“i am…”

“There are multitudes of struggles that you face every day. From social media to cliques, even extending to climate change and rising political tension, a horde of pressures affect how someone can look at themselves and the world. How have outside sources manipulated your view on yourself? Has it been beneficial? Detrimental? Have they changed the way you look at the world around you?”

Students from high school to graduate college were welcomed to submit art based off of the show prompt. Outreach began in early November 2021 to local high schools, and progressed towards opening up submissions to Merrimack and surrounding colleges in the area. The following students took up the challenge:

Aileen Perez, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Amaya Kardenetz, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Angela Mayes, Merrimack College

Angelina Medici, Methuen High School

Ashley Lacivita, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Cadence Watt, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Cailey Brickett, Merrimack College

Cameron Cunniff, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Carolina Rodríguez, Methuen High School

Christina Hickey, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Dora Heller, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Emily Lindtveit, Methuen High School

Gabrielle Harty, North Andover High School

Hannah Pietrowski, North Andover High School

Heyon Choi, Phillips Academy Andover

Jason Dailey, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Jeannine Al-Attal, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Juliana Spanks, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Kalynn Barter, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Keely Martyn, Merrimack College

Leanne Santerre, Merrimack College

Lily Seremet, Merrimack College

Lisa Yuen, Merrimack College

Liza Santerre, Merrimack College

Logan McGonigle, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Makenzie Sabourin, Merrimack College

Mikaela Sordillo, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Niamh Murtagh, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Nicole Martin, Merrimack College

Paige Crowley, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Rowan Matarazzo, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Rylee O'Donnell, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Sarah Scougall, Merrimack College

Shalyn Medaulleu, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Sophia Bolger, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Tommy Van, Methuen High School

Vanessa Velasquez, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School

Zaria Nelson, Methuen High School

“Who are you?”

There are a million ways to answer this question. One can respond with their name, their hometown, their families, their profession, and more. Those do not describe the self, though. To sit and ponder the question, looking past those superficial answers, is where the true self lies.

This exhibit looks to explore that exact question. By utilizing self-identity, we can discover how cultural, political, economical, and/or societal pressures can morph and change one’s view on themselves and the world around them. Through self-portraiture, both literal or metaphorical, artists dove into responding to the prompt to aid them in their discoveries.

Aiming to get responses from the younger generation, artists from both Merrimack College and high schools around the North Andover area were asked to create and submit a piece of work that would answer the question. The responses ranged from both subject matter and overall emotion; from dealing with the pressures of the beauty industry to the idea of falling in love with life. However, some pieces shared the same experiences and sources of inspiration: the COVID-19 pandemic, social media, disassociation, and more.

The artistic responses that were received are created off of various mediums and are on display. Literal and abstract works are displayed together throughout the show, with both 3D and virtual submissions found on pedestals scattered around the gallery. Each piece has a QR code in which you will find more information on the artist and the piece itself. I invite you to explore the gallery and ponder your response to the question:

“Who are you?”