creative process | Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog

Posts Tagged ‘creative process’

Green Bottles and Flip-Flops

Posted in Art, art and environment, Art and Nature, Artist at Exit 0, assemblage art, driftwood, environmental art, Falls of the Ohio, flip-flops, Found objects, Photograpy, plastic, repurposed art, sense of place, Site specific art, tagged Art, art and nature, art and the environment, art process, artist at exit 0, collection, creative process on June 1, 2015| 4 Comments »

May was a quick month and this year is flying by. I’m still exploring much of the flotsam that was left behind by early Spring flooding. At several places in the park you can encounter large driftwood mounds and debris fields that are aggregates of the natural and artificial. I was exploring a large mound near the railroad bridge and came across this large, wooden, manmade structure that was laying partially exposed. I was curious about what this could be and so I picked a route over the driftwood to take a better look.

Walking carefully to the other side, I discovered that this wooden structure is a fairly long boat dock that the river had claimed. I was taken by the dock and its visual proximity to the railroad bridge. The idea that this could make a nice location for another site specific work soon came to mind. I have been having fun making images and assemblages of plastic bottles that washed into here and looking around…well, despite the overwhelming browness…there is also a lot of colorful plastic mixed into here.

What I could see was a “wealth” of green plastic soft drink bottles that lemon/lime carbonated beverages come in. So, I walked around the mound and boat dock and collected all the green bottles I could find. In the interest of full disclosure…there are also a few green glass bottles in here, but 95% of them are plastic. My idea was to activate this area by massing all the green bottles I could collect and store them “inside” the boat dock. Here are several views of what this looked like after I was finished.

The wooden dock echoes the structure of the bridge behind it. I feel that this site specific piece successfully worked with its immediate environment. The green of the bottles plays against the verdant green of the vegetation. As of this posting, this artwork is still intact. Many things I make out here are either destroyed by visitors or eventually fall apart on their own. If you were looking at this dock from the other side…nothing would betray the surprise that exits on the flip side. Here’s a few more views of my plastic green bottles piece. I’m needing a good title for this one, but nothing has registered with me yet.

While I was searching through the debris field, I was also looking for lost flip-flops. I found a nice number of them consisting of all sizes and colors which I stored in my collecting bag. After finishing the idea I had for the bottles…I looked around for another location to do a flip-flops site specific piece. My search took me to the nearby fossil outcropping and rocks. I emptied my bag upon the rocks and played around with several configurations until I hit upon something I found visually interesting.

I arranged the sandals from right foot to left and from largest to smallest. The oval shape echoes some of the ancient coral forms present in the rocks which date back to the Devonian Age over 350 million years a go. One of my all time favorite fossil discoveries was made in Laetoli, Tanzania by famed archaeologist Mary Leakey in 1978. She found preserved in hardened volcanic ash, a set of bipedal hominid footprints of a possible family group that dates back 3.7 million years and at the time were the world’s oldest human-like footprints. Flash forward to the present, these flip-flops are the descendants of those ancient tracks. When I’m out on the rocks at the Falls of the Ohio…I often think about how deep time is and how far back the history of life goes.

June is already shaping up to be a rather interesting month at the Falls of the Ohio and I will be interacting with the park in some different ways than I usually do. More about that as the month progresses. For now, I will end with one more image of my flip-flops piece as I left it upon this ancient landscape. See you later!

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The Disquieting Rainbow

Posted in Art, art and environment, Art and Nature, Artist at Exit 0, assemblage art, creativity, deer skull, driftwood, environmental art, Falls of the Ohio, Found objects, Green, lost and found, plastic, Plastic art, sense of place, Site specific art, tagged Absurd, Art, art and nature, art and the environment, art process, artist at exit 0, Beach combing, collecting, creative process on May 25, 2015| 2 Comments »

May has turned into a productive month for me. If April was defined by rain and flooding…May has been on the dry side. This break in the weather (along with the nice coolness of Spring) has me out at the river at every available chance. Friends of mine already think that I live out here, but that’s far from the case. I wish I could physically be out here more because I don’t tire of the park and I find enough stuff to keep me busy. The reality is I’m lucky to make it out here on the weekends and holidays. Over the years, I’ve established routines and I know the place so well that as I walk along, I’m strategizing on what can be done with the materials that I find at various locations. The digital part is done from home.

In the aftermath of our most recent flooding, a great amount of wood and manmade debris has settled into the park. I find something interesting to me most everywhere I look. Here’s another Sand Rose that I encountered, blooming among the driftwood. This blossom has fabric-like petals and lacks the wonderful perfume that more conventional roses possess.

Covered in burrs and various plant seeds is this plush parrot that I found intertwined in the driftwood. Lost toys are evocative and in this case, I’m also reminded that 2016 will mark the centennial of the extinction of the Carolina Parakeet which was this country’s only native member of the parrot family. Both the Passenger Pigeon and Carolina Parakeet passed from existence within a couple of years of one another in the same small aviary that now stands as a memorial to them at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Walking through the driftwood I found this intact and antlered deer skull which is a first for me. I have found other white-tail deer skulls before, but they all were from does. Over the years , I have found deer remains out here in the wake of flooding. Perhaps the most memorable experience happened about twenty years a go. While hiking with a friend, we came to an area where we could smell the sickly sweet odor from something decomposing, but searching the grounds we weren’t able to locate the unfortunate creature. By chance, I happened to look up where the smell seemed the strongest and discovered a deer carcass that was lodged in a tree about 12 feet or so off the ground. Of course, it found its way there when the river was high and became stranded when the river receded. At the Falls of the Ohio State Park you are likely to find unexpected things snagged in the willows.

Over the last few weeks, I have been “playing around” more with the brightly colored plastic elements that wash into the park. I find these site specific compositions rather fun and provoking to do. Usually, all the plastic elements that the river delivers become somewhat unified and integrated within the matrix of mud, wood, and other detritus. I believe this thorough mixing keeps people from seeing the true extent these artificial materials and objects are present in the free world. By choosing to concentrate on a color, like red in this case, I hope to call attention to these materials in a novel way. This piece started with the nailed together wood frame I found on the driftwood pile. There are also lots of milled and used lumber elements in the mix too. Building on previous pieces I did with other colors, I decided to see how much red was in this given area. “Red Composition” was the result. With red being such a popular color…I thought I would come across more red than I actually did. What I did find seemed subject to bleaching in the sun and made me wonder if red plastic was in general use less because of the fugitive nature of the pigments? Next time I’m at the grocery store I will test this theory more. Among my red finds of the day include an old flashlight body that had filled with dirt and had a small willow tree growing out of it. Here’s another example of a plastic composition I did on this particular day.

This is another in a series I have been calling “Petroleum Rainbows”. I started with the wooden bench I found in the immediate area and set it up near the riverbank in the willow habitat. I gathered all the brightly colored items I could find tangled in the driftwood and sitting on the sandy beach and of course most of them are made from plastic. Testing my fugitive color theory, I did notice a prevalence for the colors green, black, blue, yellow, and white. Red, orange, and purple were a little harder to come by. I filled the top of the bench with my river finds and loosely organized it to resemble a color spectrum. As one Facebook observer noted with a little ire, my colors don’t follow the red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet scheme of a true rainbow. I have done this intentionally as a further provoking element. Beyond the surface attraction of this party-colored plastic, the brain does register that something is not quite right here which is the feeling I want to leave the observer with…hence, disquieting rainbow. I made this piece a couple of weeks a go and it has remained relatively intact. I have been busy at the Falls and have more to show, but will wait a bit before posting those projects. I hope everyone out there is having a nice Memorial Day holiday. See you next time from the Falls of the Ohio State Park.

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Plastic Color Concentrate

Posted in Art, Artist at Exit 0, Clarksville, driftwood, Falls of the Ohio, Installation, Louisville, old refrigerator, photography, plastic, public art, repurposed materials, Styrofoam, tagged Absurd, art and nature, art and the environment, art exhibition, art process, art studio, artist at exit 0, Beach combing, blue, collecting, creative process, driftwood, flip flops, plastic bottles, plastic containers, yellow on May 4, 2015| 4 Comments »

April’s tale was of a high Ohio River and rain fall for the record books. Twice the river rose to flood stage before subsiding back into its muddy banks. Left in its now drying wake are trash mounds and islands of wood and debris that were pushed and floated upon the water’s surface by wind and current. In this mish mash of culture and nature I carefully pick my way over and through the debris fields at the Falls of the Ohio. All along the riverbank, the dull and muddy colored wood contrasts with the reflected light from hundreds of plastic bottles and chunks of bright white Styrofoam.

I picked a great day to visit the river. As soon as I arrived in the park, I could hear several newly arrived male Northern Orioles calling back and forth through the tall cottonwood trees. I even found several eggs. Here is a large blue plastic egg nestled in shredded tree bark and plastic bottles. I also found a muddy, but real Canada goose egg now too cool to incubate. There was an adult goose hanging out near me and I suspect some early nesters had their clutch washed away by the second flood. I decided with so much brightly colored plastic scattered all over this woody mound…I wondered if I could put any of it to use?

As you can see in this detail image…I decided to concentrate on the color yellow. I stayed within a certain area and collected all the yellow objects on this driftwood mound. It was tricky work because the footing was not good. Several times I sank to my hip as my leg would go through the loosely tangled branches, dirt, and logs.

I call this piece “Yellow Concentrate”. It consists of mostly plastic, quart-sized oil containers along with a few larger laundry detergent jugs. There are a few odd items as well. I found three rubber ducks on today’s adventure and used two of them here. I used a bowl-like depression in the driftwood as my setting to assemble and sort through the junk. I was glad to have the wooden platform in the foreground because it was also easy on the feet.

This site gave me potential for a few good views. Here is “Yellow Concentrate” with the railroad bridge in the background.

Now here’s the same piece with the skyline of the City of Louisville on the southern shore. All that massed yellow really pops you in the eye. Individually, all these yellow plastic containers barely registered scattered across the debris field, but it’s a different story when you bring them together. Feeling pretty good about yellow…I decided to next try a different color.

As I was collecting all the yellow containers…I was also sorting out the blue ones and throwing them in the driftwood bowl. On a nearby fallen, diagonally leaning tree trunk…I arranged my collection. The big blue Easter egg is near the center. As I worked on “Blue Extract”, the hole I was standing in kept getting wider and deeper.

Most of these containers are plastic oil and liquid detergent bottles, but I mixed a few aerosol cans in as well. In this line are seven plastic and rubber balls. One last project before calling it a day. I stayed in the same area and pulled aside all the lost flip-flops I encountered. I laid them all out on the white surface of a metal refrigerator that had floated in here with the last flood. It looked like the Shoe Shaman had been this way too.

The stark whiteness of the fallen refrigerator reminded me of the white pedestals that you would find in an official gallery. I organized the lost foot wear from smallest to largest, left to right. I soon left for home with a hefty collecting bag full of “river treasure” and a camera loaded with images. Every thing else was left in place. I will come back when the river level drops a little bit more and the fudge-like mud has had the chance to harden in the sun. There is still so much more to explore in the park and can see myself keeping busy for the rest of the year. Here’s one last look over the shoulder at today’s location at the Falls of the Ohio. I realized after the fact, that the found milk crate I used to move materials around was so bright red that it holds its place among the yellow and blue. Until next time!

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From the River’s Heart

Posted in Art, art and the environment, nature, Photograpy, tagged Absurd, Art, art and nature, art and the environment, art journey, art process, art studio, artist at exit 0, bottle of pebbles, Carnegie Center for Art and History, creative process, driftwood, Falls of the Ohio, found materials, lost and found, plastic, plastic heart, railroad bridge, sense of place, Styrofoam on January 19, 2015| 20 Comments »

Happy 2015 to all from the Falls of the Ohio State Park! This is my first post of the new year which has started auspiciously for me. I am happy to report that I found a new day job! I am the new Coordinator of Public Programs and Engagement at the Carnegie Center for Art and History in New Albany, Indiana. About this time last year I was showing my own river art at this organization. It’s funny how things worked out…I had a feeling that my opportunities were leading me to the north bank of the Ohio River and that’s what happened. I found this plastic heart in the mud of the Indiana riverbank about a week before I was offered the job. I wonder if it has significance?

My relationship with the Carnegie Center for Art and History goes back to the early 1990’s when as a staff member at the Louisville Visual Art Association I helped to install the Indiana version of the Children’s Free Art Classes on the Carnegie Center’s gallery walls. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to have exhibited my own work here with the latest being the Potential in Everything show with Michael Wimmer that was up this time last year! There has to be a lot of serendipity in play here for all the stars to line up as they did and so I am feeling it was meant to be. I will be creating new workshop opportunities and other programming to help the center with its community-minded mission. It’s a new challenge for a new year!

With the new job and a recent cold spell I haven’t had the opportunity to visit the river until this three-day weekend. I heard that 2014 was the warmest year ever recorded across the globe. Today our temps are in the low 50’s which is quite a change from the teens we just experienced. I grabbed my walking stick and collecting bag and made a day at the river. I have been doing various bottle projects and here is a new one. I found a plastic liquor bottle that still had its cap on it. It’s interesting to note that most bottles I find with screw-top bottle caps are discarded with their caps on. By a deposit of Ice Age gravel, I was able to fill the bottle with river-tumbled white and pale yellow quartz pebbles. Not sure how I will use this, but will probably factor into a new artwork soon. Being outside on such a fine day is something else I wish I could bottle for future use when the cold, damp, and gray returns. For now I place the bottle in my collecting bag and move on. There are other things to find and discover.

Next to the flattened top of an aluminum can I found this small, partial jaw bone. I think it’s from a skunk or some other small carnivore, but will need to check the dentition more carefully. After taking this picture, I picked the mandible up and placed it into my bag. This find will factor into something else I put together before day’s end.

The mud and melting ice made checking out the river’s edge problematical and so I headed up the riverbank and into the willow trees. I visited my outdoor atelier and decided to do a little “house cleaning”. I swept the leaves and dirt off of the circular metal platform that has been here for several years. If I could have figured out how to get this object home, I probably would have done so by now. As it is, I like using it as a work surface and place to sit. My other stashed materials are nearby. To me, the platform is still a “U.F.O.”…which stands for “Unknown Floating Object”. I think it has something to do with mooring barges, but could be wrong about that. I also like that it adds a stage-like presence and helps define one small area at the Falls.

Standing on the platform and facing the river, if I look to my left I see the old railroad bridge. There were several trains that went back and forth while I was occupied. The railroad is part of the atmosphere of the place. A large and partially burned log occupies the space between the platform and the bridge. I straightened out my stick and root collection and sorted them on the platform. I then rediscovered my Styrofoam collection. Every time I walk the river, I find new river-polished pieces and add them to this assemblage. There is simply more here than I can use at a time and so anyone is welcome to try making something from what has been gathered.

I grab a few rounded pieces from the collection and decide to construct a figure from what I have here and in the bag. I decide which shapes and forms would make good heads and bodies and set them aside. Once in a great while, some other creative souls find my larder and make something of their own from this junk. I like it when people see the opportunity here.

I usually like starting with the head first. It’s where the most information is focused and my Styro-figures share this with archaic works and folk art. In the case of this figure, I decided on another shape for the head. Collected bits of plastic and potential facial elements are placed into a found plastic bowl. I will decide the features of today’s figure from what I’ve gathered today. Here’s a sequence showing the progression of how the head evolved including what already looks like a found face in the bowl.

The found mandible has a new home on this piece. I split the bottom from an aluminum can to make the ears which does give this figure a monkey-like quality to it. The eyes are a white, plastic bottle cap and the green, plastic bead from a child’s toy. I found two expressive sticks for arms and set the figure up as though it were sitting down with crossed legs. Here are images of this piece finished on site.

I had the best time today. There is still lots of winter before us, but this weekend’s respite helped connect me to the river for the first time this year. I will be curious to see if we even have one decent snow fall this season? Whatever happens during 2015, I will take it all in stride. The year is already off to a positive start! I think I will leave it at that and sign off until next time from the Falls of the Ohio.

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The Sun is Up and the River is Down

Posted in Absurd, Art, art and environment, birding, creativity, ecosytem, environmental art, Falls of the Ohio, nature, nature photography, Ohio River, public art, recycled art, sculpture, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged Art, art process, birds, creative process, driftwood, Falls of the Ohio, found materials, nature, outdoor art studio, photography, recycled materials, sense of place, Styrofoam on February 9, 2013| 11 Comments »

The sun is up and this is supposed to be the pick of the weekend. So, a quick breakfast and cup of coffee and I’m out the door as soon as I can manage it. I arrive at the Falls and there is still frost on the driftwood which vanishes except where the deep shadows shade the tiny ice crystals from the warmth of the light. The Ohio River is noticeably down and I find a way to access the narrow sliver of land that is now high and dry…well nearly. An occasional patch of sticky mud remains where a pool of water lingered longer than the rest of the river did.

I brought a large and empty collecting bag. I’m anticipating finding some river treasures to fill it… which I do by day’s end. As expected, the landscape is different, but the same. Meaning there is lots of driftwood in a wide variety of sizes with plenty of other junk mixed in. What is different is the exact context that had existed before is now rearranged. Big logs have floated to new positions and have been added to by wood originating upstream from Louisville and southern Indiana. I feel slightly guilty enjoying such a sunny day when I have friends on the east coast that are covered by the deep snow that fell yesterday.

During bouts of high water, stuff gets snagged in tree branches. I do a little promenade through this frayed rope archway formed by the river. It’s muddier under the railroad bridge, but the biggest tangle of catch-all driftwood is also here. My site is just over this wooden mound and I wonder how it has fared?

Along the way, I keep an eye out for birds like this female Downy Woodpecker investigating the furrows in tree bark. I see a Belted Kingfisher, a Red-winged Blackbird, flocks of Canada Geese which are year round residents, Carolina Chickadees, and a Peregrine Falcon flying parallel with the river. Usually, nature’s colors are subtle this time of year, but I also find this silly bird. It’s bright non-naturalistic color is a quick tip-off that it is probably made from plastic.

I find lots of other plastic items particularly toys, but I will wait until later in the week to post those finds. I did pick up this lucky duck to add to my expanding collection. I like the two walnuts next to the duck. How often have I used walnuts as a gauge for scale?

We are nearly there…just under the willow trees. Be careful of stepping on milled boards for they are the ones harboring bent and rusty nails. The sun has climbed higher in the sky and I’m getting warmer. This bear hat of mine is getting hotter, but I am glad I had it with me earlier in the day.

We have arrived…this is my old spot. I guess I was partly right. The river did reach my outdoor studio, but the water didn’t spread last year’s Styrofoam too widely. The riverbank is slightly higher here and that makes a difference. Walking carefully over the driftwood, I search over and under the wood. Before too long, I am able to corral my wayward polystyrene. I do a little “house keeping” and try to create a semblance of order under the willow trees.

I find not only much of last year’s Styrofoam, but some new pieces as well. I empty out my collecting bag and add to the pile. Interestingly, I did not find any really big sections and hopefully that bodes well for the river at large. Some of the pieces I have here I have recycled many times before to make new figures. I will try to embed these bright white shapes into my subconscious with the hope of creating new and interesting combinations with them. I’m going to leave it here for now. My next post will be a show and tell featuring some of the other items I picked up along the way and put into the old collecting bag. See you then?

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Bonus Feature #301…How to Make a Styro-Bird

Posted in animal art works, Art, art and environment, birds and birding, creativity, ecosytem, environmental art, Falls of the Ohio, nature photography, Originality, public art, recycled art, Styrofoam, tagged Art, artist at exit 0, bird art, creative process, creativity, Falls of the Ohio, found materials, nature, photography, recycled materials on June 2, 2012| 7 Comments »

I enjoy processes and since I had additional images relating to my last post…I thought I would throw them in for fun. I also harbor this very idealistic idea that everyone is born creative…it’s just that most people don’t view themselves in this way which I believe is at the heart of our environmental dysfunction and a great shame. Somehow we have replaced creating with consuming. The following images hopefully show that you can create magic out of nothing. There isn’t anything technical happening here. If you can do Mr. Potato Head than you have the basic idea behind creating this bird. The materials are not manipulated greatly. I like nature to form the shapes I use. The only carving involved is in cutting slots into the body to hold the wings. I did shave away one wing to make it thinner. I did poke holes in the head for the eyes. I shortened the willow roots for the legs and the beak is held in place with a wooden peg just as the head attaches with its own little stick which also helps the head to swivel. Now I know this sounds a bit flip, but the hard part is seeing the possibility behind something that’s intrinsically worthless and imagining what else this could be? Looking at the following series of images at home, I’m struck by the altar quality of the log I have spread out my materials on at my temporary outdoor studio. I do feel that being an artist is a reverential activity. I like to think my “art” is somehow in the service of life. I believe you will recognize most of the components of this bird, but they include Styrofoam, wood bark, dried willow rootlets, the plastic nose cone of a small bottle rocket, plastic and foam “gaskets”, and charcoal for the eyes. All materials were found on site at the river. I found the little bowl that morning and it’s great to hold the little pieces I use. I’m not a great photographer in the classic sense in that I don’t concern myself greatly with exposures and settings. My camera is set on automatic. I do, however, try to create an interesting image or composition that “says” something to me about that day and this place. Give it a try…it’s fun to do!

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Siren Song

Posted in Absurd, animals, Art, art and environment, birding, creativity, ecosytem, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Louisville, Kentucky, nature photography, Ohio River, Originality, public art, recycled art, sculpture, Styrofoam, watershed, tagged Art, creative process, Falls of the Ohio, Ohio River, site specific art, Styrofoam on June 18, 2010| 2 Comments »

I left the “Petro-totem” sculpture on a small island created by the tenacity of a willow’s roots. Living this close to the river is an invitation to disaster. Sooner or later the river will wash away this little refuge, but for now we are okay. Or are we?

The first two images in this post were taken on a Saturday when everything seemed relatively well. When I returned the following morning, severe thunderstorms had drenched our region. The river level was noticeably higher. The sounds of normal life were rudely interrupted by the sound of the dam’s siren letting more water under the gate. A tremendously powerful torrent is created when so much water is let loose. While I went about my scavenging, I made a mental note as the river crept closer and closer to my sculpture. Here are pictures of what I mean.

The large decaying log was lifted off the shore and began to drift away.

Meanwhile, the surging river was getting my sculpture’s feet wet.

It didn’t take long before the large log started moving in rhythm with the waves and entered the periphery of the camera’s lens. Although I didn’t hang out to witness the ceremonial washing away of the sculpture, I’m fairly sure it’s gone now. It wasn’t an especially glad looking creation.

Before the river reclaimed this section of the shoreline, I did come across this pair of toy binoculars. All around me, Rough-winged swallows were picking off small insects including the left-overs of the latest may fly hatch.

I was frustrated by trying to look through the faux field glasses. When I peeked through the eyepieces, all I could see was the river water that had seeped through the plastic seams. More river discoveries and Styrofoam sculptures in the next Falls of the Ohio adventure!

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Genus Polystyrenus

Posted in Absurd, animal art works, Art, art and environment, creativity, ecosytem, environmental art, Falls of the Ohio, fresh water, Louisville, Kentucky, nature, Ohio River, Originality, public art, recycled art, sculpture, Styrofoam, tagged Art, bologna, creative process, creativity, Falls of the Ohio, insects, Louisville, nature, recycled materials, Styrofoam on April 23, 2010| 9 Comments »

Dodging snakes and collecting washed up cigarette lighters with my friend Jeff was not the only action we had on this excursion to the Falls of the Ohio. By now, I should not be surprised by what turns up at this remarkable location…because it happens with such regularity. For me, the thrill of discovery has become addictive and interwoven into my creative process. Recalling events, I believe it was my friend Jeff who stumbled upon this revolting artifact and so I will begin this story here.

It’s a very large jar of bologna. The contents have more than settled, in fact they have decayed to the point of becoming cream of bologna. I know, this is completely disgusting, but bear with me for the real point of the story follows this discovery. It was a short distance from this jar that we encountered another remarkable member of the Genus Polystyrenus.

Hidden just out of sight among the debris line was this very large and aggressive looking insect. I estimate that this impressive creature was about two feet long. It would be an under estimation to say that both Jeff and I were taken aback (how we both avoided voiding our bladders upon our persons, I will never know). After what seemed a very long length of time, the amateur naturalist in me took over and I began taking photographs and making observations. Here’s a detail of its head and impressive jaws. It’s small antennae were wiggling back and forth.

Looking at the mandibles, I’m guessing that this creature had adapted to eating meat or carrion, both of which are found at the Falls. It emitted a sickly sweet odor. I think our large bug friend had discovered the bologna jar before we did and we may have interrupted its meal? Because this ant-wasp, (seems to have characteristics of both) did not defend its bologna bode well for Jeff and I. In fact, we did learn that despite its fearsome appearance our bug friend was retiring and unaggressive. I decided to tag along and learn what I could about this amazing one of a kind animal.

From a short distance away, I was able to observe some behaviors that I recorded with my camera. I believe that my assumption about it’s being a scavenger is on target. I watched our insect “friend” actively investigating an old bone it had come across. The bone was rolled around in its jaws as though our bug was tasting it? Finding no meat, it simply dropped the bone. I also noted that this creature has vestigial wings that have atrophied to a yellow flap found attached to the rear of its thorax and ironically has the appearance of a fly swatter. Perhaps its large size makes flight an impossibility and the wings have shrunk to the present size?

Near the tree line, and keeping a respectful distance away, I observed Polystyrenus investigating a large plastic pipe mostly buried in the sand. It did attempt to dig away the sand blocking the entrance to the pipe, but soon abandoned this effort. I don’t want to assume too much, but I was intuiting at the time that it was looking for a burrow in which to hide, etc… I did make a discreet effort to determine its gender, but was unsuccessful. Here’s my last picture of it.

Amazingly, our bug was making short work from what was once a large barge cable that was originally as thick as a stout man’s forearm. It’s jaws easily shredded the nylon strands. Why it was doing this…will require more research. Shortly after this image was taken, the sound of loud, boorish people coming down the riverbank spooked our insect and it took off with surprising speed over the sandy surface of the Falls. Perhaps it understood that Jeff and I posed no threat, but it couldn’t be certain of the strangers? During the short amount of time I was studying this creature I also noted that it didn’t have claws to speak of and didn’t possess a stinger. Perhaps I will encounter this insect or other large insect species again because this is not the only time I have come across similar giants. Take a look at these specimens for which the genus Polystyrenus was originally named.

This has been classified as Polystyrenus ichthyphagia, based in part on this remarkable photograph of it feeding on a non-native, dead fish. I made this discovery several years a go…in fact, it is with some regret that I collected (euphemism for killed) this specimen and one other that turned out to be a male and female. This was done of course in the name of science. The one feeding on the fish is the female. Note the flute-like ovipositor and vestigial wings which made a raspy sound. The mouth parts on P. icthyphagia have adapted for sucking. Why these large insects have appeared at the Falls is inconclusive. But I believe this is evolution at work. The more we change our environment, the more we affect not only ourselves but all the other creatures that call this place home. It can’t help to release tons of fireworks chemicals into the atmosphere and what we do with the water in general is a crime. I will leave my soap box for the moment. I suppose the reason that these giant insects have evaded previous detection is that they so strongly imitate garbage and detritus that they can elude most people’s notice. Here’s a photograph of the dried and preserved male and female P. ichthyphagia with its egg case. There is some sexual dimorphism with the male being considerably smaller than the female. These specimens are in separate collections now. The name Polystyrenus was chosen because the exoskeletons of these amazing insects so strongly resembles polystyrene, also generically known as Styrofoam. The largest bug here is over three feet long.

As a kid, I fell in love with one particular story that appeared in an old Natural Geographic entitled “Giant Insects of the Amazon”. Its author, Paul Zahl must have had the best job in the world to be able to travel to exotic places to study rare and unusual animals. I suppose, I’m doing something similar, but I’m not traveling far from home and making my own giants. Here’s the last picture of how I began the latest Polystyrenus receiving inspiration from the materials I find on location. Although I didn’t use all the stuff here…it provided a template of sorts.

I dedicate this post to Julia Oldham, bug lover and current artist in residence at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in nearby Clermont, Kentucky.

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Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog

Art and images from the Falls of the Ohio.

Posts Tagged ‘creative process’

Green Bottles and Flip-Flops

The Disquieting Rainbow

Plastic Color Concentrate

From the River’s Heart

The Sun is Up and the River is Down

Bonus Feature #301…How to Make a Styro-Bird

Siren Song

Genus Polystyrenus

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