Where stories become art: ‘Voices Out of the Dark’ celebrates stories of healing

MANSFIELD — Every work of art starts somewhere. For Voices Out of the Dark, it starts with a story.

Personal stories, shared experiences and original artwork will fill The 101 Tea Company Saturday evening as Voices Out of the Dark returns for its third year.

The free event hosted by North Central Ohio Harm Reduction and The 101 Tea Company begins at 5 p.m. at 101 N. Main St.

The event invites community members to listen to personal journeys and witness original artwork inspired by those experiences.

North Central Ohio Harm Reduction co-chair Rebecca Kelly said the event shows the power of giving people a chance to share their experiences without stigma.

“Look at this beautiful thing that’s come from your story of hope or hurt or whatever is going on in that story,” Kelly said. “I think people need to be loved wherever they’re at.”

Turning personal journeys into art

Voices Out of the Dark started as an idea from Kelly, who previously organized events focused on the recovery and addiction communities.

After switching to a different place of work, Kelly continued her involvement as co-chair of North Central Ohio Harm Reduction.

“Our goal is to keep people safe,” Kelly said. “I thought, I would like to continue having that event in particular out of all the ones that I’ve done. So we started just doing it under North Central Harm Reduction, and we decided to make it an annual thing.”

The event welcomes stories from anyone affected by addiction. Kelly said that includes people in recovery, but also parents, children, family members and others who have experienced the effects of addiction in their lives.

“A lot of people also don’t think about the people around you who are being affected,” Kelly said. “With me being a recovering addict, I never thought about my mom or how it affected my brother. They were deeply affected as well.”

Past storytellers have shared stories about losing loved ones to overdose, watching family members find recovery and growing up in homes affected by substance use.

Kelly said she works with Victoria Hoefler months before the event to pair storytellers with artists from the community. The artists learn each person’s story through a private conversation before creating an original piece inspired by the story.

The storytellers do not know what type of art their story will inspire until the night of the event.

Each person shares their story with the audience before the artist reveals the finished piece.

“It’s always super amazing,” Kelly said.

The artwork becomes a lasting reminder for each storyteller. They are able to take the physical pieces home with them. Organizers will record artwork like songs, so each person can hold onto the memory.

Kelly said the experience often creates connections between artists and storytellers that continue beyond the event.

A night focused on connection and hope

The event has grown since its first year, with last year’s gathering reaching standing-room-only attendance.

Kelly said the artists are often local, creating connections between people who may not have crossed paths otherwise.

(Story continues below. Photos show previous years from Voices Out of the Dark. Images provided by Rebecca Kelly)

Many artists also gain a new perspective on addiction and recovery through the stories they hear.

“A lot of the artists have never really ventured into or known much about addiction. They get to learn,” Kelly said. “Some have had their own struggles.”

The 101 Tea Company owner Braxton Daniels has welcomed the event into his space for the past few years. Kelly said he has helped make the gathering possible by opening the venue and allowing organizers to transform the space for the evening.

She said her longtime friendship with Daniels led to a partnership with The 101 Tea Company, where he also participated as an artist the first year.

Kelly, who is also in recovery, said the event holds a special meaning for her because she understands the power of sharing a story without shame.

Look at this beautiful thing that’s come from your story of hope or hurt or whatever is going on in that story.

Rebecca Kelly, north central ohio harm reduction co-chair

“I know there’s so much healing in getting your story out,” Kelly said. “There’s healing in not being stigmatized because of your story.”

She hopes Voices Out of the Dark encourages people to look beyond addiction and recognize the experiences and struggles that shape each person.

“There are so many perspectives and stories,” Kelly said. “Let’s treat people with love. Let’s love people regardless. There’s always something deeper going on. You just never know.”