About “Into Light”
INTO LIGHT
The INTO LIGHT PROJECT documents, through art, the tragic loss of human life to the disease of drug addiction and points to the need to erase the stigma that surrounds those with substance use disorders.
After the death of her son, Devin to an opioid overdose, founder Theresa Clower, wanted to call attention to the fact that substance use disorder (SUD) is a disease and that due to stigma, only about 10% of those suffering from SUD seek help. She set out to dispel the myth that only people from certain family backgrounds or those with a moral weakness become substance users. The truth is, substance abuse disorders can affect anyone and those with this illness are often blamed, belittled and judged for having an addiction, rather than welcomed to get the treatment they deserve. Educating the public, as well as health care providers, is necessary to help reduce the stigma associated with SUD so those who need help will feel confident in seeking it.
The use of graphite as a medium for this project is intentional because it shows that we are all made of light and dark moments, with many shades of gray in-between. Looking at only the dark parts of the portrait does not give us the entire picture. The same is true for all of us, to be defined only by one aspect; one part of our personality or experience, does not properly represent who we are.
There is something compelling and powerful about hand drawn portraits. Knowing that the artist communes with the individual and that each stroke of the pencil is deliberately and carefully placed to compile a complete individual is compelling. We are drawn into their presence and therefore, their world.
The use of narrative is also important to this project. The narratives are constructed from oral interviews or responses to written questions conducted with each family. They are thoughtfully written to give the reader a glimpse into the life of each person in the project.
Getting to know the individuals exhibited here through viewing their faces and reading their stories emphasizes our shared humanity. Identifying with others in this way encourages conversation that moves us toward erasing the limiting and negative stereotypes about those with substance use disorders and the stigma they experience.
Theresa Clower, INTO LIGHT Founder and Portraiture Artist
Before founding INTO LIGHT, Theresa Clower was not a portrait artist. In fact, the portrait that she did of her son, Devin, who died of an opioid overdose in 2018, was her first attempt at portraiture. Sitting with Devin, and drawing every line of his face helped her to process her grief and as she signed the final portrait, it was as if she was saying goodbye to her son. It was then that the idea of INTO LIGHT was born.
Theresa also had a long-time association with establishing and directing a number of non-profits over the past forty years and an attraction to the arts, both of which made the task of starting a non-profit based in art activism a little easier, but Devin’s energy remains the impetus for the project. Theresa views INTO LIGHT as a dynamic practice combining the creative power of art to move us emotionally and bring about social change; in this case, removing the stigma of drug addiction.
“I can feel the energy of each person that I draw, I live with them and hold them in my heart while I draw them. There is a tangible rapport with Devin and all of those who have passed from this disease. They provide me with the force of their energy and the necessary momentum to bring about needed change.”
Heather Bullach, INTO LIGHT Artist - Ohio Series
Heather Bullach is a portrait and landscape artist. Working primarily in oils, her style ranges from tight realism to expressive impressionism. Whether painting an accurate likeness or a landscape inspired by her rural Ohio surroundings or her travels, capturing an essence and mood beyond the physical surface is her focus. She earned her bachelor’s degree in art at Malone University in 2011 and taught painting there from 2015 to 2019. She has won several awards and her work is widely exhibited around northeast Ohio, including seven solo exhibitions and two public artworks in Downtown Canton. Heather drew 21 of the portraits for the INTO LIGHT Ohio series.
“I've always felt that a hand drawn portrait is unique in the way it honors a person, so can think of no better way to honor these individuals and help to erase the stigma of drug addiction. It was really a powerful experience getting to draw each of these individuals, spending time with them in a way through the process. And it was incredibly moving and rewarding to hear the responses from family members after they’re shown the finished portraits and to know what an incredible gift these are to them.”
Dr. Barbara Francois, INTO LIGHT Board Member and Narrative Writer
Barbara Francois is an Ohio native, educational psychologist, artist and writer. She was raised in North Canton, Ohio and lived and worked in Stark County for many years. In 2008 she relocated overseas to work in medical education. It was when she “retired” to the mountains of Western North Carolina in 2018 that she met Theresa Clower, founder of the INTO LIGHT PROJECT. Moved by Theresa’s experience of losing her son, Devin, and Theresa’s vision to erase the stigma of drug addiction through art activism, Barbara was inspired to help with the project.
“People with addiction are often blamed for their illness. Sharing the stories of the loved ones in this project helps us get to know them and provides an opportunity to educate the public about substance use disorder, not as a moral weakness, but as a brain disorder that needs treatment. I feel honored to write their stories.”
Hosted by Malone University and made possible in part by the Ohio Arts Council and ArtsInStark.
