The Show Must Go Home: Senior Thesis Exhibition Spring 2020

Sammy Keane

Overdose of Reality
Sammy Keane

I am a member of Al-Anon. Al-Anon is a group designed for relatives and friends of alcoholics to share their experiences, strengths, and hopes in order to solve their common problems, resulting from living with an addict. Addiction is a compulsive, chronic, physiological, or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity. Overdose of Reality ​points to the addict within all of us whilst simultaneously reflecting on the resulting inner trauma. With an array of 24 individual drawings describing different moments of addiction through each viewer’s eyes, ​Overdose of Reality i​ ncreases awareness of what is happening all around us.
There is no shame in living with an addict, loving an addict, or being an addict. Instead, there is a power within speaking about shameful occurrences. Attending Al-Anon not only gave me the opportunity to learn from other personal stories, but it lit a fire in me and ignited my need to speak out. The statements within each drawing are a combination of sentences that I have heard and sentences I have been told, both in and outside of Al-Anon meetings. Similar to Barbara Krueger, the textual and symbolic aspects work with each other to tell the presented story. Krueger is known for her success with blending art and text in a didactic way that reveals thinking about things in a way that we usually do not. She exposes the underbelly of society, making each viewer question their normalcy. ​Overdose of Reality c​ombines my scratchy style of pencil drawing, watercolor, and statements to add an ironic twist to the image itself.

The statements themselves are stenciled on to the drawings in hopes of combining art and text successfully. My goal was to make the image and text work in tandem with one another. I used a stencil to make the statements have a cohesive font throughout the series. In addition to that, I used stenciling as a tactic to increase each viewer’s time with my piece, forcing them to focus and interpret rather than simply read what is being presented before them. The two components of this work cohesively intertwine, which allows the viewers to not only make sense of the provided image but to connect with the work in a stronger fashion. ​Overdose of Reality ​is a public presentation of private thoughts, helping educate a broader public and vocalizing the importance of communities like Al-Anon. Similar to that of artists such as Ai Wei Wei and Louise Bourgeois, my work sheds light on typically unspoken traumatic experiences.

Each drawing is placed in its own unique frame, varying in size, color, and shape. I was first interested in Raymond Pettibon and his success with telling a story directly through his decision when installing his work. The frames themselves are found objects, again, maximizing the idea that these stories and statements come from personal homes where addiction and alcoholism were hidden. ​Overdose of Reality h​ elps break out these stories in an anonymous, visual, and inviting way. I chose to install these drawings on the side of my home because, due to COVID-19, I was unable to access a gallery. Even though I would have preferred to have presented on a white wall, this is the closest opportunity I could find to be similar to a gallery space. The open wall allows each viewer to view the overall installation almost as if reading a book, frame by frame.

Overdose of Reality w​as created to draw awareness to a problem too many people do not talk about. Addiction lies behind closed doors, and families will go to great lengths to try to maintain a happy image to the outside world. This project was initiated as a coping mechanism to explore my personal feelings towards addiction. In addition to that, I draw as a means of therapy and expression to remind myself that I do not have to feel ashamed for what I have gone through, nor does anyone that participates in or outside of Al-Anon.

Growing up, I remember feeling like I was unable to express the emotions I felt when I noticed signs of addiction. Anger, sadness, and frustration led to lies and secrets. Initially, Overdose of Reality w​as not going to be about me. It began hidden behind an Al-Anon lens; however, through my creative process, I was able to understand that I no longer need to hide because, I too, am an example of the Al-Anon Experience.

To learn more about Sammy's work visit:
https://sgkeane.wixsite.com/site

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