David's self-portrait, one year into sobriety
The self-portrait shows a downcast young man surrounded by a multihued haze of dangling cobwebs. “That was me in active addiction,” says St. Louis artist David, 26, now beginning his second year of sobriety. “I’ve been sober for a year. Alcohol was my drug of choice. I fell for the romantic stereotype of the tortured, addicted artist, and that drugs, alcohol, and self-destructive tendencies make you more creative and your work better. They do not.” Today, David’s new self-portrait has no cobwebs. It depicts him looking straight forward, paintbrush in hand, ready to start a new piece of art.
Alcohol remains one of the most frequent primary drug problems for clients entering publicly funded treatment centers in Missouri, according to statistics gathered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Hope Creates in St. Louis offers young people between the ages of 15 and 30 opportunities in the fine and performing arts to help them remain sober after completing their rehabilitation programs. The nonprofit is helping David and other young artists by providing “a large and robust sober art community.” Its members have opportunities to participate in Expressive Arts Exhibitions, have studio time and portfolio development; hold apprenticeships and internships; and gain entrepreneurial and business training.
Hope Creates was founded in 2017 by Kathie Thomas of Chesterfield when she sought assistance for her family and one of her daughters, who was suffering from addiction. Thomas, herself an artist, found that through poetry, collage, and photography, she felt “a sense of ease, beauty, and hope.” She founded Hope Creates to support young sober artists in their continued recovery and offer monthly events for the Hope Creates members, their parents, and siblings. A summer 2020 event found members and their families gathering outside at a park creating tie-dyed T-shirts and coronavirus masks.
“Getting sober is difficult, and staying sober is equally challenging,” she tells the young artists. “We focus on helping you stay sober by providing a vibrant and sober creative community that comes together to have screaming fun creating and exhibiting our work.”
In just three years, Hope Creates membership grew to include 150 young artists, writers, dancers, and musicians—ages 15 through 30—and about 100 of their family members, according to Thomas. Since 2017, Thomas says, 85 percent of the artists have remained sober.
A board of directors governs Hope Creates, with Thomas as president. Financial and other support comes from volunteers, grants, partnerships with corporate and educational sponsors, and fine and performing arts exhibitions. David and 23-year-old Haven are among Hope Creates members who serve on a Creative Advisory Board that aids the board of directors in developing and improving programs.
In past years, Hope Creates held in-person Expressive Arts Exhibitions. Open to the public, they feature a variety of artworks, from paintings and photographs to metal, glass, and ceramics pieces. Members are on hand to meet the public, including potential buyers. Exhibitions also include dance, music, and spoken word performances.
Because of coronavirus concerns and precautions, the organization held a “COVID Collection” on Facebook in May. A Facebook Live Exhibition is set for Sunday, November 8, from 6 p.m.–8 p.m. The November Facebook Live exhibition will include members displaying their work in a gallery and reading artist statements they penned for the event. Dance and music will be part of the performing arts segments of the Facebook Live Exhibition.
“We are offering a blend of virtual and in-person one-on-one mentoring, monthly Community Creation Events with small groups, as well as virtual Expressive Arts Exhibitions, following CDC guidelines,” says Thomas.
Be they online or in person, Expressive Arts Exhibitions help “bridge the gap in understanding addiction and recovery, and transform the cultural dialogue,” Thomas says.
The exhibits, says Thomas, celebrate and support the “resilience of a creative community of young sober artists and their families.”
More to know
Hope Creates participates in community art projects, provides opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and mentoring, and coaches participants in business-skill development. But one of its coolest offerings is studio time and portfolio development. Hope Creates rents space in a facility in St. Louis operated by Medici MediaSpace. Medici is a group of businesses, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, freelancers, artists, and individuals who share the same creative energy and expertise. Part of Hope Create’s space is equipped to serve as an art studio: Members have access to a variety of paints, pastels, and drawing materials; mixed media and spray paints; canvases and boards; and two wheels to throw clay. Members interested in honing their dancing and musical skills have access to a black box theater and other areas within the Medici MediaSpace facility. Professionals working in the arts and other fields help advise and mentor Hope Creates members, and internship opportunities with Hope Creates are available, even for those not battling addiction, Thomas says. "We have had two recovering addicts who are part of Hope Creates, and one young woman whois not affected by addiction, serve as interns," she says. "We are passionate about working with recovering addicts and those who don't have addiction."
