the paper cocoon

Team Ari created a massive paper cocoon as a preliminary model for the larger central cocoon. Here Ashley and Maureen work to staple the edges while everyone else is inside.


Jalisa looks out from the inside of the cocoon.

The empty cocoon after everyone crawled out.

body casts (saran wrap)

Ari and Ivy used saran wrap to wrap everyone together. These close quarters were just a taste of what that space might be like in our final large scale group cocoon.

We also used the saran wrap to wrap each of us individually to create body casts. After our bodies were wrapped we helped each other carefully cut off the saran wrap in one piece. Above, Ashley wraps Ari's entire body.

Casts of torsos lined the walls of the studio. They may be added to the final piece or used as part of individual costumes.

building the loom

Ari and Ivy built a loom using one of the tables in the studio. The process involved chucking a giant mass of rope across and under the table for about 30 minutes.

We will be using the looms to create our own "fabrics" out of many different materials, including rope (like the warp), plastics, tinsel, fabric strips, yarn, wire, etc.

over and over and over again (unwinding)

Our team began engaging in several exercises to jump start our thinking about materials and movement. In this first exercise we each unwound a spool of thread (or in Maureen's case, rope). This was a way of gathering evocative raw materials while also participating in a constant flow of repetitive action. Unwinding the spools began as a simple action that soon shifted into a meditative experience.

As we worked we began to realize that we were inadvertently creating our own strange dance. Arielle and Maureen both ended up with long bunches of string that resembled hair or baby Cousin Its.

Georgia took a different approach and worked by winding the yarn around her free hand. The end result was a miniature cocoon that bound her fingers together.

*Georgia's hand after being cut free

Cocoon Collage: Brainstorming

Brainstorming for our team has taken the form of a massive wall collage that continues to grow and change with each new idea. Pictured above is the collaged image of the central cocoon structure (first picture) and the ideas for individual costumes (second picture).

measuring our space

Before we begin construction our team needs to figure out some very crucial information.
Like how much space do we take up as a group when standing?

Sitting?

How about laying down and waving our arms?
Our final cocoon structure will have a base that is roughly 9 feet across by 14 feet long.
That's a pretty big bug mobile.

July 16

Georgia, Sydney and De'Narrow sporting almost every clothing item in the room.

Tuesday Trip to DAI

Sketching at the Dayton Art Institute.

Armory

pictures of exhibition space