In the Well: The Stories We Tell About Addiction is a multipart artwork composed of the sculpture Sibylant House located in the atrium of Boston Public Library, illustrations in Gallery J from June through October, and a series of divination card prints, Oracle Deck, that visitors can find wheatpasted throughout downtown Boston. The sculpture and prints are derived from the artist’s novella, Sibylant Sisters, a story about two sisters who live with a witch beholden to a noxious substance brewed in the well of toads. Through a charming story of girlhood imagination, artist Swoon challenges how drug addiction is perceived, explained, and often misunderstood. Workshops and public programs will further engage audiences to establish deeper levels of understanding and invite us to reconsider preconceptions surrounding addiction – ultimately highlighting the potential of art and the creative process to catalyze social change and interpersonal healing.
