Friday, May 1, 2009

Disintegration Collaboration Project is complete

Way back in early February, I began participating in the Disintegration Collaboration, organized by Seth Apter at The Altered Page. Some of the participants chose to place their bundles in trees, while others laid theirs on the ground, wrapped papers and objects together, or hid them in copper pots. The idea was to see how much they would change over the winter., then reveal the finished project on May 1.

To further add to the project, Seth has now proposed that we make something from these disintegrated pieces and post it on August 1. I can't wait to get started on mine, since I actually had something in mind when I first bundled it.
Back in February, this bundle looked pretty orderly and organized. Each circle bundle was tied with wax thread, then placed inside the remainder of a Reader's Digest Condensed book from the late 60s, which was also bundled in the same wax thread.

In addition to the wax thread, I added a metal wire that was already beginning to rust, and a clothes pin to hold the piece together.

I placed it in an old wrought iron pot holder on my fence gate. The entire view was visible from my kitchen window, so it was fun to check on its progress even when the weather was too bad to venture outside.

After three months, and countless openings and closings of the gate, here is the bundle as I found it this morning: May 1.

Pieces have fallen, shifted, and lost much of their original pristine aura.

Here the pieces are in my craft room, ready to be used for art.

I think the clothes pin showed more wear than the paper!!

Thanks so much Seth for suggesting this project, encouraging me when I joined, and staying in touch. I know you are out of town today, but I hope that wherever you are, you know that a whole bunch of artists who accepted your challenge feel much luckier for knowing you. See you on August 1, if not sooner.

7 thoughtful remarks:

Ingrid Dijkers said...

Looks great! can't wait to see what you make with the papers.
Best-
Ingrid

donna joy said...

love seeing all the different bundles~

~*~Patty Szymkowicz said...

Lovely post Elizabeth! You have lots of wonderful papers from your fab bundle. Mine are still drying out a bit :)
Can't wait for Part III

nancy neva gagliano said...

i found it AMAZING how little paper changed in my bundles too...and i expected water colors to run...etc. letting go of the expectations, i discovered the power of RUST....my favorite change.
i THINK this is only the beginning of a new addiction for many of us...art outdoors. ma nature and all.

Ginny Gaskill said...

I will be looking forward to seeing what you do with these. Mine have about the same amount of disintegration on them.

Dana said...

I wish I'd had the impetous to get involved with this. I would have tied bundles onto my rusted shed roof. I may still try this over the summer. If summer ever gets here! Dana

Renee Howell said...

Love your bundles. The rolled up paper - what a great idea!