Mary Flannery, a longtime art therapist, is working to spread the word about a powerful exhibit called “Shame Fear Love” on display at Lynn's Great Art Studio space. The next day, she said she saw women attending a nearby treatment program walk by her home. “Art is like knocking on someone's back door and asking, 'Can I come in?' The artists' audio clips and the interactive boxes they built inspired this project.” “Once you’re on board, you have to respect how you hold that person’s story,” Flannery said. One box contains the story of Alexia Gagne, a mother of three from Salem. Gagné said the portrait photo of herself on the front of her box was meant to express her own shame. “My life, looking in from the outside, is not a lonely place,” Gagné said. But here she is, the same lonely woman I was. very lonely. ” Gagne listed her own insecurities in her box. There is also a glowing portrait of her to show her love. Gagne is a recovering alcoholic. “The alcohol almost killed her,” she said. Her children's early years, from their teens to their early 20s, were hectic, and Gagné said she began to feel like she had lost herself. She was eventually admitted to the hospital; Residential treatment programs. She ended up joining Flannery's art therapy group. “She has a way of bringing things out without making it feel like she's bringing things up,” Gagne said of Flannery. The number of women who contributed to the exhibition varies. For some, it's a drug. One woman who left the group died of an overdose. Gagné said the kids were the inspiration for her to get through the program. “Her daughter… was crying,” Gagné said. “And my sons…couldn't seem to stop hugging me.” The women who took part in the project agreed to share their work widely. Flannery said she feels it's important. “In the end, you'll walk away with a deeper appreciation for what it's like to walk in someone's shoes. Compassion is so important because it's a conversation. , and then start a conversation about what's going on,” Flannery said. Learn more about Flannery's work here.
Mary Flannery, a longtime art therapist, is working to spread the word about a powerful exhibit called “Shame Fear Love” on display at Lynn's Great Art Studio space.
She said she was inspired for the project to explore these three emotions after seeing women attending nearby treatment programs walk past her home every day.
Artist audio clips and artist-built interactive boxes create an immersive experience.
“Art is like knocking on someone's back door and asking, 'Can I come in?' Once you're in, you have to respect how they perceive their story,” Flannery said. Told.
One box contains the story of Alexia Gagné, a mother of three from Salem. She said the portrait photo of herself on the front of her box was meant to express her shame.
“My life is not a lonely place as I look outside and inward,” Gagne said. But here I am, a lonely woman, and the place I was in was very lonely.
Gagne listed her concerns in a box. There is also a glowing portrait of her to show her love. Gagne is a recovering alcoholic.
“I almost died from alcohol,” she said.
Gagne said her early years, when her children reached their teens and early 20s, were so busy that she began to feel lost.
She ended up in the hospital and then into a residential treatment program. She ended up joining Flannery's art therapy group.
“She has a way of bringing things to the forefront without it feeling like you're bringing things up,” Gagne said of Flannery.
The women who contributed to the exhibition have various struggles. For some, it's a drug. One woman who left the group died of an overdose.
Gagne said the children were the driving force behind the program. She said of her first night:
“My daughter… was crying, and my sons… couldn't stop hugging me,” Gagné said.
The women who participated in this project agreed to share their results widely. Flannery said she feels that's important.
“At the end of the day, you'll leave with a deeper appreciation for what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes,” Flannery said. “Because it's a conversation starter and it starts a conversation about what can be done.”
Find more information about Flannery's work here.
