.] 
All colors and sizes will
share the space with the high and mighty-all in the name of LOVE. Additionally,
a speaker overhead will continuously churn out a titillating mix of obscure
and cheesy love songs to further enhance the peeping experience. The "LOVE
Peep Show" installation will serve as a celebration of diversity.
(Robert Rosenheck in
original installation proposal.)
"'I though it was wonderfully ironic,' he says, 'that I was frisked before I gave Al Sharpton LOVE.'" ("Fool for Love," Michael Vitez, Inquirer.)
"In addition
to the storefront installation. I plan to roam 42nd Street weekly photographing
tourists and locals posing with the LOVE sign. Each week, new images will
rotate
into 
the installation so that
people can return to the storefront and find
themselves on display." (Robert
Rosenheck in original installation proposal.)
"'I won't touch it,' sniffed Margaret Thatcher when he crashed a breakfast in Miami, 'but if you place it on the table, I'll stand beside it.'" ("Fool for Love," Michael Vitez, Inquirer.)
Artists' Biography
Rosenheck, a Phildelphia-based photographer was working on his first film in 1994.
History of the Site
