Sober-friendly arts festival in Sharpsburg aims to celebrate recovery

A sober-friendly cultural showcase in Sharpsburg will celebrate the power of creativity in addiction recovery.

The Fresh A.I.R. (Art in Recovery) Festival opens Sept. 26, featuring art, writing, music, crafting, poetry, collage, photography, pottery, digital, textile, woodwork and more.

“The event is centered around the themes of creativity, joy, resilience and hope,” said Scott Page, executive director of nonprofit Teetotal Initiative.

Page’s group, founded in 2023, offers sober outings that include yoga, food tours, cooking classes and kayaking, all free and open to the public.

They have provided 77 outings in just two years, and Page said there was a strong demand for creative arts.

“Arts are a great way to fill so much downtime in recovery,” he said. “Whether you are making something to sell professionally or something to sit on your desk, it fills the soul.”

For people in recovery, art therapy helps manage emotions, reduce stress and build resilience, according to the behavioral health group Recovered.

With September as National Recovery Month, the Fresh A.I.R. Festival will run three days and span two gallery spaces – Atithi Studios and Ketchup City Creative.

Forty artists will show 101 pieces, up nearly double from last year, said Lauren Broyles, an O’Hara resident and Teetoal director of creative arts programming.

“There has been an explosion of enthusiasm and we’re thrilled to be back for a second year,” Broyles said.

Multiple events will include crafting stations, live readings, acoustic music, zero-proof cocktails and sweet treats from local vendors. Pittsburgh memoirist Brian Broome is scheduled to speak.

Nanci Goldberg, owner of Ketchup City Creative, is happy to support the event.

“We are a space for community and art,” Goldberg said. “We believe in the work that Teetotal is doing.”

Original works by artists in recovery will be on display and for sale.

Atithi Director Sarah Sloneker said the event had a fabulous turnout in its first year, drawing people from every walk of life.

“We try to support the community in different ways,” Sloneker said. “This is a great way to connect with artists in recovery. Art is huge for healing as well as for connectivity.”

A curated series of exhibitions, hands-on workshops and music is meant to build connections while challenging stigma and celebrating resilience, Page said.

“We want to build a visible, inclusive platform for recovery stories,” Page said.

Opening receptions will be 6 to 9 p.m. at Atithi Studios, 1020 N. Canal St., and Ketchup City Creative, 612 Main St.

A special Saturday hands-on crafting session will be at the John Paul Center along Ninth Street, featuring four stations. One will be the Pittsburgh Collage Collective, founded by Broyles, which meets monthly at Roots of Faith, also in Sharpsburg.

Broyles said the arts festival is a way to push back against the stigma of addiction.

“We hear about active addiction and what that looks like,” she said. “But we need to focus more on the joy and positive energy of recovery. We want to make recovery visible.”

For more details, visit teetotal.org.