Wearable Wings Progress
The inspirations I have chosen for my wearable wings project is learning how much trash and micro-plastics end up in the stomach of the Northern Fulmar seabird. The Northern Fulmar lives on the west coasts of the United States and studies have shown the trash found in their stomachs will last for long periods of time and shows the Pacific Ocean is more polluted than thought.
For this project, I have decide to reuse, reduce, and recycle materials that would have ended up recycled, in the trash/landfill, and in our environment as pollution. The materials I have used so far have been crushed cans, loose yarn and strings, and plastic grocery bags. I have as well used wire to be a type of bone structure that holds the cans in a type of formation.
I found it paricularly hard to keep the crushed cans in place with just wrapping and tying strips of the plastic bag around it, so I found using the loose strings and yarn to help keep the cans in place.
Something I found to be helpful in my progess of this project is needing to cut larger strips of the plastic bags to cover more cans. This way the cans are tied in groups and this seems to keep the cans in a more stable position.
Imagery of my harness in progress
Artist Research
The first artist I have chosen to do further research into is Aurora Robson. https://www.aurorarobson.com/kamilo
Aurora Robson takes the nightmares she had as a child and makes them into tangible natural forms that are made out of primarily plastic debris. In her bio it states she is also the founding artist of Project Vortex. I believe it is such a great initiative to become a part of and it is important to share and connect others out there who believe in the same ideals and practices of reducing our pollution.
I chose Aurora Robson because I am as well learning how to give single use plastic another life in my art. She uses her plastic and materials in such a vibrant and loose way that gives any of her sculptures an organic and natural form. I also chose Aurora because she demonstrates how many items will become part of our oceans pollution problem
I see a connection between the two of us because I am also creating a animal out of plastic. I want to be able to make my sculpture as breathe taking as hers, but I as well want my message to be clear. In a interview she also mentions how plastic can never be properly disposed of and I see that in my own project. I want my trash to be trash can, the trash can be more than just trash thrown away.
Charleston Magazine Interview, "Sea Change," Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, 2017
Aurora Robson
To Be
2006
Sculpture
Plastic debris, tinted polycrylic, hardware
Aurora Robson
Couplet I
2017
Sculpture
Welded plastic debris (HDPE), hardware and LEDs
My second artist I have chosen to do further research into is Nick Cave.
In Nick Cave bios, his most popular and well known works are his Soundsuits. He performs in his sculptures and works with dancers, performers, and choreographers to perform for the public or the camera. He has evolved his pieces into "vehicles for empowerment".
I have chosen to do more research into Nick Cave because of the meaning behind his work. He wanted to embody social justice, embrace empowerment, and identify brutality. I find it also beautiful in his Soundsuits that he wants to conceal race, gender, and class so that we may see without judgement.
Nick Cave has a connection to my project because I as well am concealing the truth from you, but then it is right in your face. As you walk around and see the front of my wings I want the audience to have awareness of themselves and the trash we and our environment live with. Nick Cave is also known to use found historical objects in his work and I will be doing the same with my own wings.
Nick Cave
Soundsuit
Mixed Media
2011
Nick Cave
Heard
Mixed Media
2012
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