NO BITE = NO MALARIA

Join us for a cocktail reception and art auction at HARDCORE ART CONTEMPORARY SPACE.

Xavier Cortada, “Parásito,” 2013

In 1994, I travelled to Africa.  For several weeks, I took Lariam—not realizing it had severe side effects.  Instead of anti-marial drugs, I should have stuck to protective nets. In the tropics, many have neither but would certainly welcome any effect other than those brought on by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite as it infects red blood cells:splenomegaly, severe headache, hepatomegaly, hypoglycemia, and hemoglobinuria with renal failure.  Invisible to the eye, these malaria-causing parasites are mostly experienced as human death.  For the exhibit, I’ve sculptured the organisms from nets– the very nets that can prevent the Anopheles mosquito’s bite, which is how these protozoan parasites are transmitted.

All funds raised for this event will be directed to the purchase and distribution of custom-designed bednets for hammocks (mosquiteros) for the indigenous people of Venezuela. The next expedition will be a partnership between the Rotary Club of Key Biscayne FL and the Rotary Clubs of Puerto Ordaz, Cachamay NG, Caroni and San Felix Venezuela.