Everyone who came through was asked to write something down.

This was one of the highlights of my life. Thank you so much. Kelly Rosch

New York ↔ Honduras · 2015

It was absolutely beautiful. I wish this was compulsory education in high schools. If more people spent time interacting with people in other countries it might help address a multitude and issues. My conversation was full of joy and surprises – we had a few in common with each other – she studied cinema and scriptwriting, like me. We talked about film, documentary, independent cinema, and life in general. We talked about what it meant to be free, and she said she needed to live somewhere where she could write and create art with freedom. It was exceptionally moving – I want to do more! Ishita

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

Please allow we to think everyone who has worked to put together this remarkable project. It is an exquisite and unforgettable experience! What would be a better way to facilitate communication in this era then to combine contemporary technology with the way we all have to talk and find connections with each other. I met Mahsa Biglow, the photography student and experiences with a number of noteworthy parallels. From our fondness of city walks at night to our appreciation of our recent skydiving trips, the proximity of our lives in form seemed to make the geographical distance in substantial. I cannot wait to return here and hear of the projects expansion to other cities. It is so rare…

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

Can you please portal make all over the world! The longer I stayed inside, the more I realized the power of communication especially because people we’re told we shouldn’t communicate with! Can change the world – and this project is an epic fresh step. Thanks for letting me be a part of it.

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

Today is my birthday and I thought the best way to spend it was to “go” somewhere else. That somewhere else is here at the portal. I spoke to a wonderful artist who was photography as portraiture and projection amazing conversation about the process that we use as an artist to make work and what it means and what it can look like. I ful like and made a friend today. Best birthday present I could get.

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

My experience was amazing! I had goose bumps and this is a new form of communication + A powerful concept – I really appreciate the opportunity to experience this portal to the other/self. We need more spaces where open dialogue can occur. Crossing political, cultural, geographic boundaries. These conversations remind us that we are bound more by our similarities than divided by differences. Thank you! Elena Mahsui dec 10 2014

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

To me this experience was mind blowing. Sharing to someone on the other side of the world makes you feel that you live in a place where everyone cares so much about time and space. You are locked in a container standing there “literally” naked. When a man naked, you are standing in front of someone, and this person can see your hands, the way you stand and move. You are opening your soul and your thoughts to another human being. It’s like a time machine. To him was 6pm to me was 9:10am. Time is not crucial, and space is nothing when you metaphysically are confined to express what makes a good day to you. Have you thought about it?

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

Intimate – awkward – human – blessed. What a wonderful experience!! I was drawn to this because I realize that small “inconsequential” moments between people have the immeasurable capacity to bind us together. Not all that can be counted counts – and much that cannot be counted very much counts. This very much counts. I wanted to reach out and touch my stranger in the portal – but was so grateful for the chance to connect. What would make his day better? coffee and more time to spend on his own. Me? Solving a problem for a ?? – where there is no perfect solution. All so human! I am so grateful to be a small mustard seed in what I hope will flourish in its own organic way. Thanks so much.

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

12/14/14 I was truly amazed at the entire process of communicating with a person from Iran. This is the first time since I was 5 yrs old that I have had any communication with an actual Iranian in Iran. It gave me perspective. It clearly de-banks a lot of myths that we have about Iranians. This was truly and privilege for me. Thank you!

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

December 14, 2014 So full in the light. Here. The Portal is a gift of presence, connection and oneness. I am so grateful to begin this day – in this way with a connection to a community of artists, a family of free thinkers. What a reflection of intention! What a powerful medium. So happy to be a part of this quiet, personal, passionate revolution of connection. So moved by the practice of our oneness. In the light. So full. Here. Best as ever, Sharesse Bullrek

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

Dec 14, 2014 A connection triggered. Lovely and almost ethereal.

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

12/14/14 I am grinning. Overjoyed and inspired. What an incredible, powerful but off the same natural experience. I met Hama, a photography student in Tehran who had on infectious energy that you could feel despite the physical distance between us. We talked about stories and visions, little things and big things. She talked about Google like god, her “window to the world”. Hana encouraged me to write more, to share my story. We want to write together to create together. Thank you for curating this beautiful experience. Carolyn Witte

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

That was easily the most interesting conversation I’ve had all week. The man I talked to was a 20 year old student who had come to Tehran for school. We began the conversation talking about our opinions of the portal, and the conversation soon moved on to gay rights in the US. The man I talked to (Amir) is gay and was curious as to what it was like here. I said as much as I know on the topic, we discussed homosexual rights in Iran, and then we moved on to our ambitions. It’s incredible to see how similar we were. Part of me feels this shouldn’t be temporary, but I think the fact that it is makes it that much more insightful. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this. It’s been an…

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

Technology has helped create points off access that were once of exile. The ability to connect with someone halfway across the world as though they were directly in front of you, to practice your foreign comprehension by watching duds, relating over the jay + humor of watching universally relatable characters. This was a truly special experience. Governments cannot keep us divided. Sanctions cannot keep us divided. People will find ways to connect with their fellow brethren. Thank you, Shaadu

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

2/22/15 Jack Nork – Today is my 46th birthday so I wanted to do something special to mark the day so here I am! It’s such a great idea to connect people from different parts of the world. I really enjoyed my conversation my partner in Iran is a 3rd year engineering student who plays blues guitar! We exchanged contact info so I look forward to continuing the conversation in the future. Thanks so much for setting this up. I’ll never forget this day!

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

2/25 I really enjoyed speaking in the portal this morning. I had the opportunity to meet Mahsa, a woman photographer in grad school. As a photographer myself, we had a lovely conversation about one role at being a photographer and the difficulties that can come with that (especially for her in Tehran). I love the idea of the portal – stepping into the darkened container and making a connection with someone overseas. I love how successful the portal is in connecting 2 strangers. We use technology all day long and yet we can still feel a disconnect. The portal, in its simplicity, defies that. Thank you! Jessica

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

2/26 Last night, prior to entering the portal, I spoke to a friend about what I was doing today and he led me to a chat website, Omegle, were somewhat similarly to portal strangers meet. Unlike portal, they meet for a variety of different motives, some flashing, in an altogether different concept. Not much respect, lots of inappropriate things, sex, trash talk etc. With portal, the medium itself is of far more interest. Internet communications have allowed people to do this for years, but the context of the internet leads for a center of profanity. By removing this technology from that context and placing it in “art” and making a physical space, Portal invents a purer experience. Henry Wolf

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

Feb 26 I don’t know that I am ready to write about this experience yet but I know that I will be thinking about my conversation for a long time. My first portals conversation was with a twenty-something man who had just finished his military service – two years are required to obtain a passport therefore leave the country. Our conversation followed a surprising turn where he began by saying he would turn his back on all Iran but he ended by acknowledging the aspects of his life. My second portals conversation was with Mahsa

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

2/26 The Portal worked perfectly, like magic, I was transported to the life of a young photographer who is propelling herself toward studies in the US. We soon swapped stories of our travels and interests and as cliché as it sounds, we are all one community. I look forward to staying connected with this lovely and talented woman. Carol

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

2/27/15 WOW. This is pretty amazing! I’m not quite sure where to begin… I found myself just wishing I could step through the screen, into/across the world! It would be so much easier than trying to plan a real trip to Tehran… the biggest take-away is this sense of location/dis-location. When inside, I actually felt dizzy at points because I couldn’t quite place myself relative to my surroundings. And yet I was very conscious of the fact that I was on the sidewalk, outside the Art Gallery and in New Haven. I really wanted to learn more about the location of the portal in Tehran! I spoke with two people – the first a young man who was a photographer and documentary filmmaker. He seemed…

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

March 1, 2015 Amazing how the first moments and awkwardness gave ground to joy the technology and the opportunity to share a moment of connection across continents. Thank you. Nate

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

March 1, 2015 I had the pleasure of speaking with the very delightful Human (Hooman) Amiri – a 23 year old Art painting Student at the University of Tehran. What a cutie patootie!! I was taken aback by how easily we connected – what an amazing experience! Human told me about his “girlfriend” and that he was really excited about the future of their relationship as a typical older Iranian woman, even though I was born and raised in the USA. I naturally fell into the position of giving relationship advice! I was almost embarrassed that I felt it my place to chime in – but he was ecstatic! Continuing to tell me that he bought her a nice gift for her birthday almost in hopes of my praise and…

New York ↔ Tehran · 2014

06/27/2015 Best experience ever in my life entering this Portal and speaking with someone from Havana, Cuba. The conversation was easy, friendly and I highly recommend for the whole world to do this.

From the gold books

April 9, 2015 That was a truly phenomenal experience! It was amazing to see how similar he was to me in his goals for himself, his awareness of the issues in society, and his hobbies. That being said, he is clearly working in a much more difficult environment (lack of electricity, economic hardship, educational barriers, etc.) that contextualize how lucky I am to have the opportunities I do. I was especially blown away by the fact that he is trying to start his own IT company and asked for my help as a business major who has worked both in start-ups and microfinance to help him develop a business plan… business really can be used for good. We exchanged emails + will be in touch! Joshua…

Washington, D.C. · 2015