Carepoint Safe Consumption Site, 460 York Street, London, Ontario (2023)
In Our Midst
In Our Midst
Commissioned in 2020 by McIntosh Gallery and its former Director, the late James Patten, the mosaic frieze aims to address stigma and loss related to London’s ongoing opioid crisis. London has witnessed a sharp increase in opioid-related deaths in recent years. In London-Middlesex, 129 deaths, 126 hospitalizations and 1,036 emergency department visits were associated with opioid poisonings in 2021 (according to Public Health Ontario).
Not merely a mosaic mural, this public artwork offers a profound expression of solidarity with those affected by the ongoing opioid crisis. Comprised of thousands of handmade tiles, many of which were contributed by individuals impacted by substance use, this artwork marks a community commitment to the lives and wellbeing of people who use substances in our city while honouring those lost to overdose and drug poisoning.
Numerous community tile-making workshops were held throughout 2022 and 2023, generating over 10,000 unique tiles, each bearing the distinct imprint of its creator. These tiles, adorned with fingerprints, patterns, and symbols, collectively illustrate the expansive impact of the ongoing opioid crisis, both locally and nationally.
In Our Midst was unveiled on International Overdose Awareness Day, August 31, 2023.
Not merely a mosaic mural, this public artwork offers a profound expression of solidarity with those affected by the ongoing opioid crisis. Comprised of thousands of handmade tiles, many of which were contributed by individuals impacted by substance use, this artwork marks a community commitment to the lives and wellbeing of people who use substances in our city while honouring those lost to overdose and drug poisoning.
Numerous community tile-making workshops were held throughout 2022 and 2023, generating over 10,000 unique tiles, each bearing the distinct imprint of its creator. These tiles, adorned with fingerprints, patterns, and symbols, collectively illustrate the expansive impact of the ongoing opioid crisis, both locally and nationally.
In Our Midst was unveiled on International Overdose Awareness Day, August 31, 2023.
