Quite a bit to this process, making my own glue from potato starch, adding that to another mixture containing non-toxic PVA, cornflour, vegetable oil, salt, baking soda, vinegar (kinda like making bread!), and then adding shredded old newspaper that had been soaked in water and then pulverised. You kind of knead it all together adding more cornflour until it becomes a workable consistency.

Formed on a plaster torso I made from my own body back in 2013, it has come in handy a few times for projects.

Strength testing of the piece

Trying a different shape of female form

This one I tried to reduce the amount of the PVA to see how little I could get away with using

In the backyard of James Wallace we test out a projection of polar jet streams into some trees where we hang the first breastplates I've made.
Encouraged by results, we are excited to advance the project along from our findings.

I wanted to see and feel what it could be like for audience/participant to become part of the installation.

Adding some Mahoe leaves I'd collected off the forest floor

I tried adding some dried organic material into the clay mix such as these skeleton Mahoe leaves collected from the forest floor

I listened to a lot of Terrence McKenna audio while I was making these breastplates and although drug induced hallucinations are not a source of inspiration for me, an experience of the sacred in the present moment is a notion that inspires me. The idea of giving participants a full sensory experience that may give them a moment of connection to what is around them really excites me.

A field trip to Tapapakanga Regional Park to meet the art coordinators and scope out our site for the festival allowed us to meet the tree we'd been designated to.

Our tree is also directly across from the HQ so one of the main thoroughfares

Hanging a few of the breastplates from the branches to get an idea of where we could possibly position the projector. Also which areas of the tree could be best to use, how high the branches were so I would know how much twine I would need for hanging the pieces, and more..

Scaling the tree to attach the breastplates to branches...

Typically this tree is a site for an installation or safe resting/chill place for festival goers. We hope that the subtle and contemplative aspect of our installation can be appreciated so close to the main stage and other art installations

Made a male plaster casting mould to even up the population of my growing tribe of female forms

Another male breastplate, this time using contrasting coloured tones of paper clay. Also including some fibre from cabbage tree leaves off the forest floor

Tried using 2 tones of paper clay

Tried marbling light and dark coloured tones of paper

Tried some dried moss which interestingly bled colour into the paper clay

Experiment using skeleton leaves on the inside of breastplate

Mixed up a traditional limewash (used on houses back in time) on these greyer toned breastplates so that they can absorb the colour projections more effectively. I very much like this effect.