4,000.00

sculpture

materials: Twin Cities ash (ebonized) & South Dakota petrified wood.

A collaboration with the red-headed ash borer (Neoclytus acuminatus). This lil cutie is a longhorned beetle that lives in ash trees. Much of our material comes from the backyard throw-away pile at Wood From The Hood in South Minneapolis. Some of the ash is infested (or has been infested) with the ash borer. When we first started working with this ash, we immediately noticed the insect's work. The beetle larva leaves behind a vast complex of holes and tunnels, which we find to be fascinating. This piece was an effort to highlight the larva's work. 

Neoclytus also highlights two pieces of petrified wood from the missouri river in south dakota, 30 minutes from where I grew up. I cut and polished parts of it and attached it to the ash. 

The main large piece, with the two chunks of petrified wood, somehow slightly resembles the actual beetle with wings. This was unintentional. God-damned subconscious. Kinda sexy, kinda gross. Fully fascinating.

- Tyler