April has been a treat because the I Am More original portraits are in displays organized by two of the project’s most enthusiastic supporters.

Elissa Riggio Tosi is the owner of Therapy for Intentional Living in Beverly and Salem, and she is hosting her second display of eight portraits in the lobby of her Salem location for the month of April. She has been overwhelmed by the response from her team and clients to the stories, and she is opening her doors to the public for the first I Am More event in Salem. From TILI’s Facebook Page:

My practice, Therapy For Intentional Living, Inc., affectionately known as TILI, will be hosting the art show called “I AM MORE” by portrait artist Amy Kerr for the month of April. TILI and the show will be open to the public on Sunday, April 28th from 11-4. The show is extraordinarily powerful because Amy’s brilliant portraits are accompanied by her subject’s piece of writing about being more than the mental illness they live with or more than the challenges they have faced in their lives.

Please come, meet Amy and support the destigmatization of mental health.

Therapy For Intentional Living, Inc.
11 Vinnin Street
Salem, MA

Roger Lesch is a retired Rockport Police Officer and so much more. He discovered I Am More when the portraits were on display at Action Inc., where he is a member of the Board of Directors. We had never met, but he reached out to me and said, “We need to get these into Rockport.” I said, “I know,” and he was off. If I could hire him full-time I would because before long he had organized a display at the Rockport Police Department in the Community Room, with the support of Chief John Horvath.

Aside from historical photos and plaques, the space had never hosted an art exhibit, so cue Iain to figure out how to hang the portraits and essays in this non-traditional art space. Amazingly the maple frames made by Caleb Rulli, whose shop is just around the corner from the station, matched the trim in the room perfectly so they look like they were designed for that space.

The eight portraits and essays can be viewed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until April 30th in the Community Room at 186 Main Street unless there is a meeting in session.

On Thursday April 25th from 7-9 pm there will be a reception open to the public with light refreshments and information on health and wellness services available in the Cape Ann area including NAMI Cape Ann, PACE medical program for frail elders through Element Care, Cape Ann – North Shore Parent & Caregiver Social Group, and the NAN Project.

I’m grateful to Elissa, Roger, Chief Horvath, Michelle Rowe, and all of the organizations contributing educational materials and food for these events.

See you there!