Materials: Hog gut, horse hair, natural wool fibers, natural silk fibers, coffee, rust, wax bubbles, graphite, micro–slide, fabric, thread

Processes: Cutting, knotting, staining, drying, baking, sewing, pressing, painting, transferring book pages and rust with the absorbable material.

Concept: The study of hog gut began with my fascination of atlas moth cocoons. I was filled with desire and challenged myself to a replication of these small purse like forms. After creating 102 small purse forms; I began to assimilate other properties in the material and now it serves as metaphor in my work for hard to digest life episodes.

Reflections: The gut is an absorbable translucent material made from the collagenous fiber of the submucosa of certain animals. It is also used as a surgical suture material. Guts from the slaughter house are used in cosmetics, fuel, soaps and lubricants to name a few. As I work with natural materials I feel I absorbing information through my hands. Exploring the strengths and weakness of the material led to larger projects. Future plans are to use as an artist material and do a large painting and encase it in plexiglass housing away from humidity.

Curiosities: Can we grow this in a petri dish to not have an odor? Could it be used in other medical ways like a second skin, burn victims?

Artist Designer Name

Allison McElroy is a Professor of Painting and Drawing at Jacksonville State University. Her research of natural materials, such as hog gut, natural animal fibres, and soil from the earth, is introduced to her students through environmental class projects as well as the community through hands on and virtual workshops. McElroy introduced a course titled Biodesign, into the University Curriculum. The course bridges the Departments of Art, Biology and Applied Engineering. The platform as educator allows McElroy to seed the first generation of Biodesign thinkers and share the importance of interdisciplinary thinkers.