More twiggy goings on

Well, seeing as it is only 2 weeks to the exhibition I thought that I ought to make a start on making this installation I've been planning and ruminating on for a while now. It was a beautiful sunny morning (for a change) so I decided to work outside and have a go at plastering some long twiggy things (small branches if you prefer) to see how easy it would be. You'd think it would be easy wouldn't you? Mix a bit of plaster, dip a few twigs in... But that leaves me out of the equation. And it's part of the equation that's not too well balanced, if you know what I mean. And equations, I seem to remember, are meant to be balanced.

Anyhow, the first 'problem' comes in the form of plaster. I decided to buy some expensive plaster, because it says on the label that it sets REALLY hard. Useful I thought. What I didn't take account of was that you need virtually twice as much plaster to water than the bog standard stuff (in fact I hadn't bothered to read that bit of the label). So I ran out. Quickly. My bower is not yet looking very bowery.

And I have another point to ruminate on: I like the white, but I was planning black. Black is kind of sinister (and some bower birds use charcoal to make theirs black) and fits with the idea I have. But white...well bowers are meant to be pleasant places to sit, and the white would certainly do that. So...do I want to make something that looks pleasant and inviting and frighten the hell out of people with the scary bird stuff when they get inside, or do I want to make it dark and menacing like a wood so that people expect the scary bird stuff when they get inside.... I'm now beginning to feel that I need to make two mock ups - but do I have the time?!!




I like the way the grass and moss have stuck to the plaster! It adds a touch of colour. And oh look, is that a sparkly butterfly I spy - without something dead on it? (Yet.)

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