The Weight of Lead Based Paint by Alix Maissa Scherer

The US government banned lead-based paint for use on residential walls in 1978. So you might think that for the most part, this toxic substance is a thing of the past. Despite the hard fought fight by researchers educating the public about the harm of lead-lead based paint, children still wind up in the hospital with lead poisoning. At this point, it’s clear that despite the ban, the US government has failed to protect residents from this detrimental environmental harm. I ask, how can clothing be used to re-visualize the harm of lead paint exposure. Children who are chronically exposed to lead paint face permanent physical brain structure changes that make processing information and decision making difficult even long after the lead has cleared from the body. My hope is that by using this jacket, and transcending the screen I’m able to offer a multi sensory experience that will only deepen our understanding of the life long effects of lead paint. But this physicalization isn’t the whole picture of lead paint exposure. I encourage you to visit my project site where you’ll be able to learn more about the jacket, its meaning, the status quo of lead paint in New York City, as well as the populations that are most at risk. We don’t have to wait another 45 years to ensure our children of today are safe tomorrow. Because together we have the power to lessen the weight of lead-based paint.