For this project I wanted to keep going with the insect idea, but instead choose a different kind of insect and a different display method. I chose to make a sort of corset style top. I have some corsets at home and I really enjoy their form and shape.
I made a mold for the corset by wrapping myself with seran wrap and tape very tightly, then cutting my way out of it.
I created the “bones” of the corset by using this mold to bend the wire around in the shape of my body. Once I had the structure, I strengthened it by weaving together more chicken wire. To make the straps I cut out a smaller strip of chicken wire then cut it to size then attached it using normal wire to make sure it could move.
My first idea for the outside of the corset was to use paper mache but I couldn’t get it to stick/stay on the chicken wire. After failing with this I looked around the classroom and found some thick fabric with a very nice bookshelf inspired design. I thought this would be perfect as it also fit with my original piece which had non natural colors/materials in it. I decided that this would be the main part of the corset, with the back being brown. For my original idea, I was going to paint the paper mache to look like bark, but after switching to the fabric I decided to bring back some sticks I had used in my original effigy design and the same green threads to attach them to the corset. I used the sticks to border the corset and make it stand out more on my body.
For the insect, I wanted to add more movement into this piece as with my effigy it just wobbled back and forth so I used an old mint tin I had and used paper mache to build up a beetle shape. The specific beetle I picked is called a Jewel Beetle and I chose this as it had very shiny and bright coloring. I painted the tin to look like bark to bring in some of my first idea and added sticks to border it and tie it into the rest of the corset. What I hoped to accomplish with this was a feeling of finding a secret treasure.
I had also added a patch of brown burlap on the chest with some soil inside. My idea was to see if I could get moss to grow into this burlap. I was inspired by seeing old clothes in the woods that were completely covered in moss. It was going pretty well and I was coming in every so often to water it. I came in on the day we were criticizing and couldn’t find my corset anywhere. I spent 15 minutes looking for it until I checked under a table and found it. Someone had knocked it off and it landed face down and all the moss had died. So that was two weeks of growth gone and 5 minutes before we were scheduled to start walking. I removed all the dead moss and most of the dirt so it wasn’t a total loss but it was super upsetting as I had checked on it the day before and was super excited about this part of the project.
My piece stayed together for the entire walk and seemed pretty stable. I used thread and safety pins to tie it in the back like a normal corset. I used the same thread as the front. Overall I think my piece was successful in conveying the message of protection and the same energy as the first piece I did.
