Splored

The work installed at Splore 2015.

Bring On The Insects

The insect homes are all completed, boxed up and ready to go, all that is needed now are the insects.

More Tests

A few more test homes, it might now be possible to hang some of these from trees in the park for the festival, just awaiting for the final go ahead.

Latest Insect Home Tests

The photographs below are from some tests I have been doing with simple image transfers of photocopies to plywood, I haven't finished the process as they still need refining and varnishing, but I wanted to see how they would work with the laser cut insect home.

Making the Homes Comfortable

The aim of each of the insect homes is to try and encourage a single native species of insect to take up residency and this, from the little research I have done, will be difficult. But the plan at the moment is to try and replicate the natural habitat of the insect species in the box, so for the solitary bees it will be compacted sand to mimic their nesting areas. Weta on the other hand are one species that seems to be relatively easy to build a home for and there are plenty of places around New Zealand that provide weta hotels.

An actual Weta Hotel

Image Via http://www.childspace.co.nz/page/murals_streams__weta_hotels.html

Image Via http://www.childspace.co.nz/page/murals_streams__weta_hotels.html

Image Via http://www.childspace.co.nz/page/murals_streams__weta_hotels.html

Just Added Insects

Just Add Insects

Some of the different designs for the insect homes, all based on state houses, except one which is based on a workers cottage, these were the predecessors of state housing in New Zealand.

Why State Housing ?

The theme for Splore 2015 festival is 'Home' and I thought about a few different ideas before submitting 'Homes for Unsung Heroes'. The festival is held at Tapapakanga Regional Park, south of Auckland and so the idea for what called the area home lead to me thinking about the wildlife in the area and specifically insects.

This further developed into thinking about how they could be celebrated for the work they do, mostly unseen, in supporting a healthy ecosystem and in turn providing homes for them  to help maintain and build their numbers as their natural habitats come under increasing pressure for land.

State Housing seemed an obvious choice as they have been built across the country and come in a range of designs, shapes and sizes as family needs changed.

For more information on the history of state housing there is an interesting article of the New Zealand History website here.