BIDDEFORD, Maine — Are selfies a harmless means of communication or a deeply narcissistic reflection of a world gone wrong?
The exhibition “SELF/selfie” at Engine in Biddeford, up since May, presents such thoughts. On Thursday, a panel will delve deeper into the phenomenon by dissecting the visual investigation into the reflection of self. If you’ve ever turned a cellphone on yourself, rushed to Instagram and later asked why, you might want to join the talk titled “From self portrait to selfie. Need to be seen” at the downtown art space.
The diverse panel includes show curator Donna McNeil, social media blogger Rob Gould, and Maine College of Art graduate and creator of #ProjectSelfiePride Sabrina Volante. The witty voice behind the Black Girl in Maine blog Shay Stewart-Bouley, curator of contemporary and modern art at the Portland Museum of Art Jessica May, photographer Nathan Eldridge and Julie Longua Peterson, assistant professor of psychology at University of New England, round out this topical discussion.
Moderated by Joshua Bodwell, co-founder of Engine and director of the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance, this edifying and thought-provoking evening is a good time to hashtag out your own feelings.
The event begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 10, at Engine, 265 Main St., Biddeford.
