On Tuesday August 27, classes for the Wheaton fall 2024 semester began- but so did something else. A new visiting art exhibit in Beard Gallery opened to the public and Wheaton students, called Drug Addiction, Real People, Real Stories, Massachusetts and covering an ever relevant topic: addiction.
Entrance of exhibit
As of 2023, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there has been a total of 109,000 deaths related to drug overdose or poisoning. In Drug Addiction, Real People, Real Stories, Massachusetts, 65 of these 109,000 people are represented in this exhibition. This installation was created by INTO LIGHT to tell the stories of real people who have died from drug overdose or poisoning, from the perspectives of their close family and friends, in an effort to combat the myth that drug addiction is a “choice”. Each individual featured in this portion of the exhibition is local to Massachusetts. Eventually, INTO LIGHT hopes to host a showcase in each of the 50 states, culminating in an national exhibit by 2029 that will paint a complete portrait of what those 109,000 people and counting were like in real life.
In the exhibit itself, each person is represented in a graphite portrait to show “that everyday life includes both light and dark moments” (INTO LIGHT Project). Accompanying the portrait is a written description of the person, created by interviews conducted with the friends and family of the deceased, as a way to paint a picture of the person’s life aside from their addiction. Also featured in this exhibit are the personal effects of the deceased. Clothes, shoes, journals, jerseys and many more personal effects can be found at the exhibit, belonging to real people who lost their lives to drug use.
Michael R. Stanford’s portrait and description
When asked about the exhibit, sophomore Peyton Emery commented that “it is a heavy exhibit with a good message behind it, honoring people for more than just the hardest parts of their lives,” echoing INTO LIGHT’s mission to show that addiction is human.
This exhibit is meant to be visited and experienced in person. To see the faces of real people, to see the things they once used, is a powerful way to bring people back to life. It would be of great service to all those featured in the gallery to take a visit and to let their lives continue on. You can learn more about Wheaton’s art exhibit here, and learn more about the creators INTO LIGHT here. To visit, the gallery is open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, from 1 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Hallway of individual portraits
Help is available if you or someone you know has recently suffered a loss of a loved one. Wheaton’s counseling services are available to all students in the basement of the Doll’s House, or over the phone at 508-286-3905. If you need to speak with a counselor after hours, press 1 after calling. Counseling sessions are free and confidential for students. Another resource is the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, where you can call or text 998 for substance use support. Local peer grief sessions are offered in Bridgewater and Taunton, which you can learn more about at The Sun Will Rise Foundation website here.