Healing Begins Through Connection

Artist Swoon returned to Philadelphia in the spring of 2018 for a trauma-informed, individual-focused project in Kensington.

artist SWOON

Healing Begins Through Connection (detail) by SWOON. Photo by Steve Weinik.

Slideshow 

  • Project partners and participants pose in front of the mural. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Ursula Rucker emcees Five Stories at Prevention Point. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Mural Installation. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Kensington Hub workshop. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Kensington Hub workshop. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Kensington Hub workshop. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Kensington Hub workshop. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Kensington Hub workshop. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Kensington Hub workshop. Photo by Steve Weinik.

  • Kensington Hub workshop. Photo by Steve Weinik.

About the Project 

Artist Swoon returned to Philadelphia in the spring of 2018 for a trauma-informed, individual-focused project in Kensington. In collaboration with artist and therapist Jessica Radovich and storyteller Heather Box of The Million Person Project, Swoon offered near-daily open-door workshops at the Kensington Storefront in April and May. Visitors to the Storefront learned self-care techniques through narrative and visual art. Weekly harm-reduction workshops connected participants to further resources at the nearby Prevention Point facility, across the street from a shelter where outdoor lighting and seating will renew this public space for all.

Before
After

Out of the workshops, Swoon was inspired to design Healing Begins Through Connection, a mural that speaks to the strength of the Kensington community, which will be installed at the shelter. Centering the perspective of those marginalized by trauma and addiction, Swoon’s portrait-based design features the faces and stories of workshop participants. The background, designed by Swoon and created by lead muralist Doug Woods, is a bright and colorful geometric pattern that throws the portraits into high relief. The work continues through the fall with a storytelling zine and a behavioral health conference on October 29, featuring renowned speaker and author Dr. Gabor Maté.

Everyday Healing

Funders 

City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services
Department of Licenses & Inspections
Drug Enforcement Administration Philadelphia Field Division
Hummingbird Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
Patricia Kind Family Foundation
Rostair Foundation
Stavros Niarchos Foundation
TD Charitable Foundation

Partners 

Prevention Point Philadelphia
New Kensington CDC
Impact Services

related to Healing Begins Through Connection

More Artworks