Star Spangled Sinners

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whatnottoshare.com
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