Inspired by the location at BELIEVE Circle City High School, I am… is a visual affirmation project. This visual display of portraits was designed to be a reminder of all the things we are, and of which we sometimes need to be reminded. The artist photographed a group of young people, who were given a word of affirmation before the photograph and were asked to think about how that word applied to them. This is the same word that is displayed on their face in the installation.  The project expresses the hope that others, especially young people, can see themselves in these portraits and be reminded that they are, in fact, all the positive things that can sometimes be overshadowed by the negative things around them. The artwork was donated to the Meridian Highland community after appearing for a year as a temporary installation with Indy Art & Seek, a 2020 project of the Arts Council of Indianapolis and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.

Indianapolis-based artist Andrea D. Smith studied traditional photography at Broad Ripple High School. After attending Purdue University’s School of Engineering, she decided that her passion for photography would become her career. She began to expand her knowledge in the field of digital photography at Ivy Tech Community College and taught herself techniques to deliver bold imagery. She uses distinctive lighting to capture the true essence of her portrait subjects, bringing to life qualities often overlooked by others.  Smith divides her time between traveling and working in the studio as the lead artist at Studio 57 Photography, covering notable public figures and trends. When she is not pursuing commercial work or following her own artistic projects, Smith volunteers with community organizations including The Artitorium, Flashes of Hope, Outreach Indiana, and Harvest Girls International.