Thank you – to everyone who took part and to Titch and Sarah in particular for your help and encouragement.
If anyone would like to do something similar here is the list of ingredients and some instructions. If you’d like your nipples cast please contact me –
Ingredients
- star shaped cookie cutter/molds
- sheets
- Vaseline
- Liquid Vaseline
- alginate
- plaster
- water (cold)
- mixing bowls
- mixing spoons
- note book
Method
Suggest to a large group of people that they might want to have their nipples cast and made into stars for an art/protest project.
Explain what will happen and try to look less nervous, try not to spill things….
Pre-measure 12g quantities of alginate, one for each nipple. Chill the water. Gather all other equipment so that it’s easy to reach. Measure out cups containing 36ml of water, one to mix for each 12g of alginate. Lightly smear the insides of the molds with Vaseline.
For each person – set out a cover sheet, ask the person to cover both nipple and areola areas with a thin coat of vaseline. Ask them to lay down and hold a star mold over one nipple. Check that the mold is placed so that their nipple is central and move it if not – they won’t be able to see themselves. Check that it is level and that they are pressing it down firmly enough that there are no gaps but not so hard that it hurts. Use a cushion under their ribs to help keep the mold level.
Add one 12g pot of alginate to a bowl and add most of the water, mix rapidly to a smooth paste and mix in the remaining water. Quickly, carefully, pour the alginate into the moulds – double checking that they nipple is covered. Check the mold is fairly level. Ask the person to keep still. Use the setting time, 3 – 4 minutes, to wash the bowl and spoon and be ready for the second nipple.
Press the alginate down a little in the molds and add the mixed plaster – to mix the plaster use about 45g of plaster to 28ml of water for two nipples. Lightly brush the surface of the alginate with liquid Vaseline. Pour in carefully and leave to set for 30 to 40 mins – when firm push the alginate and plaster out of the star molds and set aside to dry. A second set can be made – a third one is possible occasionally. The alginate dries out steadily and the moisture is drawn out by the plaster. That causes the molds to shrink and to split – that can be reduced, just a little, by putting the molds containing the setting plaster in an box with some wet tissue.
Repeat the process and, if the person wants, take a couple of photos once the second mold is in place. Once the second mold is set ask the person to gently peel the molds away from their nipple – check for large air bubbles.
Repeat with lots of people.
Phil Pool - Art and Protest 