Media Contact: Nick Reale
 
(727) 235-1442
 
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
“Faces of Addiction” Exhibition Raises Awareness
 
January 10th Through February 9th, 2025
 
St. Petersburg, Fla. (December 1st, 2024) “Faces of Addiction” is a poignant and deeply human exhibition that delves into the ravaging impact of addiction, the healing power of art, and the unyielding strength of community. The exhibition runs from January 10th  to February 9th, 2025 at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center 1143 Michigan Blvd Dunedin, FL 34698
 
 
The exhibit idea originated when Nick Reale, a skilled woodworker from St. Petersburg, Florida, lost his brother to addiction. Then, as his niece fell into addiction, he tried to help her. To cope with his grief and frustration, Reale began carving faces in wood, with each piece representing the complex nature of addiction. He created numerous wooden faces and shared them with other artists, igniting a collaborative movement that brought together 38 artists. Each artist contributed their own stories and artistic interpretations related to addiction.
 
 
 
The “Faces of Addiction” exhibition, curated by Liliana Beltran, serves as a compassionate reflection for those affected by addiction and a platform for raising awareness and promoting discussion. The enthusiastic response from artists and the community suggests that the exhibition has the potential to become a recurring national event, spreading its message of hope and healing across the country.
 
 
 
Beltran is an experienced fine art professional and a native of Brazil. “This exhibition shows that traumatic stories help validate people’s experiences. Through these artists, these wooden faces show scars of addiction and resilience, sparking a dialogue on mental health in our society.”
 
 
 
The exhibition is sponsored by Feldman Equities, Orlando Health, Cappuccino Media Group, and Dr. Perry and Lisa Everett. Admission to the exhibition and events is free of charge and open to the public. Rita and Matthew Bowie are producing a documentary about the exhibition; see a preview here: https://bowieproductions.com/faces-of-addiction-film
 
 
 
EVENTS:
 
· Meet the artists during the opening night, January 10th, 2025
 
· TBA Dr. Kathleen Moore form USF will lead a panel discussion with Christopher McCabe (The Friends of the Pinellas Adult Drug and Veterans Treatment Court), Judge Kimberly Todd Court Officer (6th Circuit Drug Court), and Emily Holbrook and Samantha Reale (Idea Exchange Tampa), Jennifer Webb Live Tampabay 
 
TBA Storytelling performance by eight actors, produced by Lisa Acebo, Dayanara, Stephanie Jackson, Cornelius Mohr, Ryan Perry, Gina Sankoe, and Matt Winter.
 
 
 
 
Nick Reale - Founder Faces of Addiction
Nick Reale - Founder Faces of Addiction
Pamela Joy Trow - Reptilian Brain
Pamela Joy Trow - Reptilian Brain
Lynn Cherezia Goodwin - The Cross I Bear
Lynn Cherezia Goodwin - The Cross I Bear
Wendy Bruce - Love You Bro
Wendy Bruce - Love You Bro
Joyce Curvin - Mr. Sugar
Joyce Curvin - Mr. Sugar
Teresa Mandala - Disconnected from the Source
Teresa Mandala - Disconnected from the Source