nettethomas

When: May 16th, 2019 6-8 PM

Where: 2 gateway Center, Newark, NJ

https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/2019/02/05/open-calls-for-4th-annual-heroin-and-opioid-art-exhibition/

5.5 x 5.5"Summary

The Drug Enforcement Administration and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, along with The Partnership for Drug Free NJ, GCADA and the Ammon Foundation invite New Jersey Artists to submit their work to the 4th Annual Heroin and Opioid Art Exhibition/ Contest. The purpose of this exhibition is to highlight heroin and opioid abuse, addiction and recovery. Each year we continue to be amazed by the tremendous amount of talented people that submit to this exhibition. Cash prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and Honorable Mention. The deadline to submit the art is April 15th, 2019.

Description

This year’s exhibit is going to take place on Thursday, May 16th, 2019 at 6:00pm at Project Empty Spaces in the Gateway Center in Newark, NJ. The exhibit is then shown for two more days, May 17th and 18th. It then becomes a traveling exhibit, and copies of the art have been displayed at different towns and events throughout the year.

Update on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 10:54AM by

Nette Forné Thomas

Artist Statement

This drawing was created with dry point engraving tools and adhered over the drawing. This was done to depict the female biological symbol in a lacelike repetitive pattern that surrounds the "window."

A broken piece of a facial sculpture was placed on the sill of the window box and is seen when viewed from the front. The drawing of a portion of the face of an outraged woman is contrasted with the broken childlike face. It reflects the anger and anguish reflected by the lives shattered through drug abuse.

The lacelike pattern of the female biological symbol around the window opening signifies the female essence that can remain unrealized because of a drug addiction. The window box when swiveled on the rotating base to the backside shows the woman looking out from a darkened framework left alone in the devastation resulting from the loss of the young life.

The tragedy of drug abuse is a tragedy for us all.