Lay me in the sawdust is a material research project focusing on the life cycle of wood - from a branch of a tree, to an object that can be used by a craftsperson, to woodworking and generating wood shavings and sawdust. At the point where the material is typically no longer used in the creative process when it turns to sawdust, this project aims to divert the waste and generate new ways of using it for creative purposes.
A tree – part of an ecosystem that is built from its surroundings and is a fixture of a natural community.
A fallen branch – a piece no longer connected to the life source, but that carries a unique history.
A working material – taking a natural element and reinterpreting it for different use; using the wood as a means for creative expression.
An experiment – finding new options for woodworking waste rather than discarding it.
A purpose - honouring the life of the wood and continuing the process of care through material transitions that are often neglected.
Once a piece of wood is in the hands of a designer/craftsperson, it has already lived a full life.
How can its properties and abilities be best respected during the creative process, so as to continue its life in a meaningful and sustainable way?
Bioplastics using gelatin, glycerin and sawdust explore new ways the sawdust can be used: turning a dust to a semi-liquid, moldable material that can take form of a container, be pressed into a flat sheet or hand constructed into a 3-dimensional form. The project culminated in a presentation and exhibition Thanks for Tuning in, at the 4th Space, Concordia University, Montreal.
