Tag: I Am More Project

I AM MORE PROJECT

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

From our talented friend and artist, Amy Kerr

For Immediate Release

I AM MORE EXHIBIT AT NORTHSHORE MALL

Portraits and essays addressing how we are more than our mental illness, health diagnosis, disability or life situation.

January 24, 2023, Gloucester, MA—From January 21st through February 25th the traveling exhibit I Am More can be seen at the Northshore Mall in front of Macy’s. The exhibit features pastel and colored pencil portraits by Gloucester artist Amy Kerr, accompanied by essays written by the subjects describing how they are more than their life challenges. This is the third I Am More exhibit hosted by Northshore Mall, and this year new portraits address surviving Covid, growing up with Alopecia, coping with hearing loss and tinnitus, cultural differences in dealing with mental illness, depression in the clergy, and coming out as gay as a teen.  The exhibit will include mental health resources and emergency number cards, and for the first time will include Spanish translations for all of the essays.

“Amy Kerr’s I Am More project is combining art and personal storytelling in a unique and powerful way, to bring the issues of mental health awareness out of the shadows and into public spaces to engage communities and start conversations,” says John Rosenthal, Founder of PAARI (Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative), Friends of Boston’s Homeless, and Stop Handgun Violence.

I Am More Project

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

The talented Gloucester’s Portrait Artist has another wonderful event.

We are getting ready for another move – the Burlington Mall exhibit will be closing at the end of Mother’s Day this Sunday, and Monday morning we will be setting up at The Shops at Chestnut Hill (flyer attached with address and dates) on the upper level.

The folks who will be in this exhibit through June 5th are:
1. Erin
2. Donna J
3. Jonathan
4. Arielle
5. Seth
6. Ryan M
7. Jessica and Mila
8. James
9. Ryan
10. Carol
11. Eliana
12. David
13. Margot
14. Patrick
15. Áine
16. Julia
17. Chris C
18. Danny
19. Jerri
20. Jared (first unveiling)

In case you thought we were taking the summer off, think again, because the Simon Corporation (thanks to Erin!) is taking us on for three more exhibits:
• Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua NH – June
• The Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem NH – July
• The Cape Cod Mall – August
There will also be an exhibit at the Briarwood Retirement Community in Worcester for July and August so I’ll be letting you know who is going where.
If you missed the live interview on Boston 25 News they sent me a clip: https://www.facebook.com/IAmMorePortraits/videos/1154639295379764
Jared’s brand-new portrait and essay on hearing loss/tinnitus will be published this week on my blog. You may remember he was the photographer who took the photos for NorthShore Magazine.
That’s it for now, Happy May!
Amy Kerr

I Am More
Founder/Artist
amykerrdraws.org

I Am More Project

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

From Gloucester’s outstanding portrait artist Amy Kerr.

 

This is just to let you know that in a week Iain and I will be hanging the Burlington Mall exhibit (flyer attached). Those of you who will be in this exhibit are:

  1. Erin
  2. Sefatia
  3. Susie
  4. Heather
  5. Justin
  6. Ramani
  7. Rē
  8. Maleeka
  9. Jessica
  10. Henry
  11. Jim
  12. Emilia
  13. Sophie
  14. Donna
  15. Brenda
  16. Anita
  17. Laurie
  18. Margot
  19. Joe
  20. Josh

This is the last week of the South Shore Plaza exhibit, so if you were planning on visiting you’d better do it soon!

Also – the April NorthShore Magazine featuring our project is out online but since I don’t subscribe I haven’t seen it yet. Should be on newsstands soon.

Take care,

Amy

 

I Am More Project

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

From Amy Kerr’s I Am More Project.  Amy is so very talented.

Just passing along a piece that came out this week on NPR in western New England about our project and the current exhibit at The Holyoke Mall: https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2022-02-21/public-art-exhibit-i-am-more-depicts-how-people-are-more-than-their-challenges

 

 

 

I Am More Project

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

From the amazing and talented Amy Kerr:

Hello my friends

Just letting you know that your portrait and essay will be at the Northshore Mall for the month of January (2nd-29th), located in front of JCPenney’s by the food court (enter by Not Your Average Joe’s and turn left). There is a flyer attached you’re welcome to share.

All the best to you in 2022!

 

 

 

I Am More Project

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Tomorrow Iain and I will be hanging our biggest exhibit yet – all 36 portraits and essays at the Salem State University Berry Library. The public is welcome during library hours from Sept 1st through November 30th. Attached is a flyer you’re welcome to share.

In my next blog post I’ll be sharing this exhibit and some photos from the Ocean Alliance exhibit. I also have a new line-up of subjects coming up for the fall so if you’re interested in seeing those you can subscribe to the blog at www.amykerrdraws.org.

 

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.