A celebration of community artwork from the Life Enhancing Alcohol-Management Project (LEAP) at 1811 Eastlake
Thursday, Dec 1, 4-6pm
1811 Eastlake, 4th Floor
Imagined and created by the Art Collective, a growing group of 1811 Eastlake residents, who are individuals with lived experience of homelessness and alcohol use problems, the 1811 Peace Quilt Mural has been two years in the making. The Art Collective successfully advocated for and secured a dedicated Art Room at 1811. A handwritten note on the door reads, “A Place to Grow.” And indeed, the Collective has grown out of the Art Room and onto the walls of the 4th Floor. The mural’s theme of “Peace, Hope, and Conflict Resolution” was born out of Art Collective meetings as residents came together to identify ways to reduce alcohol-related harm, improve quality of life, and create healing in their community. The Peace Quilt Mural progressed through a process of negotiation in meetings of residents, Art Collective members, Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) staff and administration, and University of Washington-Harborview Medical Center’s Harm Reduction Research and Treatment (HaRRT) center researchers. The mural highlights the vision of six resident artists and speaks to themes of heritage and tradition, mourning, remembrance, and the connectedness of all things. This project has been an ongoing source of pride in the growing connection between residents. As one 1811 resident and artist put it, “Every time I look at [the mural], I think, ‘Hey, I did this. I accomplished this.’ And it represents all of us.”
The hallways surrounding the Art Room and the Peace Quilt Mural will be hung with artwork created by 1811 residents over the Art Collective’s two years of vibrant life. Expect light refreshments, music by community members, and a brief unveiling ceremony.
For questions about the LEAP or donations to help the LEAP Art Collective, please contact: Seema Clifasefi at 206-543-3452 or seemac@uw.edu.
Check out the video UW Medicine made of our event!: https://youtu.be/s-ldmpPEyzs (link opens in new tab)