October 5 All the bits in the damp room,drying.

   I made a maquette of the bull kelp project.
   Scale approx 1 inch to 1 foot.
   (Final installation in 10 foot space.
   The floats of the kelp will be suspended at the 8 foot height,
   The holdfasts will be set on rocks at ground level.)
 
   Not everyone has access to plasticine from West Germany:)
   Yes, a thrift store find. I gave the bright colours to my grandson:)

  Glued the foam core with Liquid Nails....a strong choice.
  It is a challenge to position the pieces in a corner. (The fired clay  installation would work in either a linear or corner setting.)




Rocks were both natural and "made" of plasticine.
Natural rocks to be used in the final installation.

Stripped fine copper wire acts  as suspension line in the maquette.  Alternate suspension materials would be aircraft wire or  heavy weight "fish line" for the final clay project. I intend to fasten the lines to multiple points on strapping for attachment to the ceiling of the display area.


As with the final installation, each stalk or "stipe" of the bull kelp is made with multiple tubes. The "holdfast"(or foot of the algae) fastens to  rocks. The float is connected at the upper end of the stipe.  The blades of the algae are suspended at the same level as the float.


Each float and blade has several suspension points to maintain its position.
Miscellaneous notes: The growth of a kelp blade occurs at the point of connection of the stipe to the blade. Each kelp has a life span of up to two years. It's float contains enough carbon monoxide to kill a chicken. I am a bit sceptical of this last point because I know about the swimming prowess of chickens.
It's not impressive.
Humans have been known to pickle stipe rounds. No recorded mention of eating the floats:)