The UCEN Fine Art Gallery at UM-Flint proudly presents a very moving exhibition by Kimberly Weymers, titled, “The Scars Left Behind” which confronts the viewer with an important social issue that most of us have experienced at one time or another during our lives.

Weymer’s focus is on children and teens is described in her Artist Statement.  Her presentation of this issue struck me, in particular, with the way she placed the ‘hurtful words’ distinctly at eye-level.  I found this to be a very provocative choice in her curation because it evoked that “in-your-face” feeling that essentially duplicates the experience that these children and teens have when these words are said to them.  The images and quotes are heart-piercing, they are large and hung in such a way that one gets that sense of being surrounded, much like these kids do when they cannot escape the continual bullying.

Weymer’s has taken a social issue and put it in our faces to make us aware.  She has given us real faces to relate to and she successfully communicates her poignant message that words are not simply words….the have meanings that cut deeply and become a pain that can linger for a lifetime. This Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition has brought us to a new level for what these exhibitions can provide.  This artist has used the opportunity to create an experience for social change.  I invite you to see it and let it change you as well.

Kimberly Weymers, Artist Statement

This ongoing series of portraits were made shortly after one of my son’s friends from school committed suicide.

Since the inception of this project, he has currently lost three more friends and a family member all under the age of sixteen.  As teenage suicide becomes more prevalent, it became apparent that I had to create something to bring awareness to how bullying profoundly affects everyone, young and old.

When someone is bullied, the scars it generates will haunt them for the rst of their lives, as they are left behind in the unconsciousness of our minds.  The hurtful and insensitive words can penetrate even the most mundane of activities until you reach a breaking point.  Children are not mentally ready to appropriately cope with the continuous name calling and insults thrown at them on a daily basis.  Therefore, they succumb to depression, cutting and in extreme cases, suicide.

Drawing inspiration from my own children who have been greatly impacted by the endless barrage of bullying allowed to occur in our public school system.  I would like to give a voice to those who have suffered as my children have.  I asked each participant to write their most hurtful “bully” word on a white board for the world to see and to face the camera.  I asked them to think about how they felt when someone called them this word.  Looking at the images, you are immediately aware of their pain and can recognize the discomfort in their eyes.  This raises the question, “Why are we, as humans, inclined to wound one another in this way and how can we stop it?”————-Kimberly Weymers

See more of her work at:  kimberlyweymers.weebly.com