Milwaukee artist and photographer Ingrid Eubanks describes herself as a goal setter and reacher. She set her latest goal on Sunday when she attempted to dole out 1,000 random hugs at Locust Street Festival.

"When I was at about 460 hugs, I got overwhelmed and just cried right on Locust Street," says Eubanks. "The feeling was amazing."

During the Riverwest-based street festival word spread that Eubanks was giving away 1,000 hugs and festgoers sought her out to get in on the love.

"The response was incredible. I allowed people to come to me. Their arms would be stretched out wide. People had to wait in a line for their hug and work their way through the crowd," says Eubanks. 

Surprisingly, no one got weird. 

"Everyone was loving and respectable. I absolutely love Milwaukee,’" says Ingrid, who was born and raised on the Northwest Side.

Among the hug receivers were two on-duty Milwaukee police.

"That really touched my heart," says Eubanks.

Eubanks is a self-taught photographer and painter. Her first solo show opened this weekend at the B-FIT MKE, 219 N. Milwaukee St. It will be on display for about two months.

Plus, she is the events photographer for Dominion Gallery, 804 East Wright St., and has a weekly radio show on Riverwest Radio every Thursday at 6 p.m. called "Ingrid's Inspirational Hour." 

Eubanks has many other future goals, including riding in a hot air balloon, meeting / hugging Dave Grohl and hugging a redwood tree in California. She has hugged Salt-N-Pepa, Pauly Shore, Diane Sawyer, Darren Carter and Mo'Nique.

"Mo'Nique gives awesome hugs," she says.

On April 14, 2007, Eubanks gave out about 500 hugs at a women’s retreat called The Gathering. She plans to dispense free hugs at public events again in the future.

"We need hugs. They are actually good for our health," says Eubanks.