Valerie Cosgrave – Ireland

Dacrocyte

Category: Traditional

Description

This headpiece is inspired by the recent “Time’s Up” campaign where celebrities wore black to the 2018 Golden Globes to direct the public eye to the problem of sexual harassment.

My creation, Dacrocyte, represents the fusion of Millinery and Social Activism.

A Dacrocyte is a teardrop shaped cell which is present in the red cells of human blood.

This black headpiece is a skeletal Boater and a skeletal Eye with a single Bloodstained Teardrop.
The one area of substance is the Pupil, observing Cruelty and Corruption.
The single bloodstained teardrop represents the Oppressed.
The Boater is the foundation, highlighting and rejecting Mans’ Inhumanity to Man.

Materials

• 2 metres of firm, cotton covered millinery wire for boater
• 1/2 metre of firm cotton covered millinery wire for head band
• 1 metre of firm cotton covered millinery wire for eye
• Uncovered firm millinery wire for teardrop
• Jolly Tree Tie for wrapping wire
• The Jolly Tree Tie is made of 100% cotton from the textile industry
• Braiding and Hemp Braid to complete headpiece
• Lace to cover eyelid
• Vintage Swiss straw to cover teardrop wires
• Red bead Sewing kit

Techniques

• Wire sculpture.
• Long nosed pliers with wire cutting ability.
• Hand sewing