clairewheatdesigns
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Cytology Collection
This collection harks back to my student days when I spent a lot of time studying cells under a microscope and being dazzled by their beauty, especially when they are artificially stained so that the component parts are visible,
There are 10 pieces in the collection, each about 250mm square and mounted on two long pieces of clear perspex, as if they were on the slides used for looking at them under a microscope. They are all machine embroidered.
Not for sale.
Inspired by Spirogyra (single celled organisms)
Orgnanzas cut and pieced with a soldering iron with additional "organelles" (all the things that keep a cell working) made from cut organza and cut Lutradur and embroidered.
Cell walls couched on afterwards.
HeLa cells
This piece was inspired by a book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot. It tells the remarkable story of how cancer cells were taken from Henrietta Lacks without her knowledge or consent and how, from these very agressive cells, scientists were able to reproduce cells in an artificial medium for the very first time. These cells became vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovering secrets of cancer, viruses, and the effects of the atom bomb. They helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. Yet Henrietta herself remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.
The cells are made from silk papers and embroidery mounted on distressed organza.
Stained cells
This piece was made by cutting back layers of organzas painted fabric and nets with a soldering iron, like reverse applique.
The cells are mounted on snow-dyed fabric.
Chromosomes
Painted Expandaprint and whip stitch were used to create the chromosomes and cell walls respecitively, on a backbround of fabric stippled with wet and dry Brusho.
Muscle cells
Centre cells made from embroidered and "crashed" fabric using Solufleece. Long fibres surrounding the cells made from twisted organzas overstitched by machine.
Golgi apparatus
These organelles are the sites of protein manufacture in the cells.
This piece was made entirely of tissue paper painted with diluted Brusho and scrunched and manipulated with a little oil to make it supple. Beads made from melted organza and lines of machine stitching were added.
Mitochondria
Vital organelles for respiration
Walls and crossbars made by machine stitching onto soluble fabric. Stiched onto fabric made from organza scraps, distressed with a heat gun. Whole pieces then stitched onto white fabric. coloured by painting Bondaweb and ironing it on when it was still wet.
Stomata
Structures on the leaves of plants to allow free transfer of gases for respiration and photosynthesis.
Made from the seedheads of Anemone japonica and wool tops trapped under chiffon. Mounted on procion dyed fabric.
Dispersed cells
The idea here was to depict cells when they had been separated by centrifugal force, but it turned out quite a long way from the original idea!
The cells were contructed with braids and stitching onto wool tops all onto soluble fabric. Mounted onto snow-dyed fabric.
Cells under the microscope
Made from slices of dried courgette stained with dye. Machine embroidered onto snow dyed fabric.