Into Light Project

Motivated by the death of her son, Devin, to an overdose of fentanyl, founder Theresa Clower took up portrait work as a way of working through her grief. After completing Devin’s portrait, she was inspired to find others who lived and died like her son and to show the extent of the drug epidemic through exhibits involving each State. She aspired to draw their portraits, tell their stories, and start a dialogue around the disease. What We Do • PUT A HUMAN FACE on the disease of addiction through hand-drawn portraits and written narratives. • CHANGE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT DRUG ADDICTION to help erase the stigma and shame so those with the disease will seek the quality care they need and deserve. • EDUCATE the public about drug addiction as a disease. • ORGANIZE EXHIBITIONS representing each of the 50 states. How We Do It • PARTNER WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES to host INTO LIGHT PROJECT exhibitions and provide education about substance use disorders. • COLLABORATE WITH A TEAM OF ARTISTS AND WRITERS to create a series of portraits and narratives representing each state in the country. • ENGAGE LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA in conversation about each exhibit to provide education about the stigma and shame around substance use disorder and show the far-reaching implications of drug addiction on families and communities. • GIFT THE ORIGINAL PORTRAIT AND NARRATIVE CATALOG to the families of those lost so that that their story can continue to be understood. Our Goals • HIGHLIGHT THE SHARED HUMANITY OF ALL PEOPLE to reduce the judgment of those with substance use disorders. • EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT DRUG ADDICTION as a disease. • ERASE STIGMA about those with the disease so they feel confident in seeking treatment. • BRING AWARENESS OF HOW MASSIVE THE DRUG EPIDEMIC is in the United States. • ENCOURAGE THE USE OF ART ACTIVISM to influence legislation and policy