Culture
Recovery Reframed uses portraits to challenge stigma around addiction
By: Talia Milewich
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – A growing arts campaign organized by the Athens Photo Project is using camera lenses as mirrors—and megaphones—to empower those in addiction recovery.
It’s called Recovery Reframed and it invites individuals who have lived at least one year in recovery from addiction to reclaim their stories through portraits and personal reflection.
By pairing photographic portraiture with handwritten words—sometimes just a phrase like “hope” or “faith,” other times an entire personal narrative—participants use visual art and language to dismantle the stigma surrounding addiction.
“Each participant wants to tell their story in their words so that they do have control over their narrative,” said Fischer Wallace, the campaign’s director.
“Every time you tell your story to somebody it kinda changes,” said Z, an artist with the Athens Photo Project. “For me personally, it was a little bit of a relief each time.”
Even those who don’t have a personal experience around recovery have felt connected to this project through their relationships with friends, family, and the community as a whole.
“They have stories of family members or friends in recovery,” said photographer Richard Dickerson. “It reminds them that it’s all possible.”
The campaign recently started taking family portraits to encourage support and reconnection with loved ones of those in recovery.
“It’s awesome to see the family come in and be there supporting them shine in recovery,” Z said.
Find more information on the Athens Photo Project and Recovery Reframed at this link. Recovery Reframed portraits are on display in Athens County Public Libraries through the end of the month.