Star Spangled Sinners
Silver Straws
the project
Sociopolitical artist Tracey Moberly addresses
the silent epidemic of hepatitis C in her piece
titled 'Start Spangled Sinners...'
The work comprises of a series of short silver
straws, each with their own line... the line is
that of poetry and when the straws are viewed as
a full set the whole poem can be seen. The poem
takes a sideways look at drug use whilst
outlining hepatitis C, including its effects and
warns of a few of the ways of contracting it.
Having been closely affected by a number of
friends and colleagues who were diagnosed with
the illness since the early nineties, Tracey
became aware that it knows no class boundaries
and with no country divides it crosses
continents. Hepatitis C sometimes presents no
symptoms at all but may be active and causing
damage to the liver for decades. A person may be
completely unaware they are infected until their
liver begins to fail.
The effects of the illness impact immeasurably on
the sufferer and those close to them. Mood swings
and crippling fatigue are a small part of the
illness; ultimately degeneration of the liver
with all the complications that entails on the
body becomes part of daily life.
There are ten times as many people living with
hepatitis C in the UK as there are with HIV. The
hepatitis C virus is responsible for 50-76% of
liver cancers.
Many people don't know they have the disease
until it is too late for treatment to work.
Treatment is effective in only 50% of patients
but is more effective the earlier the disease is
diagnosed.
Hepatitis CC is contracted through blood to blood
contact. Therefore for example anyone who
received a blood transfusion before hepatitis C
screening of donated blood began in1991 may have
contracted the disease and many will not know
they have it. Pregnant women who gave birth
before this period may have been given blood
products during their delivery and contracted it
through infected blood. If they went on to have
subsequent children these children now mid-teens
to early twenties may have contracted the illness
and could be starting to experience the symptoms.
Sharing a tooth brush or a razor blade could put
a person at risk as many carriers of hepatitis C
are unaware that they have it.
People look down on intravenous drug use, but in
our on going drug fuelled culture of music, media
and celebrity industries many don't think twice
about taking a line of speed or cocaine.
Cocaine as a drug gives the user that extra
confidence; allowing inhibitions to take a rear
seat and confident chat come to the forefront. It
suppresses hunger and allows the user to stay
awake, partying into the following day. It is a
favorite within the fashion industry and the
glamour of the modeling world, as female models
keep what began as the prepubesant teenage boyish
bodies from developing into more voluptuous
curves.
Cocaine has recently been highlighted in the UK
as the new drug of the 'chav' but it is as common
on a problematic over-spill housing estate as it
is in the moneyed environment of the merchant
bankers home, office or play area
A common way of ingesting the drug is snorting it
through one's nose. To have a desired effect,
coke like its coarser partner 'speed' needs to be
absorbed into the blood stream.
The nasal epithelium at the top of the nose is
where blood vessels are found closest to the
surface and it is at this point the cocaine is
ingested into the blood stream. How often when
you have blown your nose have small specs of
blood mixed into mucus found its way into your
handkerchief? This is normal, but when these
blood vessels are open or small specs of blood
lay dormant within the nose and the apparatus
commonly used for snorting cocaine are used, such
as a rolled up note things move into high risk!
It is common to share the rolled up bank note and
as it's being passed around people, if one person
has hepatitis C, then it can be transmitted from
person to person.
'Star Spangled Sinners...' The artwork is a
paradox, hard hitting with a powerful message and
health warning. It was made to be viewed as a pro
active health warning tool, not to encourage
cocaine use but to help safe guard those in whose
lives it is already ingrained and used as a
preventative measure against the transference of
the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The straws are a
limited edition in silver and hallmarked with
Tracey's initials TM in an upside down triangle.
Straws cost: £50
Long chains 85 cms cost: £16
A limited edition choice of 4 straw engravings are:
1) new designer diss-ease
2) see the ice maiden thaw
3) look out honey ...
4) you could fall in lust
5) around for a while...
Straws can be purchased from:
http://www.whatnottoshare.com
Tracey is currently working on phase two of the
artwork. A photographic exhibition with the
straws focusing on people from the music, TV,
film and other media industries who want to help
highlight the HCV campaign. Some of the subjects
very strongly object to the drug culture whilst
others have become involved and feel it has
helped to formulate their image and boost their
career. Both sides are united working towards
raising the awareness of hepatitis C. The silent
epidemic that is unfortunately upon us.
Star Spangled Sinners - the poem
press
guardian
dazed and confused
