Tag: I Am More Project

I am More Project

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Gloucester’s amazing artist Amy Kerr’s I Am More Project is will be at the North Shore Mall.

I Am More: Massachusetts

Twenty new paintings of individuals from around Massachusetts accompanied by essays to remind us that we are more than our

life situation, health diagnosis, mental illness or physical disability. This is the third of five regional exhibits across the state.

Topics include postpartum depression, brain cancer, dementia, anxiety, addiction, poverty, eating disorders, spinal cord injury, insecurity, sexual abuse, schizoaffective disorder, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, suicide, learning disabilities, bullying, PTSD, and surviving the Holocaust.

Portrait subjects come from Gloucester, Lynn, Reading, Wenham, Peabody, Lawrence, Newburyport, Littleton, Burlington, Mattapan, Leverett, Amherst, Feeding Hills, Worcester, Westborough, and Mashpee.

Watch CBS Boston’s piece about the exhibit when it was unveiled in Worcester: https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/10/22/worcester-popup-art-i-am-more-than-this-amy-kerr/

Where: The Northshore Mall, 210 Andover Street, Peabody, in front of Macy’s, Upper Level

When: December 31st through January 30th

Opening Reception Friday, January 3rd from 7-9pm

Feel free to share our Facebook Event Page.

A special thank you to the Northshore Mall, the Office of Congressman Seth Moulton, and NAMI Greater North Shore for making this exhibit possible.

 

Thanks for your help in spreading the message!

 

Amy Kerr

I Am More Founder/Artist

amykerrdraws.org

 

 

Bank Gloucester “I Am More Project

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

BankGloucester “I Am More” Reception

During the months of November and December BankGloucester is hosting eight portraits from the original I Am More series. The colored pencil and pastel portraits by Amy Kerr are accompanied by essays by the subjects about how they are more than their mental illness or life situation.

There will be a reception this Saturday November 16th from 11am – 1pm at 160 Main Street in Gloucester if you would like to meet the artist and some of the local subjects.

This is the last scheduled I Am More event for Cape Ann, so a huge thank you to Ocean Alliance, the City of Gloucester, Action Inc., The Open Door, Gloucester Stage Company, Cape Ann Animal Aid, Saltwater Massage Studio, Backyard Growers, Maritime Gloucester, Willow Rest, Treetop Yoga, Addison Gilbert Hospital, Magnolia Library, The Common Crow, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Cape Ann Cinema and Stage, Gloucester High School, Rockport Police Department, Seniorcare Inc., and the Sawyer Free Library for providing a space for discussion and healing. The portraits will continue to travel to locations around Massachusetts and New England.

I Am More Project from our amazing artist Amy Kerr

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

“I Am More: Massachusetts” Unveiling

The project that started in Cape Ann has now gone statewide, with twenty new I Am More portraits from around the state, including Cape Ann, being unveiled this weekend.

The new colored pencil and pastel portraits by Gloucester artist Amy Kerr include topics such as postpartum depression, brain cancer, dementia, anxiety, addiction, poverty, eating disorders, spinal cord injury, insecurity, sexual abuse, schizoaffective disorder, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, suicide, learning disabilities, bullying, PTSD, and surviving the Holocaust.

Portrait subjects come from Worcester, Westborough, Littleton, Burlington, Mattapan, Lynn, Reading, Leverett, Amherst, Wenham, Feeding Hills, Peabody, Lawrence, Gloucester, Newburyport and Mashpee.

 Where: Worcester PopUp – 20 Franklin Street, Worcester, MA

When: October 19th through November 7th

Gallery hours Tuesdays through Fridays 12-4 pm

Opening Celebration Saturday October 19th from 5-8pm

 A huge thank you to our portrait sponsors:

Anonymous

BankGloucester

Andrew Morse

Ken & Rose Carlsen

Additional sponsors:

Beth Israel Lahey Health Behavioral Services

Ocean Alliance

Brace Cove Foundation

Anne & Richard Rosenfeld

Laurie Taylor

Ann Carlsen

Carol Stone

Chris Sadkowski

Anita & Peter Thomas

Katherine & Peter Coakley

Maggie & Joe Rosa

Sara Lippert

Debe & Nick Holland

Anita Pandolfe Ruchman

Cheryl Allen

Lauren & Ted Suchecki

Lee Quigley

Amy & Mark Farber

Julia Wachtel

Joan Amero

Anne Kinigstein

 

A special thank you to Kitt Cox, Cynthia Mochowski, Anita Pandolfe Ruchman, Anne Pieterse and Rolf Urbach.

 

I Am More Project at the Matz Gallery Sawyer Free Library for the month of July

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Amy Kerr

Since 2017 Amy had dedicated her artistic career to her public art and writing project

I AM MORE PROJECT which began as a local portrait series to start a conversation about all the ways we are more than our mental challenges

I Am More Project

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Dear I Am More Subjects,

I thought the portraits would be having a rest this month, but after staff from SeniorCare Inc. here in Gloucester saw the Rockport display they jumped at the chance to have the portraits for June. Below is an open invitation they put together that you can feel free to pass along and you are welcome to attend if you’d like to mingle and answer questions.

Happy Summer!

Amy

SeniorCare is pleased to host Amy Kerr’s “I Am More” exhibit, featuring artwork and personal stories of sixteen North Shore people.  This impactful exhibit reminds us that we are more than our mental challenges.

A reception will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at SeniorCare’s offices, located at 49 Blackburn Center in Gloucester. In addition, the exhibit may be viewed on Friday afternoons in June from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.  Anyone wishing to view the exhibit at a different time may call 978-281-1750 and request a private viewing.

Learn more about Ms. Kerr’s art at www.amykerrdraws.org.

SeniorCare Inc.

49 Blackburn Center

Gloucester, MA 01930

978-281-1750  •  TTY 978-282-1836  • Fax 978-281-1753

www.seniorcareinc.org

I Am More Project at the Cape Ann Savings Bank

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

I Am More at Cape Ann Savings Bank

 Fourteen pastel and colored pencil I Am More portraits by Amy Kerr, featuring many Cape Ann residents, can be seen at Cape Ann Savings Bank during the month of May in their beautiful gallery space. The portraits are accompanied by essays by the subjects about how they are more than their life challenges, including grief, mental illness, addiction, and dysphoria. There are resources available at the display from local non-profits detailing free support groups and services in Cape Ann.

 Special thanks to Bob Gillis, Jennifer Orlando, Steve Goodick, and everyone at Cape Ann Savings Bank for welcoming the display.

 To see all of the I Am More portraits and essays, including 18 new ones from around the state go to www.amykerrdraws.org.

 

 

 

I Am More Project

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Rockport “I Am More” Reception

 The Rockport Police Department will be opening their doors to the public this Thursday evening (April 25th) from 7-9 pm for a reception featuring eight of the I Am More portraits by Gloucester artist Amy Kerr with accompanying essays on display in the Community Room at 168 Main Street in Rockport. The pastel and colored pencil portraits of mostly Cape Ann residents are displayed with essays by the subjects that describe all the ways they are more than their depression, alcoholism, bi-polar disorder, grief, suicidal thoughts, eating disorder, anxiety and panic attacks. There will be information available about free health and wellness resources available in Cape Ann, along with light refreshments.

 A big thank you to Chief John Horvath and retired Rockport Police Officer Roger Lesch for making this event possible.

 

 

 

Am More Project in Rockport

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

I Am More in Rockport

 The I Am More portrait series by Amy Kerr can be seen in Rockport for the first time during the month of April at the Rockport Police Department in the Community Room (168 Main Street). Thanks to the work of retired police officer Roger Lesch and the support of Chief John Horvath, eight of the pastel and colored pencil portraits and their accompanying essays can be seen on display, with access 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The remaining eight portraits are on display at Therapy for Intentional Living (TILI) at 11 Vinnin Street in Salem for the month of April. Owner Elissa Riggio Tossi will open the TILI I Am More display to the public on Sunday April 28th from 11-4 pm.

 

 

I am More Project

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

January I Am More Displays

 The I Am More portraits by Amy Kerr are a reminder to all of us that we are more than our challenges. This month the portraits and essays can be seen at The Common Crow Natural Market (200 Eastern Ave, Gloucester), Cape Ann Coffees (86 Bass Ave, Gloucester), Cape Ann Cinema & Stage (21 Main St, Gloucester), and TILI – Therapy for Intentional Living (11 Vinnin St, Salem). A huge thank you to these very generous display partners for sharing their spaces. You can see all of the portraits and essays at https://amykerrdrawsportraits.wordpress.com. To host a display please contact Amy at amykerrdrawsportraits@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

From our friend and talented artist Amy Kerr

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Thanks to Lisa Smith and 1623 Studios, I Am More has a video and it was released the other day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-QAkvNqoEo&feature=youtu.be

Lisa is apparently a genius because I was a nervous wreck and you really can’t tell! She did an amazing job of capturing the spirit of the project, so feel free to share!

 

 

Amy Kerr

I AM MORE at Addison Gilbert

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

I Am More: Addison Gilbert Hospital

~ amykerrdrawsportraits

When I initially approached AGH about a display, they said their gallery wall was booked two years in advance if I wanted to wait. When I explained the timely circumstances of the portrait series they agreed that it was important to find the space. So find space they did:

This is, I think, the most high traffic display site we’ve had so far, servicing all of Cape Ann for Emergency care, Primary care, Physical Therapy, Behavioral Health, Radiology, Center for Healthy Aging, DISCOVER Substance Abuse and the Gorton Cancer Care Center.

 A visitor passing by said the stories give her hope, so thank you.

I Am More Project by our friend Amy Kerr

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Dear I Am More subjects,

September was a super busy month for the project. The display and event at the Lahey Behavioral Health treatment center in Danvers to celebrate Recovery Month was very well-received. The staff shared how they would watch the residents reading the pieces and then walk away smiling. The Fish Tales live storytelling event with the theme “I Am More” was standing-room-only and Henry Ferrini of the Gloucester Writers Center called it “one of the best we’ve presented.”

Iain and I have finished hanging the October displays. Julia is on display at Emerson College, and the rest of you are at the Action Inc. headquarters in Gloucester. Action provides shelter and services for the homeless population, low income residents, and at-risk youth of Cape Ann, and everyone who receives services from them will pass by your portraits. Just in the short time we spent there hanging, there was an amazing response and I’ve already received feedback from a board member who saw it yesterday.

To round out the year, your portraits will be headed to Addison Gilbert Hospital in November, Magnolia Library in December, with lots of displays planned for 2019 including the Matz Gallery at the Sawyer Free library, Gloucester High School and North Shore Music Theatre. I’ve recently had inquiries from Rockport, Brattleboro, VT and Washington D.C., so stay tuned!

Happy Fall!

Amy Kerr

I Am More Project

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

If you missed the I Am More Project by wonderful artist Amy Kerr, this show has been extended.  It is an amazing show.

This is just to let you know that due to popular demand, the opening exhibit of the portraits at the Paint Factory has been extended:

 The I Am More Opening at the Paint Factory (32 Horton St) has been extended to this afternoon (Wed) from 1-5, Thursday from 9-5 and Friday 9-5.

 If you have family or friends who wanted to see all the portraits in one place, this is their chance. This does not include the work from the additional artists.