Eureka! is an ongoing project that seeks to destigmatize substance use in Eureka, CA. Splashed across the front pages of small town papers and national publications alike are the devastating effects of the opioid epidemic, with reports of deaths having doubled in the last decade, a record of 72,000 overdose deaths in 2017. Humboldt County has the second highest rate of opioid overdoses in the state; the death rate is five times higher than the state average and has been the case for decades before the national epidemic. I have a unique connection to this place and issue. This is my hometown, substance abuse no stranger, and recovery a triumph. This work granted me entry in an intimate way to a part of this community whose voices have been overpowered by political rhetoric and hyperbolic representation in the mainstream media. The photographs relating to the epidemic showcase depravity without nuance. The voices of those navigating the complexity of substance use are never allowed to be in charge of their own narrative. I ask the people in the photographs to caption their own image using a typewriter. My intention with this work is to capture everyday life as a means of illustrating our shared humanity, rather than portraying a singular and sensationalized version of complex and politicized issues. Issues that have become commonplace in small towns and large cities alike across America.
Justin Maxon Photography
Justin Maxon is an American photographer, filmmaker and artist. He generates transformative spaces where stored trauma associations can be amended in an attempt to foster new cognitive pathways. The process includes layering images through multiple exposures and collage, resulting a complex, hyper-real narratives.