Artist Ingrid Goldbloom Bloch has been making green waves with her innovative eco-approach to sculpture and jewelry-making. The self-taught artist works with a combination of found and recycled objects to create her provocative art. Her popular Trashy Lingerie series comments on the discomfort of pursuing societal ideals of femininity through the discomfort of push-up bras, lingerie and high heels. We caught up with Ingrid to ask her a few questions about her recycled underwear.
Tell us a bit about the materials you use.
I love common objects. I find them beautiful. I use materials that one would find at the hardware store or lying around the house (or the street). For example, I made a teapot out of steel nuts; drain covers, washers and an egg whisk. I have a steamy lingerie piece made out of radiator covers and steamer baskets. I made a vessel series using vinyl-plumbing tubing, fishing line and yarn scraps.
My most popular materials to work with have been steel nuts, vinyl plumbing tubing and soda cans.
Do you only work with reclaimed materials?
It is usually a mixture of found objects and items purchased from the hardware store. For example in my Trashy Lingerie series I used soda cans that were salvaged and then perused the isles of the hardware store to find something that looked like elastic (dryer vents) and garter clips (washing machine hose clamps).
My recent work is a jewelry line that combines sterling silver with common hardware store materials.
Tell us about the Trashy Lingerie line.
This has been my most fun series to date. When I first tried on a “wonder bra” I found the entire push-up contraption to be uncomfortable. I thought of how people (women) will sacrifice comfort in pursuit of looking sexy or stylish (pointy toed shoes, high heels, sexy lingerie). I had the idea to use very hard materials to make something that is soft and feminine. The result was my “Trashy Lingerie” and “A Clean Pair For Every Day Of The Week” series made out of soda cans. There is also my “Steamy Lingerie” series made out of radiator covers and steamer baskets and other pieces made out of bobby pins, steel nuts, vinyl plumbing tubing and steel screening.
My goal has been simply to have people look at common objects in a new way. I find that by making a recognizable object out of something completely incongruous to what one would think it makes people do a double take and perhaps pay more attention to the materials and subject matter.
How many pieces have you made?
I have made 24 pieces of lingerie. I also have an Urn Series, a Teapot Series, a Jewelry Line and abstract sculptures.
All panties and bras? Anything for men?
All bras, panties, bustiers and garters and even a Merkin of bobby pins. I haven’t made anything for men because the whole premise was based on women’s beauty, comfort and the contrast of masculine materials with feminine objects.
What are the pieces made from?
My Trashy Lingerie series is made from soda cans that have been cut into strips and woven into gutter guard. I use flattened steel rods for the trim along with pieces of dryer vents. The entire piece is then riveted together. I used Native American bead stitches to weave together hundreds of steel nuts and vinyl plumbing tubing pieces.
How long does it take to make a bra or pair of underwear?
It varies greatly depending on the type of materials I am using. The hard part is figuring out all of the technical details. There is a lot of trial and error in getting the shapes symmetrical and making sure each piece looks finished. There is a lot of starting, stopping, throwing out, swearing and starting again.
Once I have figured out the technical aspects of the construction the assembly falls into place. It takes about a month to make a Bustier. A pair of underpants takes 13 hours to weave and about 6-8 hours to assemble. My rule of thumb is to add 3 days to whatever time estimate I have in mind!
Are the lingerie items designed to be worn?
No, they are meant to be displayed as sculpture. However, I am constantly asked that question and I am contemplating a new series that can be modeled.
To see more of Ingrid's work visit: www.Ingridgoldbloombloch.com and www.flickr.com/photos/ingridgoldbloombloch/
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