“i am…”
a show on self-reflection and impacts on identity
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“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?”
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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
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“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?”
