Weaving Structure
Presenting
Interviewing Beekeepers
On the Loom
In my junior year of my Integrated Design program I studied the potential benefits of propolis through the fabrication of a fabric plant pot. Propolis is a byproduct that honeybees create as glue for their hives. When honey is harvested by beekeepers, they often will harvest some of the propolis as well. Propolis has been found to have varying anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant effects on human health. I was introduced to propolis through another course I took junior year called Honeybee Colonies where we studied the entymolygy of honeybees and culture and history of beekeeping.
The idea to create a plant pot with fibers soaked in propolis came from my inability to keep house plants alive. They always end up getting root rot. I wondered if there was any benefit to housing a plant in a propolis infused environment. I created a propolis solvent by melting it in heated ethanol, then soaked recycled fibers in the solvent. Then I hand wove the fibers in a honeycomb inspired pattern.
For the presentation of my project, I created themed posters to document my research and creation. I was inspired by historical honey packaging and Constructivist graphic styles.
