Embracing the Light: A Groundbreaking Suicide Awareness Performance

Mural Arts and First Person Arts present Embracing the Light, two powerful performances dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of suicide on communities. This free event is set to take place on Saturday, March 16, 2024, with two shows at 2 PM and 6 PM at FringeArts, located at 140 N Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106. For more information about Embracing the Light and to reserve your tickets, please visit muralarts.org/embracingthelight. Join us as we embark on this journey of reflection, understanding, and hope.

Embracing the Light emerges as a poignant response to the loss of artist James Burns’ Finding the Light Within mural due to new construction, highlighting the ongoing need for dialogue and healing around the topic of suicide. This initiative is part of Mural Arts’ Porch Light program, a collaboration with the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, and shines a light on mental health issues through the lens of art and community engagement.

The performances will feature an array of personal narratives painstakingly developed through mindful writing workshops led by Susan Barr-Toman. These narratives will take center stage in two performances produced in collaboration with First Person Arts, renowned for its dedication to transforming the drama of real life into memoir and documentary art. Accompanying the performance, a community mural led by James Burns and an art exhibition will further encapsulate the themes of loss, resilience, and hope from various perspectives.

“Through Embracing the Light, we aim to create a space for communal healing and understanding,” says Jane Golden, Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. “It’s more than performances; it’s a movement towards acknowledging the deep-seated effects of suicide and rallying together as a community to support those who this tragedy has touched. We are honored to be able to work with First Person Arts on such an important project.”

“First Person Arts is proud to partner with Mural Arts on the Embracing the Light project, says  Jamie J. Brunson, Executive Director of First Person Arts. “We hope that talking away the darkness through true, personal stories can reduce the stigma around suicide and encourage people to engage with mental health resources. Taken together, these stories craft a powerful narrative that inspires the audience to embrace their own light and share that light with others.”

“Most of us have been, or will be, impacted by suicide at some point in our lives, and, yet, it’s a subject that, despite its relevance and proximity, is often shied away from,” says Director Daralyse Lyons. “By bringing these diverse and impactful stories to the Philadelphia community, Mural Arts’ Porch Light Program and First Person Arts are dismantling the shame and stigma that so many of us who’ve struggled with ideation or who have lost loved ones can carry.  I’m grateful to those who agreed to share their stories, to the performers who will embody those stories on stage, to those who’ve been working behind the scenes to bring this project to fruition, and to our eventual audiences.  It takes projects like this one to show us the importance of walking with one another, hand-in-hand, through the darkest moments in our lives and embracing the light, even when it feels elusive.”

This project has been made possible through the generous support of Landmark Properties and the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services.

We are honored to present these first-person stories from those who have been affected by suicide. The tales range from those who have lost loved ones to those who have experienced ideation and/or attempts. Our goal is to make this a healing space, but we recognize that these stories may bring up raw feelings for the audience.

Throughout each performance, we will have mental health experts on standby and provide resources and information to anyone seeking support. Those seeking emergency help should immediately dial or text 988. 

We welcome everyone to attend this special event, whether or not they have been directly impacted by suicide. Awareness is an important part of prevention.