COMFORT - Philip Campbell

When a person with a substance use disorder (SUD) self-presents to the emergency department, they are searching for comfort, which is the same thing they are seeking when they use; comfort from some form of physical, mental or emotional pain. Many of the most vulnerable persons with SUDs, with nowhere else to turn and unready for sobriety, repeatedly return to emergency departments. The exhibit “COMFORT” is the transformation of a sterile emergency department triage area into a comfort zone. Campbell quilts the environment with used clothing from people in recovery which he believes is infused with the former wearers experience, strength and hope. By doing this he is referencing the “pink cloud” period in sobriety where one feels surrounded and protected by their peers and illustrates that, in order to recover, we have to shed our outer layers to get to the real issues: this installation is made from the shed outer layers of others.  

The installation is interactive and you are invited to take the harm reduction items (Narcan, 12 step literature, test strips, sharps containers) out of the pockets of the quilts and replace them with letters or notes to loved ones you have lost to addiction. Through viewer participation this piece will evolve from an anti-stigma/harm reduction environment of comfort into a memorial.

This installation was made possible by an “Art for Awareness” grant through the Arts Council of Indianapolis.