SOME ADDITIONAL FACE MASK COVERING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Are they medical grade/ will they protect me against Coronavirus?

   These masks/face coverings are NOT medical grade. They will not protect you against Coronavirus. There are some studies and opinions face coverings may prevent you passing on the virus to someone else if you’re asymptomatic (if you have symptoms, you should be self isolating anyway) though views on this vary. My mask coverings are designed as artist commentaries about the current time. I wear my own in the hope it protects others but I do not know if that is the case given the science on it has not yet been confirmed. Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds and adhere to social distancing rules.

2. Do they contain filters or a filter pocket?

   They do not contain filters or filter pockets. I just pop a coffee filter paper between my mask and my face when I go out!

3. What is better, “quilted” or “airflow”?

   Quilted is thicker (3ply - three thin layers) but still lightweight. Airflow is thinner (single layer). Quilted is a slightly heavier fabric so loses some of the printing quality. Airflow shows the image in a crisper way but you do then get a thinner mask. Neither is medical grade.

4. Sometimes the fabrics look a little different between photos - why is this?

   Sometimes my printing co uses a different “quilted” fabric to the one used before, depending on what they have. The quilted are always 3ply but some seem more smooth than others - both are “quilted” fabrics, they just mix it up sometimes depending on supply. Likewise, with airflow fabric - initially they started off with almost like a sports thin fabric and now are using a slightly thicker one (still single layer) still classified as “airflow”.

5. Can I put mine in a frame and display it as artwork about this time?

   Several people have said they plan to do this - that is fine by me. The authenticity card is included (signed and numbered) too for provenance.

6. How long will my mask covering take to get to me?

   I try to post out orders on the next working day - occasionally I can’t as I don’t want to be going to the post office too much, but from my side they are always sent within a couple of working days after the order (if they are in stock, not pre orders). All are sent via Royal Mail first class tracked and signed for (though they are not requiring signatures at the moment). The tracking makes the postage more expensive but it makes it easier to follow its journey especially as post is being a bit strange at the moment. I have noticed that whilst first class post should arrive the next working day, it is often taking 2-3 working days to arrive and, in London, it can be as much as 10 days as there are some severe delays at London sorting offices etc.

7. How much have you given to charity so far?

   As at 20 May, a total of £123 has been paid to the Scrub and Face Protection hub. This is 15% of the total profit I have made so far. You can check my donations on their donations pages (there are a number of different ones, as I do them in small batches).

8. Where are the masks made?

   The masks are designed by me in Folkestone then they are printed and sewn in London, UK.

9. Can I choose what card I’ll get in my set?

   I am afraid not, I select cards depending on what is available when I am wrapping the sets. I try to be fair and if I include a smaller card may include two, or a postcard too. I also throw in a couple of stickers each time.

   FROM 19 MAY ALL NEW ORDERS WILL INCLUDE THE “BORED?” SIGNED AND NUMBERED POSTCARD SIZE MINI PRINT instead of a different art card (I have run out of the cards I am using!). You cannot buy this bored? mini print or the stickers anywhere separately - they are only included with purchases.

10. How should I put on/take off my mask?

    Before putting on the mask, clean your hands well with soap and water. Cover your mouth and nose with your mask. Avoid touching the mask while using it and, if you do, wash your hands. Replace the mask when it is damp. To remove your mask, take it off using the elastic tags, without touching the front and discard immediately directly into the washing machine.