Brookline 8th-Grade Self-Portrait Exhibition On Display At Pierce

BROOKLINE, MA — If you are walking down School Street in Brookline Village and happen to look over at the Pierce School, you might catch a glimpse of dozens of 8th grade students staring back at you from the windows.

As part of a " Contemporary Self-Portrait" workshop, a month-and-a-half long art program diving into portraiture, the 8th-grade students at John Pierce School each created a unique self-portrait aesthetic, using cell phones and computers.

"In the students’ work you can see their efforts at expressing their identity and experiences of their time at the John Pierce School, as well as their present, Covid-influenced, environments," said Pierce visual arts teacher Amelia Black.

But the culmination of the project represents more than just a class project as the students move on from this phase of their education to high school, she said.

"The project was so unique because they were able to showcase a really interesting time period in their lives but also in society as well," Black said. "I find it refreshing and beautiful to see the positive outlook and mature thinking from this special group of kids."

This year’s self-portraits were taken outside the school, around the students’ homes, and within the community setting where they could safely distance themselves. The students worked with Black and professional photographer David Leifer, to create self-portraits that were then printed as large format ink-jet prints.

Leifer has been running a similar project at Lawrence School in Brookline for many years. But this was the first time the program was offered at Pierce. The final prints were mounted in locations that were safely accessible to the students, their friends and families.

“We are so proud of our students. Their self-portraits capture these students at such a pivotal time in their lives and in history," said Lesley Ryan Miller, principal of John Pierce School. "The artworks are treasured ‘windows’ into these students’ creativity, intelligence, and perspective on the world. It is our honor and joy to showcase this exhibition and these various viewpoints with the community through our school’s windows."

The Pierce PTO raised the funds to support the Pierce Arts Council to provide additional opportunities for curriculum-coordinated art enrichment programs. Black hopes to continue the program in the years to come at Pierce.

The art, all 60 portraits, is on view at the 50 School St. windows until June 7.