Before Jeanette Fuller began taking photos of Annmarie Rita on the streets of Wareham in 2012, Annmarie asked Fuller, "If you're photographing art, why are you taking pictures of me?"

Dozens of Wareham residents braved the storm Friday night to celebrate the life of Annmarie and the art of Fuller at the WCTV photo exhibit, “The Wanderer: A Day in the Life of Annmarie,” on display until April 21.

From September 2012 to May 2013, Fuller spent hundreds of hours with Annmarie, who lived on the Wareham streets, and documented her life through photographs.

"It took me awhile to get the courage to ask her about it," said Fuller, who was beginning her senior project as a photography major at UMass Dartmouth at the time. Knowing that Annmarie was a chain smoker, Fuller said, "I just approached her one day with a pack of cigarettes, even though I don't smoke, and asked her for a lighter."

For the next nine months the 23-year-old Fuller formed a close bond with Annmarie. Fuller said she would spend a few hours with Annmarie every couple of days taking photos, going out to lunch or to a motel, or just sitting with her on a curb.

"Some nights after leaving her I would get in my car and just cry," Fuller said.

Fuller spoke about how Annmarie was a fixture in the community and how the community provided for her as well.

Fuller said that former Wareham boys basketball coach Jim Brogioli would occasionally pay for Annmarie to stay in Jasper's Motel for a week. She said Annmarie and her had Thanksgiving dinner together in a motel after Annmarie was given money and gift cards from local residents.

While many residents provided for Annmarie from time to time, Wareham resident and bus driver Linda Scott said Annmarie never once asked for money.

"She was a character and she was smart. I always talked to her on my morning bus route," Scott said.

Scott remembered bringing Annmarie blankets when she would sleep by the Narrows bridge in the winter.

"We became friends. I just enjoyed sitting with her for awhile," Scott said. "I can still feel her on my route."

Onset residents Mary Menz and Lucille Dardis remembered Annmarie sleeping on a beach lounge chair at the bandshell and the bathhouse in Onset.

Menz said a neighbor in her community who worked at Dunkin Donuts would always give Annmarie coffee and invited Annmarie into her home on a number of occasions.

Dardis said, "Annmarie would turn the heat all the way up."

"It all makes you think our problems are so trivial," said Menz.

Sadly, Annmarie was struck and killed by a vehicle on Cranberry Highway on May 22 last year.

Fuller fought back tears when she spoke about how frustrated she was to learn about Annmarie's death.

"She was out in the cold for 10 years but I never saw her sick once," Fuller said.

Her death was a few weeks after Fuller had a showing of her work with Annmarie at a gallery in New Bedford, which Annmarie declined to attend.

"She came into my life to teach me something, and she taught me so much more than I could have asked for," Fuller said.

The photo exhibit, “The Wanderer: A Day in the Life of Annmarie” will run from Feb. 21 to April 21 at the WCTV gallery at 505 Main St. in Wareham.