The I Love You statues were created by deaf artists Rick and Rebecca Szynkowski in the wake of the October 25, 2023, mass shooting in Lewiston, ME, that killed 18 people, including 4 deaf victims. The artists placed them at the memorial sites in Lewiston as a way to foster unity and demonstrate the strength of the deaf community. The hands are positioned in the ASL symbol for I Love You. They now reside at Maine MILL, which is leading the cultural response in the city. These objects stand as an immediate reminder of the worst mass shooting in 2023 as well as the community resilience in response to the tragedy. The artists are located in Massachusetts, but the design is based in Maryland and was created in 2011.