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.

Two Tyvek Art Works from Susan Knight

Hidden Magic and Water Bank Boogie are the names of two Tyvek art installations by artist Susan Knight. She excels at cutting Tyvek into various shapes and forms to create works of art. She describes her work like this:

An acute awareness of water drives me to examine aspects of it everywhere I live and travel. Water’s physical and metaphysical powers to unite, circulate, connect and sustain compel me to create patterns in two and three dimensions based on the physics and structure of water and the land around it. Patterns cut into paper, plastic, Mylar, and Tyvek reveal multiple aspects of environmental issues of fragile water, remediation and sustainability. My primary tool is an Xacto knife. The act of cutting makes me feel like Zorro.

Knight describes the Hidden Magic installation:

Hidden Magic consists of 12 suspended components up to 12 feet in length of hand cut 14-S Tyvek affixed to Borden and Riley paper. Folded Mylar spheres dangle in the fore-ground. It reveals a rain garden which is a small landscape depression designed to temporarily hold rainwater runoff from roofs, pavement and landscaped areas so it will soak into the ground to be filtered and benefit plants. Healthy rain gardens typically drain water within 12-24 hours so mosquitoes are not a problem. A wide variety of plants, including perennial flowers, ornamental grasses, sedges, rushes, and woody shrubs are selected for use in rain gardens to enhance biodiversity and adaptability to the wet/extended dry garden conditions.

The extensive and typically deep roots systems of the native and adapted plants that thrive in rain gardens are fundamental to garden function and health – yet their importance and beauty are normally hidden. The roots help plants to survive extended drought conditions; they increase pore space and water infiltration as they grow through the soil; and they facilitate water movement along their intricate structure. In addition, many root systems replace themselves over time, and the decomposing old roots add additional pore space for water storage and infiltration.

Rain gardens are a naturally effective way to manage rainwater runoff – but the beautiful flowers and textured grasses we typically see above ground are only a small part of a rain garden’s beauty!

Knight describes the Water Bank Boogie installation:

To hand cut these suspended pieces I employ a methodical way of hand cutting paper that fascinated Victorians in the nineteenth century. The dials and pods are constructed from 14-S and 1460-C Tyvek on Borden and Riley paper and colored with acrylic ink. The resulting porous texture of the materials mimics the porosity of groundwater deposits, a topic that has engaged me for several years. The implicit expansion capability of the material captures the physics of water and the architecture of soil. My use of color, red, yellow, green and gray is based on the colors scientists use to color code their soil samples sand, silt, clay and gravel.

Two notions inspire the installation, the interconnectedness of watersheds and the fact that the water is only as healthy as the soil around it.

My intention for you the viewer is that these particular pieces prod you to discover feelings and emotions about your own water associations and experiences and consequently open yourselves to a greater awareness of water issues.

Knight's installations have been displayed at various galleries in Nebraska, including The Kaneko in Omaha.

Many thanks to Susan Knight for the photos she provided, used here with permission. Thanks to Susan for providing the details on the use of Tvyek 14-S in her art works.

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Tyvek 14-S 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.

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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.

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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 Cranes in Woodland Gardens

The 2017 Tulip Festival in the Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT is featuring hanging displays of cranes made from Tyvek purchased from Material Concepts. Tyvek 8740D is used to make the cranes.


According to Garden Designer Esther Henrichsen:

We have a big Tulip Festival every year and the photos show a piece of a woodland with woodland flowers where we hung these thousands of cranes made from Tyvek from the tree branches to the ground. Soft Japanese music is playing in the background. Tens of thousands of our guests have passed by. Whenever I am out there I hear in amazement, "How is that paper holding up like that?" I tell them all about Tyvek and the many creative uses for it. Our garden volunteers folded the thousands of Tyvek cranes used in this display. We have plans to expand our use of Tyvek in the garden in the coming year.

From the Thanksgiving Point website: "Thanksgiving Point Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit farm, garden, and museum complex that draws upon the natural world to cultivate transformative family learning." Part of Thanksgiving Point, "the Ashton Gardens features 55-acres of stately gardens, grand lawns, as well as the largest manmade waterfall in the Western Hemisphere."



Photos provided by Esther Henrichsen, used with permission.


Tyvek 8740D can be purchased online from Material Concepts in rolls or sheets. 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.

Tessellating Tyvek Lanterns from Helen Hiebert Studio

Tessellating Tyvek Lanterns were created by Helen Hiebert and are featured in her 2017 Twelve Months of Paper calendar and in Day 13 of the 25 Days of Paper. You might be wondering - what is tessellation? According to Wikipedia, "A tessellation of a flat surface is the tiling of a plane using one or more geometric shapes, called tiles, with no overlaps and no gaps." As you can see from the photos, the accordion folds on surfaces of Hiebert's Tyvek lanterns can be described as displaying 3D tessellation.

Helen Hiebert is a Vail Colorado based paper artist with 25 years of experience, including making paper projects, teaching workshops, films, and five how-to books on papermaking. Visit Helen Hiebert Studio online for more information about Hiebert and her work.

As described on her website, Hiebert comments on the use of Tyvek to make these lanterns:

Tyvek is one of those wonder materials. It acts like paper, but is water resistant and virtually tear-proof. It folds really well too. It comes in white and you can stain it with acrylic paint, watercolor or ink. As you can see, I stained both sides of the Tyvek for these lanterns.

The 2017 Twelve Months of Paper calendar is available for sale, and the she ran a Kickstarter campaign (now ended) that successfully funded the project with 144 backers. Visit her Kickstarter campaign page to see more about all the paper projects featured in the calendar, including a video.

Many thanks to Helen for providing the information and photos used here with her permission.

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Helen Hiebert is also a Material Concepts' customer and is one of many artists that purchase Tyvek from Material Concepts. Paper-like Tyvek styles and Fabric-like Tyvek styles can be purchased online or contact Material Concepts for more information and assistance with selecting the Tyvek style that will be best suited for a specific project.

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Tyvek Used in "Kubo and the Two Strings" Animated Film from LAIKA

Kubo and the Two Strings, a 3D animated stop-action film in which Tyvek was used in the creation of its stop motion figures. The movie was produced by LAIKA, makers of the Academy Award-nominated animated movie Coraline. Kubo and the Two Strings is the story of a "young boy named Kubo must locate a magical suit of armor worn by his late father in order to defeat a vengeful spirit from the past," according to IMBD.com. This movie is in theaters right now and features the voices of Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Ralph Fiennes, George Takei, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brenda Vaccaro, Rooney Mara and Matthew McConaughey.

So how does Tyvek fit into Kubo and the Two Strings? Via Laika and their public relations agency, MBC Communications, they provided the information on how Tvyek was used in the film. The production notes that were provided describe how Tyvek was utilized:

16,725 feet of Tyvek paper was used.

According to Costume Designer Deborah Cook, "We used a lot of Tyvek [the high-density polyethylene fiber material so often used in building construction] underneath fabrics as well, because it has the dimpled surface of an older, richer fabric and resembles crumpled silk. We also used actual silks that were very fine grade so that the surface weave of the fabric looked good in our scale; these too had to be weighted and bulk out underneath."

Brad Shiff was the Animation Supervisor for the film. What with loose flowing costumes and long hair for many characters, Schiff's team of animators found new challenges on Kubo and the Two Strings. He remarks, "There is a reason that costumes on stop-motion puppets are always tight-fitting and that's because tight-fitting is easy to control. Loose-fitting has a tendency to do weird things in our scale. It's a testament to our puppet makers, riggers, and animators all working together with the costume department that this was pulled off. We were able to handle and manipulate the kimonos without them – or the puppets wearing them – going out of control. There were tiny rigs on all the puppets to help the animators achieve the most subtle of movements."

Six different materials were used as backings in Kubo's sleeves so that they could fold precisely where and as needed; origami patterns were used in the sleeves design so that they would always hang the same way when his arms were down. Sheets of Tyvek ... needed to be crumpled and un-crumpled exactly 15 times to create the required flexibility.

Many thanks to LAIKA and MBC Communications for providing the information and the photos, used here with permission.

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Behind the Scenes of Kubo and the Two Strings Video

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Kubo and the Two Strings - Official Trailer

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Tyvek is often used by innovative, creative people in many and varied ways. Material Concepts provides Tyvek rolls to many of them - 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.

Tyvek Scenery Scrolls at Red Herring Puppets

Lisa Sturz, Artistic Director at Red Herring Puppets provides the following on how she creates scenery scrolls for productions using Tyvek from Material Concepts. Red Herring Puppets is an award winning national touring company based in Asheville, North Carolina specializing in curriculum-based edu-tainment. Lisa Sturz has worked with Jim Henson Productions, Walt Disney Imagineering, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Asheville Symphony, and many more. She has used long Tyvek scrolls for several of her productions.

Many thanks to Lisa for sending us the photos and descriptions of some productions in action. All photos used with her permission. Visit the Red Herring Puppets website to find out more.

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From Red Herring Puppets production of "The Big Dipper: Calendar, Compass & Clock". This scene scrolls by as we hear the traditional song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" to show how the Big Dipper can be used as a compass. The scene is painted by C.J. Randall using acrylics.

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The next three images are from Red Herring Puppets production of "Little One-Inch". The scenery is painted by Lisa Sturz using Japanese Sumi-e ink.

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The last two scenes are from "My Grandfather’s Prayers", drawn by Lisa Sturz and Emily Bader with Sumi-e ink and transparent water colors. This one is backlit and photographed from the front.

This scene is lit from behind with shadow figures.

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To see the Tyvek scenery scrolls in action, view the video from The Big Dipper: Calendar, Compass, & Clock.

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Thanks again Lisa Sturz and Red Herring Puppets for providing the info on this innovative use of Tyvek as scrolling scenery. Material Concepts provides Tyvek rolls to many theaters that are used for scenery. In this case, Red Herring Puppets used Tyvek style 1073D. Whatever the application, Material Concepts can always 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.

Tyvek Puppet Theater - Unfolding at UConn

Photo credit: Adam Lobelson

A puppet theater production with everything made from Tyvek? For two weekends in September 2015, that's exactly what happened at the University of Connecticut, where Margarita Blush and the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry presented Unfolding, an original puppet theater production.

According to Professor Blush,

Unfolding is an original puppet theatre production that examines the themes of women's wisdom and empowerment. The show features hand-crafted puppets, live acting, unique scenography, and composed music.

The visual inspiration for the show comes from paper art: pop-up books, origami, paper sculpture, paper installations, and many more.

The idea was to create the puppets, scenography and costumes primarily out of paper (or paper-like materials). Through our research, my designer (Dimitar Dimitrov) and I discovered Tyvek. Tyvek has recently gained a lot of popularity in the world of puppet theatre. Yet, Unfolding uses Tyvek in a way that has not been done to this point – the entire production is made with and out of Tyvek! Tyvek provided us with so many amazing qualities – it is very durable, it creates and holds very interesting shapes, it has a beautiful “glow” under theatre lighting, it can be painted, its fiber texture is gorgeous when lit from behind in shadow sequences, different kinds of Tyvek can be used for different things – set, costumes, puppets, it is very light. An added benefit was the Fire Marshall’s approval of the fire resistant qualities of the material!

Overall – it was an amazing material to work with and we are very proud and inspired by our original and unique use of Tyvek!

Professor Blush and UConn purchased the Tyvek materials from Material Concepts, and the Tyvek styles used were 1443R, 1622E, 10GX.

Thank you to Professor Blush for providing the background and insights on the production and the uses of Tyvek; her comments are used with permission. Photos from Adam Lobelson and Robert Blush were also provided and used with permissions; photo credits provided.

Thinking of making puppets or doing a theater production and want to use Tyvek? Material Concepts' product specialists are available during business hours to assist with the selection of Tyvek styles for any use. For more information via phone call 215-338-6515 or 1-800-372-3366, or buy Tyvek online.

Photo credit: Adam Lobelson

Photo credit: Adam Lobelson

Photo credit: Adam Lobelson

Photo credit:Robert Blush

Photo credit:Robert Blush

Photo credit:Robert Blush

Photo credit: Adam Lobelson

Inflatable Tyvek Sculptures at Plymouth State University

At New Hampshire's Plymouth State University in early November, anyone around the outside of the Hartman Union Building (HUB) was treated to views of some huge inflatable Tyvek sculptures created by students in Professor Philip Lonergan’s class from the Art Department. These blow up Tyvek sculptures were installed on the HUB lawn; some of them were 10 feet high!

According to the article by Rachel Levi in PSU's The Clock Online, "since the massive structure is the essence of the sculptures, displaying them outdoors means their surroundings are large. Trees and buildings make the sculptures look smaller in contrast." One student told The Clock Online that "it took about three weeks and a total of 20 hours to construct his sculpture. The assignment was to research microscopic organisms and make one of these organisms into something massive, non-representational and difficult to ignore."

Professor Lonergan purchased the Tyvek material from Material Concepts and was able to secure discount pricing by buying some excess Tyvek inventory that is sometimes offered. In this case he purchased a discontinued Tyvek style of metallized Tyvek and it was an off-size cut.

Thanks to Rachel Levi at PSU's The Clock Online for providing the information and photos, used with permission.

Many artists are using Tyvek in their creations, and the art students at Plymouth State University certainly came up with an innovative way to utilize Tyvek in the projects.

Contact Material Concepts via phone: 215-338-6515 or 1-800-372-3366 to buy Tyvek.

Tyvek Origami Cranes Take Flight at Phipps Fall Flower Show in Pittsburgh

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania joined forces with the Origami Club of Pittsburgh to create an elaborate display of oversized origami peace cranes for the Conservatory's Fall Flower Show. As the first display encountered by arriving visitors, the Tyvek origami cranes provide an immediate burst of color and whimsy that sets the pace for the rest of this fantastic exhibit.

Durable Tyvek Hard Structure / Tyvek Paper proved to be the perfect material to construct the cranes using origami folding techniques and keep the birds looking beautiful throughout the show.

Phipps' Fall Flower Show brought a new perspective to the season's famed chrysanthemums, showcasing the unique ways the blooms are traditionally grown in Japan and their importance in Japanese culture.

In the historic Palm Court, constructed in 1893 as one of Phipps Conservatory's original glasshouse rooms, the massive Tyvek cranes hover over beds of red and orange mums and metal ornate lanterns with flickering candles.

Material Concepts supplies many varieties of Tyvek material to artists for a variety of art projects, including installation art. Just contact Material Concepts for more information via phone: 215-338-6515 or 1-800-372-3366 to buy Tyvek.

Photo credit for images © Paul G. Wiegman, used with permission. Many thanks to Phipps Conservatory for providing this information for use here.