5535-2017 is a sculpture/chandelier of 5,535 clear glassine baggies stuffed with a one-inch crystal bead to represent each person who lost their life to heroin/opiate addiction in Pennsylvania alone in 2017. Each of the 5535 crystal filled baggies were then strung onto varying lengths of monofilament (fishing line) that hung from the ceiling of the museum. Participants involved were: people with community service hours and assigned to BWTL thru the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office, family and friends of those who suffer from opiate/heroin addiction, and people in recovery.
chandelier sculpture of heroin baggies at Pa State Museum for Art of the State, 2018
The crystals inside the heroin baggies
Working on the chandelier sculpture at Pa State Museum for Art of the State 2018
Description of the materials used for the sculpture
The process of creating the sculpture
Close up view of crystals in heroin baggies
Heroin baggies starting to appear like a twinkling chandelier
Process of creating the sculpture
A different view of how the chandelier looked, as if you are looking up at it
Looking up at the sculpture
A viewer looking at the chandelier sculpture at Pa State Museum for Art of the State 2018
chandelier sculpture of heroin baggies with crystals on view at Pa State Museum for Art of the State 2018
This is what the finished sculpture looked like hanging in the Pa State Museum for Art of the State 2018
First Lady Frances Wold, Dr. Rachel Levine, and artist Maria Maneos in front of the finished chandelier sculpture