DisCo project Reveal

I had great hopes when I put some bundles into the compost bin to further disintegrate, but they didn't cooperate. I've never known paper to not break down or stain. The photos in this piece cooperated quite well and were set aside from the first bundles. At least the corrugated cardboard was coaxed into doing a nice job of decaying in the compost bin. Rather than despairing about what didn't happen I took the few pieces of decayed items and started playing with some ideas. I haven't thrown paint on a canvas in months and the need to do was overwhelming.

Layers and layers of texture and paint became the substrate for the few decayed pieces that I know I would have never considered using if Seth hadn't dreamed up this group collaborative. Everyone needs a challenge once-in-awhile and this definitely challenged me. I have a feeling that this 11x14 inch piece is a work-in-progress, maybe the photos need to be worked into the piece by toning down the edges? But for now it'll do.

Quote: Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.

Lanston Hughes

Disintegration - moving on

This papers looked untouched, but they were out in the elements since Feb. I made three bundles of them and pulled away some debris in the compost bin and in they went. What am I expecting? Worms to gnaw on the paper, stains from garden clippings and/or vegetable waste from the kitchen. Time frame: July 1, or later. I need enough time to create a piece. I'm moving on to more fabric dyeing and returning to the 52 projects.

Quote: Moving on is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard. Dave Mustaine
Sometimes the cards we are dealt are not always fair. However we must keeping smiling and moving on. Tom Jackson.

More Disintegration

The photos that I posted about earlier today needed to dry before I could scan them. This is one that started to transfer onto a piece of paper. Great possibilities for photos that refuse to print properly. Another reason to "save everything!"

More photos can be seen here:

Disintegration Project unveiling

A cloud covering here in the desert isn't typical, but it's lovely for the unveiling of the bundles; the lighting is soft, perfect for photographing. I tied my bundles to the pergola post where grape vines are doing their Jack-in-the-beanstalk thing. My bundles have been out in the elements since Feb. 14 and can be seen here.

This bundle slid down the post last month during a monsoonal storm. Underneath of the bundle mold started to develop, see the last photo.

Epson DuraBrite printed photographs. So much for being smudge, water and fade resistant! They did what I wanted them to do! A few of the images even transferred to the backs of scrapbook paper as shown in the middle of this example. Eureka!

An interesting design started developing on the copper, another example of a photo, and the corrugated cardboard that will now go into another bundle that I'm considering popping into the compost pile for awhile. The cardboard didn't do much.

One sheet of paper to be saved for later use. The rest will be bundled up again.

Some mold action. I'll probably seal it with a spray coat of clear something. I had hoped that the twine would decay some, it has before when we've used it to stake plants; I'll most likely use it to tie the bundles with again.

I'm definitely fascinated by intentional disintegration and plan to do more of it. Thanks Seth!

Quote: Disintegration -- I'm taking it in stride. Bret Easton Ellis (American Psycho)

Disintegration Project

Disintegration Project - another one of Seth's brilliant ideas. Check out his blog for details. I'm a little late getting started but the unveiling of the bundles isn't until May 1 so hopefully be then nature will have helped the papers to disintegrate.

Components: cardboard including one piece that was indented by seltzer water cans, newspaper, ink jet printed script, badly printed photos, text from both a dictionary and a French book, a cardboard tube, and a couple of painted and unpainted pieces of mat board. Along with twine the top bundle is wrapped with both copper and steel wire. The bundles are attached to a bamboo vine support that is presently tied to one of the pergola posts. If the grape vine starts growing I might move the bundles to another area in the garden. (click to enlarge the photo)

Valentine's Day is my parents anniversary, sadly, mom didn't remember that today. Her world is getting smaller all of the time.

Quotes: Without love, what are we worth? Eighty-nine cents! Eighty-nine cents worth of chemicals walking around lonely. M*A*S*H, Hawkeye