“4642-2016” – In 2016, there were 4,642 deaths in Pennsylvania alone due to heroin/opiate overdoses. The above images are of the chandelier-like installation art piece titled 4642. It represents, illuminates, and visually shows the number of deaths in PA due to the heroin/opiate epidemic our nation is struggling with.
Four thousand six hundred forty-two clear glassine baggies (small clear baggies dealers use to sell drugs) include a one-inch crystal bead representing each person who lost their battle to heroin/opiate addiction in Pennsylvania alone in 2016. Each monofilament line (20# Fishing Line) has crystal-filled baggies strung from top to bottom on the over 200 lines. The strung lines of crystal-filled bags gently dangle from above through a hand-built wooden frame that supports a mesh grid where the over 200 sewn lines support the 4,642 crystal-filled baggies.
This was the original chandelier piece that was made for the “Art of Recovery” exhibit held at Montgomery County Community College, West Campus fine art gallery in Pottstown, PA.
4,642 became 5,535 as the number of opioid/heroin deaths rose in 2017. 5535-2017 was included in the Art of the State exhibition in Harrisburg, won first prize for sculpture, and won the purchase prize award making the piece a paart of the permanent collection of the State Museum of PA.