Ed Worley – better known as graffiti artist Opake – treated current Centrepoint residents and former residents, to a meet and greet to kick off his new art exhibition ‘Sanity through Repetition’.
The 34-year-old artist, who experienced homelessness and addiction during his twenties, shared his most challenging times with the attendees, all aged 18-28, and explained how art and creativity helped him turn his life around for the better.
Throughout his early 20s Opake, then Ed, lived much of his life in psychosis and insanity due to his alcoholism and drug use. By his mid-20s Ed moved to New York and decided to clean up and become a proper father to his girlfriend’s son. Much of Opake’s art takes its inspiration from this dark and compulsive shadow that dominated his early life.
For many of the young people who Centrepoint support, tough and challenging times are all too familiar and meeting inspirational people who have used their passion and creativity to build motivation and confidence, makes such a difference.
Opake promised to take on an even bigger project with the young people there, so watch this space!
Artist Opake speaks with current and former Centrepoint residents about his journey