When Elisif Janis Bruun died of a heroin overdose on February 11, 2014 at the age of 24, her father felt called to respond creatively. From his grieving comes not only Elisif’s Story, but also the New Day Campaign, a 2015 arts-based initiative to challenge stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and addiction, making the world a more healing place. Elisif’s Story was the first piece conceived by Peter Bruun in what eventually expanded to become the New Day Campaign.

Elisif’s Story is an immersive art installation of sight and sound, comprised of 25 mixed media drawings by Peter Bruun, timed lighting, and an audio track featuring 24 voices of those who knew Elisif relfecting on her life and journey. Though impossible to document as a visceral experience, the full 35-minute piece may be viewed at this link, or the slideshow version to go with the audio may be seen here.

The exhibition took place October 15 through December 15, 2015, at the Art Gallery at Stevenson University’s Greenspring Campus.