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found art
a magical find in our backyard, under the magnolia tree...
looking through the scanner lens, closer
and closer, enthralled by the delicate weaving
like that of the finest master weavers...
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 27, 2007 10:25 PM
Comments
Wow! My friend found a piece of that stuff in the park a couple weeks back. They should employ wasps to make paper! :)
Posted by: erika | 00:15 28 May 2007
The striping is so beautiful. It looks like the most delicate paper mache
Posted by: Claire | 04:53 28 May 2007
Oh. How really wonderful!
Posted by: Jean | 05:16 28 May 2007
That is amazing. The silkworms have got nothing on those wasps! Do you know what it's made from and how they do it?
Posted by: leslee | 06:51 28 May 2007
Thanks, all, for sharing my awe. The striping is what really amazed me, because wasp nests around here are usually gray. I haven't had the time to research what they're made from and how - any readers know? Dave?
Posted by: marja-leena | 13:25 28 May 2007
Is that an unusual scanner? It is so black of background, the nest lit like a planet.
Nice.
Posted by: Bill | 05:18 29 May 2007
Bill, interesting that you mention 'planet' - my husband saw these before they were cropped and cleaned and thought they looked like planets and stars (there were a lot of white specks all over from fine particles).
I have a regular flat-bed scanner. When I place objects on it, I have to leave the lid up and cover with a cloth instead. Here I had to set up some books around it as a 'cage' and lay the cloth over without touching the fragile nest pieces. I need to make a box frame for this purpose.
I rather enjoy the effect of a black cloth instead of a light coloured one. Reminds me of old Dutch paintings.
Posted by: marja-leena | 07:46 29 May 2007
What a lovely object. Their nests are made from paper produced by the wasps. They chew small amounts of wood and mix it with saliva to form a pulp which is added to the nest in thin strips. If the wood comes from different sources, like trees, reeds or garden fences, the paper is produced in different colours.
Posted by: Mr Zip | 17:59 29 May 2007
Mr Zip - thanks! I thought it might be something like that. They are amazing weavers indeed, first making their own fiber.
Posted by: marja-leena | 19:32 29 May 2007
Great pictures, M-L.
Posted by: Dave | 20:00 29 May 2007
Dave, thanks, glad you like them.
Posted by: marja-leena | 21:38 29 May 2007
Absolutely stunning. Nature is the greatest artist ever.
Posted by: Natalie | 06:45 02 June 2007
Natalie, glad you agree! It's really exciting to come across these finds, especially in one's own backyard. And then to have fun with the scanner.
Posted by: marja-leena | 08:37 02 June 2007
Beautiful! And your scans are masterful.
Posted by: MB | 11:03 06 June 2007
MB, thanks for the kind words and for visiting!
Posted by: marja-leena | 12:56 06 June 2007