Human Body Inspired Tyvek Art by Former Surgeon Susan Greer Emmerson

Inspired by her medical background, artist Susan Greer Emmerson, a former surgeon, uses Tyvek to create artwork reminiscent of the human body. She loves the texture and appearance of Tyvek, and the different ways she can manipulate and use Tyvek material to create her works. Emmerson has used numerous Tyvek styles, including Tyvek 10G, Tyvek 10GX, Tyvek 1443R, Tyvek 14M, Tyvek 14-S, and Tyvek Inkjet Sheets in her creations.

Emmerson's work was recently featured at Nych Gallery in Chicago, in October 2017. She has an upcoming event at the Cambridge Art Association's Members Prize Show near Boston in February 2018, and her work was previously shown there at the 2016 National Prize Show, when her work "Mind Field" was shown, and the 2017 Summer Exhibition of Emerging Artists where her work "Redline" was shown.


Emmerson's work can be viewed at:

• Her website: susanemmerson.com
• Her Instragram

Gallery of Emmerson's Tyvek Art

Acrylic and ink on molded Tyvek

Tyvek and glue

Acrylic and ink on molded Tyvek

Black Tyvek

Acrylic on molded Tyvek

Bonepole: molded Tyvek with micro photographs of bone marrow

Video of Emmerson Describing her 3D Tyvek Art




Thanks to Susan Greer Emmerson for the photos she provided, used here with permission, and for the information about her art works.

All of the Tyvek materials that Emmerson used can be purchased online from Material Concepts in rolls. Or contact Material Concepts for more information.

Tyvek Art - Two Artists Collaborate

Artists Harriette Tsosie and Molly Geissman have done a few art projects, together and separately, using Tyvek in the pieces they created. They are using Tvyek 10GX in their work. From more about these two artists, please visit their websites:

Harriette Tsosie.
"Another Kind of Language."
Mixed media with Tyvek on panel

Harriette Tsosie

Molly Geissman


Harriette provides the following narrative about how she and Molly have used Tyvek in their work.

My use of Tyvek as an art material began in collaboration with Albuquerque artist Molly Geissman. Molly and I were preparing a site specific proposal for Eastern State Penitentiary. After attending one of ESP's orientation sessions we concluded we would need a durable material to withstand the harsh Pennsylvania winter climate and the prison's leaking roofs. Tyvek met our requirements.

Our concept was to create a series of hoods, referencing the hoods prisoners wore when arriving at the prison or when being moved to and from their cells. The reigning penal philosophy at the time the prison was built was that prisoners needed solitary confinement so that they could reflect on their crimes and repent. We envisioned hoods hung alternately within the cells and suspended outside the doors.

Although our project was not funded this year, we have continued to experiment with Tyvek as an art material and to develop Molly's overall theme of "Hoarded Spaces." Hoarded Spaces addresses both physical and mental hoarding and its consequences. We are currently working with two metal cages (formerly used for sorting mail). They are a metaphor for hoarded space that can contain: *trauma memories (PTSD); *cultural artifacts; *incarcerated people; *outmoded ideas, prejudices or political beliefs; *finite natural resources; *grudges and jealousies. Each of us has developed our cage according to our personal interpretation of this theme.

Molly Geissman.
"Hoods."  India ink, alcohol, pigment,
clear labels on Tyvek.

Molly left her cage open and filled it with Tyvek boxes that are stuffed with styrofoam peanuts. The boxes represent prejudicial, irrational thoughts, arising from fear of the "different,” the "unknown," or the "frightening." The boxes are worked with ink, graphite, and thread creating a visual image of conflict. The limited black and white color palette represents pervasive, uncompromising attitudes. Compromise is represented by shades of gray. For change to occur, the boxes--which are sewn shut--need to be opened, exposing and re examining the irrational thoughts.

I wrapped my cage in a large Tyvek hood, painted with images of brain scans, x-rays of the human head, and the imagined drawings of solitary confinement prisoners. A large branch sitting atop the cage represents the occupant’s deprivation of contact with nature and with other humans. The cage is a solitary confinement cell. It could house a POW or troublesome prisoner. It is emblematic of institutional power and its exercise. Its very existence repudiates ideas of rehabilitation or forgiveness.

While working on this collaboration I continue my usual artistic practice, making paintings and scrolls. Initially, I painted with encaustic (pigmented wax) on paper surfaces. The papers tended to wrinkle, develop holes or tear. Tyvek proved to be a better surface. "Once We Were Birds" is made with cloth like Tyvek, painted with Sumi ink and acrylic. The challenge of Tyvek was finding a medium that would work on its impermeable surface. Water based paints seem to sit on the surface, chip or scratch. I prefer alcohol based inks, which stain the surface and do not smudge or rub off.

My Tyvek scrolls will be exhibited in and sold from my studio, during the upcoming South Valley Open Studio Tour, Sunday, November 12, 2017.

---

This gallery of photos shows more of the Tyvek art from Tsosie and Geissman.

Harriette Tsosie. "Hoods." Mixed media/Tyvek

Harriette Tsosie. "Once We Were Birds." Mixed media/Tyvek.

Molly Geissman. "Hoarded Spaces Boxes 1" Mixed media/Tyvek

Molly Geissman.  "Hoarded Spaces Boxes 2." India ink/alcohol/graphite on black Tyvek.

Molly Geissman.  Hoarded Spaces Boxes.  India ink, graphite, alcohol/clear labels on Tyvek.

---

Many thanks to Harriette Tsosie and Molly Geissman for the their photos, used with permission. Thanks to Harriette for providing the details on the use of Tvyek 10GX in the art works.


Tyvek 10GX can be purchased online from Material Concepts in roll. Or contact Material Concepts for more information.

Tyvek - 50th Anniversary

Tyvek was first commercially unveiled by DuPont on April 5^th, 1967. So this year marks the 50^th anniversary of the unveil of Tyvek. Since that date, Tyvek has become quite the versatile product.

According to DuPont's press release:

DuPont Protection Solutions announced the 50^th anniversary of DuPont™ Tyvek®, a unique nonwoven material that has enabled new dimensions of protection, security and safety in a wide variety of industries and applications. To mark this major milestone, celebratory events will be held throughout the year to not only pay tribute to the past, but to focus on the future. In addition, a series of communications and special activities are planned to inform, inspire and involve customers, end-users and others around the world during this celebration year and beyond.

While Tyvek is known most prominently for building envelope solutions, such as Tyvek® HomeWrap®, and Tyvek® protective garment, there are many other uses for Tyvek.

Tyvek is now also used as graphics media, envelopes, wristbands, tag labels, archival wrap, framebacking, carpet/rug wrap, banners, cargo covers for pharmaceuticals and perishables, wallets, maps, hunting decoys, flags, currency, artistic displays, clothing, shoes, credit card sleeves, and a multitude of other applications.

Join in the Tyvek 50^th anniversary celebration and use Tyvek in some new and creative way, and then tell us about it and we may feature your Tyvek project in a future blog post. Material Concepts is an authorized Tyvek master distributor - just contact Material Concepts or via phone: 215-338-6515 or 1-800-372-3366 or buy Tyvek online.

Tyvek Papercut Art from Beatrice Coron

One of Material Concepts' best artist customers is Beatrice Coron, who does a lot of Tyvek papercut art. She has been featured in two previous blog posts for her innovative papercutting work using Tyvek materials. Beatrice recently sent these photos of two new works done using Black Tyvek from Material Concepts.

The first one is titled A.R.T. with each letter is about 44 inches tall and wide, cut black Tyvek.

 

The second one is called Inkyxote (about Inky the Octopus and Don Quixote). Each figure is about 10 by 9 inches, also cut black Tyvek. Beatrice provides this description: "Keeping the passion while escaping the situation."

Both photos are copyright 2016 Beatice Coron, used here with permission.
View Coron's full gallery of paper art and check out her schedule of exhibits and public art installations to see her art in person.

Coron was previously featured here in a Tyvek Innovative Uses Blog post about her Tyvek cape and mentioned a a post about paper cutting artists.

Thank you to Beatrice Coron for sending here latest work and photos. Material Concepts provides Black Tyvek and traditional unprinted white Tyvek rolls to many artists, and Material Concepts may be able to provide expert recommendations on the Tyvek style that will work best. Just contact Material Concepts or via phone: 215-338-6515 or 1-800-372-3366.