Amaya, Interdisciplinary Sculpture/ Art History, 2028
Interdisciplinary metal and wood fabricator studying at the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Project Overview
My Little Heart (2025) is an alternative breastplate made from a water-based resin cured mycelium plate and hemp cord braids that is worn with the intention of solely protect the users heart. Inspired by the 2023 electronic album, The Head Hurts but the Heart Knows the Truth by Headache, I wanted to create a wearable that protected the vessel that “knows the truth”. The heart is one of the most powerful organs and adorning it and protecting it is one of the most important acts of living. The piece is worn by tying four 4-strand braided ropes to the back of the torso. When creating this piece, I wanted to incorporate the use of braids as they chock full of meaning regarding the human experience and the overlapping of themes such as personal identity and experience — all things that are felt and known via the heart.
Process
When we began growth for our bacterial cellulose cultures I knew that I had wanted to make something wearable. The properties — color, texture, form — of the BC were perfecting for interacting with the body in some way I just wasn’t sure of how. So to create room for experimentation, I grew my pellicle in a large tub for a little over 3 weeks until I spotted an abundance of mold which required an early cleaning protocol with NaOH. After cleaning was complete, I cut out various irregular shapes with the intent of using the water-based resin solution to make jewelry. By mixing a Hema (monomer) and Bepa resin mixture, I measured out 2x the volume of the pellicle in resin and let the pellicle soak for two days. I covered in foil to minimize contact to light and when ready to cure put in a foil covered box for 52 minutes. This first test left a small test pellicle white and gummy with a significant amount of water still left inside the pellicle. For subsequent tests I allowed my final pieces of pellicle to soak for up to 5 days changing the resin it soaked in 3 different times. I created 3 different pieces to be cured: a bangle, a braid, and a flat breast plate. For the bangle I cured it for an hour in two sessions of 30 minutes. It held its shape and hand minimal white spots. For the breast plate, I book pressed it removing excess resin and cured it for a little under 45 minutes which left it pliable and with a small gummy white spot. The braid cured almost instantly after being under the UV light for 5 minutes along with steaming that could’ve been due to the proximity of the light.
Each piece besides the flat breast plate came out very chunky and sharp and hard to wear. So I took the breast plate and drilled for holes and then braided hemp cord so it could be worn because I still wanted to continue the braided iconography.
