In previous years, I have been exploring the often hidden gifts from plants. I am in awe of their lives, interactions, their beauty, medicinal uses, and dye properties.
Recently I needed an alternative to plastic to create presentations like this, and an alternative to leather and cardboard for an art project. So now I am exploring the gifts of plants to create “bio-plastic” and “bio ‘leather'” and cardboard, that will not have negative effects on the health of our Planet. They are made from plant waste materials (like banana peels) and plants, that will be easily and completely conpostible.
Below are a few results of trying to make “leather.”
Except for the Banana peel control, the samples below are from plants that grow in our yard. Some of the samples turned out flexible like plastic or leather; some of them became stiff like cardboard. To each of these plant matters I added the same ratio of tapioca (as a binder), glycerin (for flexibility), and vinegar (to prevent molds). The properties of the plants themselves created the difference in texture, flexibility, and strength.
The video below shows me testing samples.
In the columns below, the picture in first column is of the source of the “leather,” as it grew in our Sedona garden. The second column shows how the plant was stored in my studio, and used for the “leather” sample. The third column shows the result of casting; the fourth column shows detail of the sample. The photos of the samples are taken with light behind them.
Clicking on a photo activates a Lightbox, enlarging the photos, with thumbnails below.
