When I look for display locations for I Am More I’m not looking for traditional fine arts spaces, I’m looking for largest number of eyeballs passing through who might be affected. It was for that reason that I approached the largest working regional theatre in Massachusetts—North Shore Music Theatre.

When I approached General Manager Karen Nascembini last winter with the idea of displaying the original portraits there she immediately said yes, and since the exhibit would need to correspond with the run of a show, when people are actually there, she suggested “Sunset Boulevard” starring Tony-winner Alice Ripley.

Now for the hanging part. NSMT is a theatre-in-the-round, so a circular building surrounded by glass. Meaning, no walls. If there is one lesson I’m leaving you with today it is that you can make an art gallery anywhere if you try, and if you have willing co-conspirators. After doing some research online I found a solution.

With your donations we acquired 11 double-sided Pro Panels, a professional display system that folds up flat and can be arranged in any configuration for any space. These will be key to some of the upcoming I Am More: Massachusetts exhibits. When I clicked “Purchase Now” I did not foresee a TRACTOR TRAILER with a very nervous driver trying to make his way down the dirt road to the Paint Factory without tumbling into the harbor to drop off my delivery. Luckily I was out of town, but thanks to the team at Ocean Alliance, and especially Mark Hayes, they coaxed him along, while we fielded phone calls in Chicago where we were dropping Dylan off at college.

Now that the panels were safely at the Paint Factory we had to figure out how to get them to NSMT with our vehicles…a Prius and a Mini. Enter UHaul which you can now rent with an app, and we were on our way. A big thank you to Chris Sadkowski, President of NAMI Greater North Shore, for his help with the put up and take down.

Was it worth all of this effort? Well, North Shore Music Theatre seats 1500, and Sunset Boulevard ran for sixteen performances, so let’s just say, that’s a lot of eyeballs.

We’re grateful for businesses like NSMT with a vision beyond making money, who provide space to benefit the public, and go above and beyond to collaborate with local causes.

In other news, I Am More portrait subject Anita Pandolfe Ruchman is leading an upcoming retreat called “A Time Apart: A Retreat for those who are grieving” on November 3 from 10-5 pm in North Andover, MA. If there is a more nurturing individual on this planet, I don’t know who it is.

I Am More is supported by donations. I have $15,165 left of my goal to bring I Am More: Massachusetts to the public. If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution you can go to the Donation page of our fiscal sponsor Ocean Alliance and choose “I Am More” from the list of programs.Thank you for your support!!