In January of 2020, I was an artist in residence at Mass MoCA.  During my time there I worked with natural latex casts made from gourds, wasp nests, mushrooms, and trees to create wearable pieces. These pieces are the start of a body of work exploring how “natural” materials are marketed. With this work, I am considering consumer responsibility and corporate manipulation. How much can we address environmental degradation through our purchasing power?  Is “nature” being marketed to us in a way that is designed to make us feel better about buying more and yet sustaining the status quo?

These pictures are from a photo shoot in the museum.  Artist Qinza Najm and I wore some of the prototypes.  Artist and fashion photographer, Heather Renee Russ, took all the pictures.

Thank you to the museum, assets4artsits, and my amazing new friends.  It was so much fun!

Wearables and pocketbook made from natural latex casts of trees, mushrooms, and gourds. Dimensions variable

Wearables and pocketbook made from natural latex casts of trees, mushrooms, and gourds. Dimensions variable.

Wearables and pocketbook made from natural latex casts of trees, mushrooms, and gourds. Dimensions variable

Wearables and pocketbook made from natural latex casts of trees, mushrooms, and gourds. Dimensions variable.

Wearables and pocketbook made from natural latex casts of trees, mushrooms, and gourds. Dimensions variable.

Latex casts of mushrooms made into a necklace.