An artwork exhibit on the Charlotte Road Artwork Centre has made an affect across the metropolis for a way Fredericton residents see these combating substance use.
The “’I’m Right here’ – Postcards from the Edge” exhibition of pictures, artwork and poetry options vivid portraits in oil and watercolour, together with poignant portrait pictures, capturing the humanity of the River Stone Restoration Centre members.
Native photographer Kelly Baker did the images and watercolour portraits whereas David Porter did the oil work. “I’m Right here” poems accompany the portraits, giving memorable impressions of these concerned. Postcards for distribution with portraits of the folks concerned, give a quiet nudge to folks to be inclusive and understanding.
A St. Thomas College of Social Work class was current to witness the exhibit.
Lisa Anne Ross, Creative Director of Solo Hen Productions, hinted at a play that is perhaps within the works based mostly on the tales portrayed within the reveals.
Through the opening remarks, a few River Stone Restoration members and peer staff, Elizabeth and Allen offered their poems, together with one other peer employee, Steve. The take-away was power and resilience met with wrestle and vulnerability.
The River Stone Restoration Centre performs an necessary position within the metropolis for its most susceptible members.
Dr. Sara Davidson, the Centre’s Medical Director, stated a number of phrases on the exhibition’s opening.
For Dr. Davidson, “the River Stone Restoration Centre is necessary as a result of we (the group) provide quite a lot of totally different approaches to assist folks dwelling with a substance use dysfunction, in an progressive clinic that gives fast entry to care with just about no ready listing. A wide range of totally different medical therapies can be found for opiate and for stimulant use dysfunction present choices that meet folks the place they’re at, together with these at best danger of dying from the poisonous drug poisoning disaster.”
Dr. Davidson additionally highlights the centre’s wraparound helps and alternatives for folks to belong, and hurt discount initiatives equivalent to its injectable opiate agonist remedy program.
The exhibit might be ongoing till March 11 on the Charlotte Glencross Gallery on the Charlotte Road Arts Centre.
Najat Abdou-McFarland is a Fredericton-based author on Wolastoqey territory.