ABOUT
EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO MEANINGFUL CREATIVE EXPERIENCES.
The I AM: Projects works world-wide to provide opportunities for people of all ages, especially children, to explore identity through art, film, and self-portrait photography. Since 2010, the projects have served more than 3,000 individuals in 25 countries.
Based on the belief that everyone has the right to meaningful creative experiences, the I AM: Projects partner with organizations that support marginalized, underserved, or under-recognized groups in both rural and urban communities. Collaboratively, we design a curriculum that addresses socially and culturally relevant needs while celebrating the value and potential of each participant as a unique person. Through drawing, painting, sculpture, poetry, music, photography, and filmmaking, participants work on their own and together to create works of art that express feelings, affirm identities, and advocate for change. Each project culminates with a public exhibition where the community is invited to recognize and learn from the works and stories presented.
Photographs, artworks, and films have been exhibited internationally in galleries, museums, and contemporary art centers in cities including Mumbai, Addis Ababa, Tel Aviv, Milan, Ulan Bator, Sao Paulo, Cannakale, Sarajevo, Beirut, and New York. The 2013 project, I AM: Mongolia is the subject of the award-winning documentary film, Water, Ice, Snow (2013 dir. Karim Raoul).
In the United States, the I AM: Projects extend their reach into public schools and social welfare organizations to engage youth in similar projects that encourage cultural awareness, international exchange, and diverse understanding.
DIRECTOR/FOUNDER
Sasha Sicurella is a Canadian arts education specialist, photographer, and filmmaker. With nineteen years of experience, she has taught art to people ages 1-100 in a variety of schools and educational settings. She is currently the Director of Education at Art Omi in Ghent, NY where she continues to develop and implement public, arts-based programming for the local community. She is a member of The International Society for Education Through Art (InSEA) whose purpose is to encourage and advance creative education through art, design, and crafts in all countries and promote international understanding. Sasha holds a BFA from the University of British Columbia and an MFA from New York University.