PREVIEW: The Transformation Project Continues the Conversation Around Addiction
On view November 8–14 @ Arts Letters & Numbers, Averill Park
Photo provided by Frida Foberg
The most affecting art often accomplishes two things at once: it forcefully confronts our complacencies and privately speaks to something deep inside us.
Organized by the NOpiates Committee and Arts Letters & Numbers, and curated by Frida Foberg, The Transformation Project is an annual art show centered around the topic of Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Those struggling with SUD often still face stigmatization in our society, despite its recognition by the American Psychiatric Association as a formal medical disorder. The art show gives the floor to those affected most by SUD, bringing together groups of all ages and backgrounds to foster awareness, support, and community.
In her curatorial statement, Foberg explains, “These artists make visible what is often hidden: the cyclical pull of addiction, the tenderness of grief, the quiet persistence of hope. Through sculpture, photography, poetry, painting, and performance, they trace the fragile line between destruction and creation – the same line recovery walks each day.”
The work spans a broad spectrum of themes surrounding SUD, from individual stories to larger reflections on societal roles, and the broader impacts that extend to families and communities. The opening event on November 8 will also feature live performances by Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company, Kristoph “Rags” DiMaria, Kristyn Logan and Erin Harkes.
The idea for the project first emerged in 2023, when Brent Benedetto and Ira Baumgarten of Arts Letters & Numbers attended a fundraiser put on by the NOpiates Committee. The collaboration between the two organizations sprang from a common understanding that conversations around SUD could benefit from the empathy and compassion that creative spaces offer. In that time, the project has expanded through regional open calls to a now-annual group exhibition that showcases a variety of mediums including visual art, writing, music, and performance. The show also partners with regional organizations and local initiatives including the Sand Lake Center for the Arts and the Rensselaer County Mental Health Student Assistance Program. For this year’s show, the project has engaged 140 artists and 35 students, presenting over 190 works to date. A powerful and evocative event that you won’t want to miss.
*Due to the sensitive nature of the works, some content may be triggering.*
The exhibition is free and open to all. Opening November 8 from 3pm-6pm. Exhibition Dates November 8-11. November 12-14 by appointment. Arts Letters & Numbers is located at 1548 Burden Lake Road, Averill Park, NY 12018.
Project Lead:
Frida Foberg - Curator
Kim and Tim Murdick - Founders of the NOpiates Committee
David Gersten - Founder of Arts Letters & Numbers
Project Support:
Steve Lawrence - Arts Letters & Numbers
Ira Baumgarten - Community Advocate
Kim Favro - Rensselaer County Dept. of Mental Health
