The INTO LIGHT Project (www. intolightproject.org) is pleased to announce an open call for submissions, inviting families in Illinois to share the stories of their loved ones lost to drug addiction.
This heartfelt initiative aims to illuminate the realities of addiction through art and storytelling, creating a healing space that fosters remembrance and sparks vital conversations around this significant public health crisis. Each person who submits their loved one for the project will be asked to send photographs that can be used to produce an original graphite portrait by an INTO LIGHT Project professional artist and to fill out a questionnaire that our professional narrative writers will use to produce a story about their loved one.
There is no charge for participation in the exhibit, though donations to support the project are always welcome. Each family will receive an original framed portrait of their loved one at the conclusion of the exhibit (a $500 value).
The exhibition will be held at the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, from February 9 June 30, 2027. The first 30 submissions are accepted on a first-come basis. Interested families can find submission details here: intolightproject.org/shareyour- story/illinois-submissions/ Theresa Clower, founder of The INTO LIGHT Project, started this initiative in 2018 after losing her son, Devin, to an accidental overdose. “Now more than ever, we need to confront the stigma surrounding addiction,” Clower stated. “Each submission helps to humanize the issue—reminding us that addiction does not define a person and that every life lost is a story worth remembering. By bringing families together to create this exhibition, we hope to not only pay tribute to those we have lost but also to foster a sense of community among those who have experienced similar losses, while educating others about drug addiction.”
In addition to the exhibition, educational programming and community discussions will be held to educate visitors about the realities of addiction, recovery, and the available pathways for support. This is an opportunity for healing, dialogue, and unity within the community.
Families wishing to participate can submit photographs and stories through the INTO LIGHT Project’s website at intolightproject.org/shareyour- story/illinois-submissions/. Submissions remain open until all spots are filled.
