Haymarket Center’s annual gala celebrates the resilience of individuals in recovery, shining a light on the organization’s transformative care. This year, Haymarket patients created powerful painted masks and shared personal stories that reflect their unique journeys. These moving works, shown below, will be featured at the 2025 Gala on April 25—honoring the strength, hope, and community that fuel the path to recovery.
Mask 1
I am enough.
It’s not their job to like me, it’s my job to like me.
The only way through something is through.
I love myself and who I will continue to become.
Mask 2
The mask I make represents that I am strong, funny, smart.
I have confidence in myself, and I believe I have the strength to stay clean.
Mask 3
Fractured
My heart is breaking undertow
My soul is slowly leaking
I gasp for air
While silently I’m screaming
Lost in many ways, I’m up for days
Withering away now
Hand held out, I’ve lost my grip
Look up, a riptide’s coming
Mask 4
This is basically how I feel right now and yesterday.
Mask 5
I got my design from the American artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Your strength is greater than your struggle. That means to me no matter what, I can get through anything.
Mask 6
Sunset
Power. I have the power to change my story.
Trusting. Wise. Feminine. Loving. Fashionable. Spiritual. Outgoing. Tasteful. Giving. Humble. Cynical.
Mask 7
The Pain of not being an artist
But the willingness to try!
I’m Enough.
Mask 8
I’m the girl behind the mask! As you can see, there’s 2 masks. The words about how I see myself are hidden behind the black mask. I’m recently sober after using cocaine for 5.5-6 years straight so I have no idea who I am, but I know who I want to become. I’m a blank page & starting to write my future. I am getting stronger every day.
Mask 9
I came from Des Moines, IA on February 19. My daughter told me about this place & even set up a ride. I was all in – I was ready to go. I was going to travel with another person, but they backed out. I got picked up and went to Chicago and I didn’t even know where I was going. I got to my daughter’s house, but when my nephew came to drive me to O’Hare for a flight to Germany, I stopped. I didn’t want to be dropped off somewhere not knowing where or how long. I left, turned around, and went back to my daughter’s house.
Two days later, I was schedule for Access to Care Non-Emergency Transportation. They picked me up at 1:15AM and I arrived at Haymarket at 12:00.
I’ve been here 17 days.
Mask 10
I am an alcoholic/addict.
I know where to find angels…at Haymarket
I have been through ups and downs
But I have an opportunity to make a change for the better.
I have the support of my family and the confidence to forget my past and live towards a new sober life.
Thank you.
Mask 11
My time has come. With God’s help I have decided that this is when the final battle will be won. Forces throughout the universe are watching God and I at this historic time.
I am confident in our success.
I am confident in our victory.
The fear is gone.
The anger is gone.
The resentment is gone.
The drinking is gone.
My Recovery Mask
Darkness leads to light
Confusion leads to clarity
Fear leads to success
Intoxication becomes sobriety
Failure becomes new learning
Colors matter
White space matters
Empty space matters
Recovery Matters!
Mask 12
I am 6 days clean because of Haymarket. I came into detox because my life had been unmanageable, and I need the help to guide me on my road to recovery. I was so close to losing my kids and I know I need to straighten up because life without them is no life at all. This program is so important and inspiring! Thank you for the opportunity to be here today.
Mask 13
I’m getting stronger every day I’ve been here, and I see a different way to live.
Mask 14
I am Enough!
I’m worth it!
I matter!
I need to love myself!
I’m going to get through this!
I will hold my head up high!
My kids can’t wait for me to be back!
Mask 15
God steers my ship. I put others before myself. I feel peaceful and easy, with real love and endless opportunities. I can and I will. I’m special, and so are you.
Mask 16
I just couldn’t keep up with you when you were reading. But when I put my thoughts on paper, it feels just as good out getting them out as keeping them in.
Being here has made me feel alive and I can look at myself and see a better version of me.
Mask 17
My mask is painted using the colors of the sunset. Why? Because the sun is always rising in my mind.
*You’re Blessed*
I realized I’m blessed based on the blessings I have in my life. I have my parents support and my friends support along my journey.
Mask 18
The outside shows the soldier of what I’ve been through. It shows my brother’s number & last name under the eyes. Those can be considered the tears I shed when he got killed. Purple & royal blue are the two main colors because I feel like I am “royalty” to an extent & must protect my name & reputation. The bloody crown over the lips stands for all the war stories and the trauma I have endured. And finally, “loyalty over everything” is something my brother and I said so it is represented for him. The inside of my mask shows what I wish I could be in the world: a healer. a lover. a goddess. a queen. Be one with the universe. “As Above so Below, as Within so Without. We are one with the universe, the universe is one with us.”
My mask my not have details of my past. My story isn’t special like that anyway because I am here like others. But it mainly speaks for my brother and the love I have for him.
Yours Truly,
Loveable Goddess Queen
Mask 19
I’m stronger enough every day
I am smart
I am blessed
I am proud of myself
I am not my mistakes
I am valuable
I am capable
I can and I will
I am enough
I matter
I deserve love, compassion, and empathy
I am fully committed to achieving my goals
Mask 20
I’m 48 years old. I’m true to myself when I look in the mirror.
I’m a hurt man but I’m not broken.
I fall but I get up. I have been within this life for me but I live for the recovery of us.
The rock is my recovery, and my love is and always was love for self!
I’m Good and Bad!
Mask 21
The blue music notes represent my musical gifts. The silver represents my strength and solid exterior. My birthstone is a diamond.
The green bull represents my zodiac sign, Taurus with the Earth element.
The heart represents my sensitivity. I sometimes wear my heart on my sleeve.
Mask 22
I drew a sunflower rising out of the concrete while facing the sun. Because I too shall rise and will shine in the warmth of the sun despite my circumstances. I can go through the hardness of life like concrete, and I will still move forward and blossom like the sunflower I painted.
Haymarket made this possible for me and helped guide me and supported my growth. The project of painting masks was amazing and has helped me better understand myself. I’m grateful to be part of the Haymarket community because without it, I wouldn’t have the chance nor feel empowered to be a mom to my 2-month year old son.
Mask 23
Lost hope
Broken love
Inner peace
Being found.
Mask 24
All time. Impatient. Loving. Hopeful. Vulnerable. Trusting. Driven. Intense.
Mask 25
grateful.
I’m feeling peaceful.
I’m feeling caring.
I’m feeling loving.
I’m feeling grateful.
Mask 26
I am a recovering addict. My mask depicts how people view me on the outside – beautiful, smart, & motivated. But on the inside, I feel dark and lonely like life is not real and unfair. As if I’m not good enough. Deep, deep down, I know that I am enough.
Mask 27
My mask represents someone who has 2 faces like a Gemini, because that’s what I am. The green side is my good side, and the other side is my dark side. I also drew some lashes on my mask to represent my femininity and my beauty. The heart represents that I am a loving person.
Mask 28
¡Soy suficiente!
¡Estoy trabajando en ello!
¡Importo!
¡Necesito amarme!
¡Sé que lo lograré!
¡Mantendré la cabeza en alto!
Mask 29
You are getting stronger.
I have power.
I’m blessed.
I’m stronger than any storms
I deserve love
I matter, I have value
I am enough
Mask 30
I feel beautiful because I want to be.
I feel mindful because I care a lot.
I feel smart and free.
Mask 31
I am enough
I love myself and who I will continue to become
Mask 32
In coming to Haymarket, it is the first time I have felt like a real person in over 10 years. My son coming here was such a blessing. In knowing he was safe allowed me to truly focus on my recovery! I finally feel hope, love and positivity for the future.
Mask 33
My picture describes my heart coming out of me while my head is always in the clouds. No matter, I still have the right to dream. I’m learning how to love myself again and most of all, feel my emotions! Once again, I’m alive!
Mask 34
You are valued
You are capable
You can and you will
You are enough
Mask 35
On the inside, I’m a person that is hurt, heartbroken, down, sad, loveable, good hearted and loyal. On the outside, I’m a hard-working young man and a provider for my family. I’m strong and I’m a survivor.
Mask 36
Perception Vs. Reality
People tend to see me in extremes—black and white thinking, strong opinions—not much grey area. Or they just see a pretty face.
I see myself as a fierce person! I’m capable of more than I’m aware of at this moment. I like to compare myself to jungle animals – like a cheetah or leopard. I have a lot of spots, and each one serves a purpose.
Mask 37
Beauty comes from within—but also from the outside looking in. It takes many different shapes. Sometimes, beauty might not look like beauty at first. Sometimes, it’s found in a specific place. How do you see beauty?
Mask 38
I feel honorable
I feel swanky
I feel nice
I feel loveable
I feel pretty
I feel enjoyable
Mask 39
I’m Enough
You are generous
You’re only human
Sobriety is a choice
Your children love you
Honesty is a virtue
Integrity is when no one is looking
You are loved.
Love thy mother and father
Be the best parent you can be.
Red is for love and hate.
Gold is for truth and happiness
Blue is for sadness and strength
Green is for generosity and joy
Yellow is for family, pride, values, father, husband and son
Mask 40
In the beginning, drinking and drugs were fun.
I lost my way for 33 years.
In 33 years, I went to jail, got raped and beat up.
I lost my kid.
Now I have found my way through the help of treatment.
There’s no more pain.
Mask 41
I’m a mother of 6 wonderful children and am currently pregnant with #7. I am a recovering addict. I’ve had a lot of trauma in my life but I never let it show! My mask represents nature, just pure beauty which is usually people see my outer self as. Deep down inside, I’m battling with myself.
Mask 42
I do my thing
You do your thing
I’m NOT in this world
To live up to your expectations
And you’re not in this world
To live up to mine
You are you
I am I
And if by chance
We find each other
It’s Beautiful
Mask 43
I may look happy on the outside, but inside, I carry a lot of pain. The broken hearts represent my cousin, my brother who was killed, and my other brother who’s in jail fighting a tough case. It hurts me deeply. I went to prison, and it messed me up—I will never go back.
Mask 44
My mask represents my daughter and myself. I painted a sky and grass with two colored flowers, red for myself and purple, my daughter’s favorite color. I painted this background because during the summer we would lay in our yard with our 4 dogs and watch the stars at night. It’s one of our most favorite things to do.
Mask 45
My name is 3723 and I am an addict in recovery. I relapsed a year and a half ago after being clean for 17.5 years. My husband was dying of liver cirrhosis and an abdominal hernia. I wanted to drown. I was in so such pain. I was also mad – mad as hell.
“How dare you take the easy way out and die!”
You see, I’ve dealt with my husband’s alcoholism for 10 years. 10!!! I’ve lost houses, friends and family. You brought me to this foreign city to die and leave me alone! I didn’t care about anyone or anything. I delivered my son on January 27, 2025 – smoking crack until I hit the hospital bed to push!
If it wasn’t for Haymarket, I would not have been able to keep my squishy (aka my son). I will forever be grateful.
Mask 46
My mask is probably most influenced by my childhood growing up in Texas.
Thank you so much to Haymarket for making our day a little lighter with this fun project. Recovery is no an easy task to accomplish, but knowing that my 2-month-old daughter will be joining me for my long journey in a few short days makes life seem a little lighter and not so heavy and suffocating. I’m not sure how much I could genuinely focus on healing, knowing I wouldn’t be able to see my daughter for so long. But having her here will eliminate my biggest outside distraction and keep me focused on my journey to overcome addiction. Thank you so much Haymarket for your Mater Unit. I could never forget everything you’ve given me to help get my life and my daughter back. Knowing she’s safe is going to help me truly focus on my sobriety. Thank you.
Mask 47
On December 27th, 2024, I was robbed of my dignity and self-worth. It was taken from me in an act of disgusting callousness. That day took so much from me. I went downhill in my addiction after the assault. I became suicidal to the point where I wanted to set up a fund to make sure my children were taken care of. I thought my children would be better off without me because their mother was now a dirty, disgusting dog unworthy of the kindness and love that my children give. After I did the rape kit at Roseland Community Hospital, I cleaned the hospital room. I cleaned every inch of it. I washed my face so many times it made my skin raw. My fingers were like prunes from the amount of hand sanitizer that I used to wash the floors.
Today I am sober. I’m working on my self-worth. I got sober on February 19th, 2025. I am a mother to my two kids. I am a mother at Mater Hall trying to bring my daughter here. I am worth a life full of happiness.
I will not let them take that from me.
Mask 48
My mask represents the four different sides of me, each in my favorite colors. Every color symbolizes a different part of who I am.
Mask 49
I chose 2 different colors of brown because my disease of addiction changes the color of my skin. I get dark around my eyes and my nose bleeds often because of my blood pressure.
Mask 50
I want people to see a beautiful person – like the color of pink, which to me is soothing, calming, yet bold. Someone who smiles but at the same time, has a serious demeanor. A person with mesmerizing eyes that draw other in…even though, on the inside she feels small and too scared to be seen. Too afraid to truly see herself but deep down, she does not know that she is a kind human being. She is a caring and nurturing mother, a loveable and loving sister and daughter.
She is not lost – she is finding herself. She is brave, even in her loneliness and fear.
Mask 51
My mask represents my life, and the emotions currently associated with it. The patch on the forehead represents all the hurt and pain I have caused due to my alcohol abuse. The water represents all the tears my family, friends and I have cried. The sun represents the future – there is still light at the end of the tunnel. The mask is not fully painted because there are still memories to be had after treatment and achieving sobriety. The inside of the mask contains my current outlook on life and what I will try to focus and work on.
Mask 52
Hope.
Mask 53
I am trying to get it together.
Mask 54
My mask represents the emotions I feel about my brother’s passing.
Mask 55
Pray for me to stay safe. Thank you God.