Street artist and Goodfellow collaborate to make PPE

He’s adapted his 1,000sq. ft. studio to the fabrication of face shields for use by overworked doctors and nurses caring for critically ill patients requiring intubation prior to mechanical ventilation.

Although it is standard practice for all members of the care team to wear a face shield during the intubation procedure, a severe shortage of face shields has meant that often only one face shield is available - and that is used by the physician actually doing the intubation.

Enter materials supplier Goodfellow. When the company became aware of Plastic Jesus’ desire to fabricate face shields, they donated PET - a clear, strong and lightweight plastic - required for the project. Goodfellow CEO Stephen Aldersley said: “Goodfellow has invested heavily in supporting companies combatting COVID-19 and assisting frontline workers by providing materials to aid treatment and research. When we heard about the efforts of Plastic Jesus, we gladly offered to supply PET for the project.”

For Plastic Jesus, switching from street art to face shields isn’t as much of a stretch as it might seem. “I have an engineering background,” he said, “and I learned early on that if someone before me has made something, I can probably make it, too. As with my street art, I decide what I want to create, then I figure out how to do it.”

Assisting Plastic Jesus with the face shield fabrication is Laser Gnomes, a Los Angeles company specialising in precision laser cutting and engraving. They expect to cut enough of the PET material for Plastic Jesus to fabricate hundreds of face shields for distribution to hospitals with the greatest need.

Despite his image as a bit of a rebel, Plastic Jesus insists that his work is more about shining a small light in some dark corners of society... and he believes it’s a calling everyone can participate in. “In a crisis like this, each one of us has a skill that can be used,” he said. “It’s time to pull together and make a difference.”