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Community Mosaic at Carepoint

In collaboration with local artist Susan Day, Western University’s McIntosh Gallery and Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC), a mosaic wall mural will be unveiled in honour of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. The mural will be presented officially to the public as an entrance to Carepoint, London’s first supervised consumption service. The mural features over 10,000 tiles, several of which were handcrafted by people who use substances and community members impacted by the ongoing opioid crisis.
 
The mosaic, commissioned in 2020 by McIntosh Gallery and its former Director, the late James Patten, aims to address stigma and loss related to London’s ongoing opioid crisis. The unveiling of this public art piece on International Overdose Awareness Day will mark a community commitment to the lives and wellbeing of people who use substances while honouring those lost to drug overdose and poisoning. 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).
  
“This project has allowed me to gain an understanding of my own connections to what happens at Carepoint,” says Day. “Most importantly, it has allowed me the opportunity to interact in meaningful ways with many individuals affected by addiction and substance use in our community. I am proud to have my work so visibly aligned with Carepoint’s mission and their commitment to harm reduction in London.”

The mosaic was made possible through generous funding from Good Foundation Ltd.

In the Press

About the Artist

An established artist whose work has been exhibited and celebrated across Canada and internationally, Susan Day has collaborated with the local community to create many large-scale tile murals and installations. The forthcoming mural will mark the artist’s eighth public work in London. Visit susandayceramics.ca to learn more about the artist.

About McIntosh Gallery

A university-based, public art gallery since 1942, McIntosh Gallery collaborates with artists, curators and academics to develop innovative strategies to interpret and disseminate visual culture. Exhibitions, educational programs and special events provide a platform for engagement with visual art and artists. McIntosh Gallery acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada through its Museums Assistance Program (MAP), the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, Western University, Foundation Western, and generous donors.