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<< Previous   of   Next >> Edmund Harry Smith photo  (click to enlarge) This photograph of a man identified only as "Tom" is part of "Portraits in Recovery," an exhibit of Edmund Smith's pictures of people in recovery from drug or alcohol dependency. The show runs through July 31 at the Lincoln Theatre Gallery in Mount Vernon.   ADVERTISEMENT   See the faces of recovery "Portraits in Recovery," an exhibit by photographer and chemical dependency counselor Edmund Smith, is on view through July 31 at the Lincoln Theatre Gallery, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. An artist's reception is planned from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the gallery. More info: 360-336-9282. See the portraits online at valleyportrait.com/?pageID=248173.   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, June 5, 2009 Photographer captures portraits of recovery By Julie Muhlstein Herald Columnist Coral-colored sunsets, rugged rock walls, a leafless tree dusted with snow, those are the kinds of images Edmund Smith planned to share in an exhibit of his fine-art photography. A death in the family changed those plans. "In February, my half-brother passed away from narcotic pain medication and alcoholism. He was 53 when he died," Smith said. "I decided I'd really like to make these pictures something else." Now, his photo exhibit showcases strong faces, not the natural beauty of the Skagit Valley where Smith makes his home. "Portraits in Recovery," a photography show now on view in Mount Vernon, was born of Smith's hard-earned knowledge that others do recover from substance abuse. Smith's photo exhibit is open through July 31 in the Lincoln Theatre Gallery in Mount Vernon. He'll be at the gallery from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday for an artist's reception. Smith knows his subject -- and his subjects. He has two careers. In addition to running a ­photography business in Mount Vernon, he has worked for years as a chemical dependency counselor. "Right now I work for an agency in Snohomish County," he said Thursday. The people pictured in the exhibit aren't his clients, but all of them have struggled with drug or alcohol dependency or addiction. "All the photographs are colleagues and friends, people who've been in recovery and have multiple years of recovery," the 40-year-old Smith said. Each face is identified by first name only. The black-and-white pictures, which aren't for sale, are accompanied by quotes from the subjects. Smith knows well what they've been through, both from professional and personal experience. "I've been sober nine years. My life was very bad, a sad life. I got sober and got better," said Smith, who grew up in Philadelphia and has a bachelor's degree in fine arts photography from Philadelphia's University of the Arts. "I got into a 12-step program nine years ago. You keep doing what you need to do to take care of yourself. That's what I do," he said. He's seen agonizing failures. His half-brother, he said, had tried 12-step programs and his family had tried to help. "He was in a revolving door," Smith said. Yet through his counseling work, Smith said he's seen hundreds of people strive to overcome substance abuse. That determination shines in his pictures. "Everybody has a common look, one of strength, perseverance and hope," he said. "One person is looking up, as if toward a higher power. One has an eyebrow raised. There are different expressions, but what connects them is hope and strength," he said. "They have been able to weather the storm. That's not to say you put booze and drugs down and everything gets better all of a sudden. It's very difficult." Smith wants to share the message that people can get well -- and stay well. The pictures don't lie. Every day, it seems there's word of some celebrity being in or out of rehab. "In the media, you don't learn a lot about people who stay on track and make something of their lives," Smith said. "They blend in and become normal citizens. What an amazing accomplishment that is. There's hope. There's long-term sobriety." In the exhibit, Smith includes a quote with each face. One man pictured, identified only as Tom, answered the question "What does recovery mean to you?" Sober for eight years, the man said: "One word, 'freedom.' Freedom to be the kind of person that God, my family and my friends always knew that I could be." Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460, muhlstein@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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