‘NEVER TOO LATE’
Fitchburg man paints mural to honor recovery
FITCHBURG » Jesse Maguire’s journey through sobriety, which has eclipsed four years now, has been long and difficult at times.
The 42-year-old, who was born and raised in Fitchburg, said he found hope and comfort in art, which recently led him to paint a new mural at Restoration Recovery Center on Fairmount Street.
“Art has been the cornerstone of my recovery,” Maguire said. “I hope that this mural can help someone else in recovery or looking to get sober.”
In honor of National Recovery Month in September, Maguire painted the mural to inspire those in addiction recovery and to create a visible reminder that there is always hope.
Maguire, who often volunteers at the recovery center, said he began brainstorming for the project back in May with co
Founder and Vice President Julia Armstrong.
At first, the pair thought about revamping the mural that had been on the side of the building for years. However, they eventually decided to create a fresh new look for the building and for those who
make use of the programs at the center.
“We wanted something that was new and recovery related,” Maguire said.
What they settled on was a mural that adds a serious splash of color to the neighborhood. It features a dove taking flight from a pair of hands, flowers and grass sprouting from the ground, and three butterflies soaring through the air
hough Maguire doesn’t want to imprint his interpretation of the painting onto others, he said it was a metaphor for recovery.
“It tells a story of recovery and redemption in my eyes,” he said.
Maguire said art can be a positive way for individuals in recovery to express themselves, which is why he supports the group
painting activities hosted by the center.
“A lot of people don’t know how creative they can be until they have the opportunity,” he said. “There’s a release of endorphins, a sense of satisfaction, and then there’s the community element as well here.”
Art has always been an outlet for Maguire, even though it has gotten him into trouble in the past.
“I’ve been an artist since as long as I can remember,” he said. “I was known as the creative kid in my family when I was young. When we went to family functions, all of the kids would be out in the backyard or playing with toys and I’d be off in the corner drawing.”
When he got older, he began getting into trouble for incidents related to alcohol and graffiti. He was charged for spray painting graffiti on several occasions and even spent some
time in jail, he said.
“My friends and I would drink and then we’d go out and tag,” Maguire said. “Now, I think a lot of that was centered around not having a way to express teenage angst. I think the drinking really held me back creatively.”
Maguire honed his skills with a spray can over the years and painted murals for local residents and even helped with the project at the Jackson Playground in Gardner.
However, alcohol and drugs eventually bogged down his creativity, he said.
Maguire compared his creativity to a neglected piece of machinery. He said the machine, or his artistic side, began to break down since it wasn’t cared for or nurtured in any way.
“Since I’ve been in recovery, it’s like I’m cleaning and oiling those parts again,” he said.
About seven years ago,
Maguire began taking art classes at Mount Wachusett Community College. Not only did the courses allow him to express himself in a legal way, but the classes also nudged him toward the road to recovery.
Maguire said he hopes the mural and his story give someone else hope, whether they’re battling addiction or already on the road to recovery.
“If I can be involved in any way in helping people find recovery and get their lives back on track then that’s something I wanted to do,” he said. “Everyone makes mistakes and it’s never too late to turn your life around. Never too late to walk into a church, a meeting, or ask somebody for help.”