America’s Most Captivating Couples 2009, Part II
San Francisco, California
Annie, 54, artist, author, educator
Beth, 48, artist, professor
Annie and Beth are an artist couple committed to doing projects that explore, generate, and celebrate love. “We utilize visual art, installation, theater pieces, interventions, live-art, exhibitions, lectures, printed matter and activism,” says Annie. “Each year we orchestrate one or more interactive performance art weddings in collaboration with various national and international communities, then display the ephemera in art galleries.” Their projects incorporate the colors and themes of the chakras, a structure inspired by Linda M. Montano’s 14 Years of Living Art. “Our current project, The Love Art Laboratory, grew out of our response to the violence of war, the anti-gay marriage movement, and our prevailing culture of cynicism. We hope the Love Art Laboratory will help make the world a more fun, sexy, tolerant, love-filled place.”
We rounded up so many gorgeous couples we couldn’t fit them all in one issue. That said, we’re happy to have the cuteness continue.
Phyllis & Helen
US & UK
Phyllis, 46, photographer, activist
Helen, 38, publisher, activist
“Helen and I fell in love in the summer of 2002 when I was living in England doing photo work for Helen’s magazine,” says Phyllis. Without the option to marry, they spent a few years going back and forth between countries depending on where they thought they could live legally. Eventually Helen was able, at great cost, to live in the U.S. on a student visa for two years but when it ended they had to leave for England. Committed to the fight for immigration equality, they took their predicament to Nancy Pelosi’s office where they were simply told, “We’re so sorry about the law, but there’s nothing we can do.” In a testament to the urgency of the fight for equal rights, Helen is often questioned by customs about her frequent visits to the U.S. so they are forced to pretend they’re just friends when they travel.
