September 1st is Diabetes Art Day, a fabulous idea by Lee Ann Thill at The Butter Compartment. Below are photographs of my contribution, Basal Insulin, Bolus Insulin, a temporary mixed-media installation. I always knew that I would use those fifty or so insulin vials for an art project, but I needed a little nudge to translate the raw materials into a finished project. (Thanks, Lee Ann!)
I collected the vials over 26 months of “hormone replacement therapy.” The insulin they contained influences so many choices in my life, not the least of which is picking which food to eat. Low carb. Sugar-free. Sugar substitute. Simple sugar. High fiber. Original, decadent, carb-heavy. Whatever it may be, insulin supports the choice.
Basal Insulin, Bolus Insulin #1 (2010)
Basal Insulin, Bolus Insulin #2 (2010)
Basal Insulin, Bolus Insulin #3 (2010)
Basal Insulin, Bolus Insulin #4 (2010)
Basal Insulin, Bolus Insulin #5 (2010)
Basal Insulin, Bolus Insulin #6 (2010)
Basal Insulin, Bolus Insulin #7 (2010)
Basal Insulin, Bolus Insulin #8 (2010)
Basal Insulin, Bolus Insulin #9 (2010)
Basal Insulin, Bolus Insulin #10 (2010)
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Those look so cool! I thought I was the only one with several years worth of empty insulin bottles destined to become art! I do love the Humalog bottles too – the maroon is so striking, and reminds me of blood. The last couple of years I’ve been using Novalog because my health insurance company changed their preferred medication list. My contempt for them ruining my beautiful collection of Humalog bottles by forcing my hand to get ugly Novalog bottles persists.
I love these photos… very striking, and a great concept
Thanks so much for participating in Diabetes Art Day!
Very thought-provoking, indeed.
Fantastic images.
Captivating indeed
These are awesome! I love the variety of foods that you included.
these are great! i really like the concept and the way you put it together
V.
ps- i too have tonnes of vials
Thanks, everyone, for the kind words. I very much enjoyed making this series, and I was a bit hungry when I finished.
I had a lot of different thoughts about how to use the insulin vials. There may be another series in the future. One of those ideas — the most ambitious one — was inspired by Marcel the Shell with Shoes On and was going to star Violet the Vial with . . . not quite sure what she’d be wearing. But that would have taken a lot more time than I had. But who knows; one day we may see a talking insulin vial star in her own stop-action short.
This is an awesome series, Jeff.
My first thought for an art project was that they’d make for an awesome bottle tree. You could go traditional, but I really like this one.
I love the imagery it creates and how it speaks. It looks phenomenal.
Wow, this is brilliant. What an awesome photo series. I enjoyed each and every picture – and am extra impressed when I think about how long it probably took to set each photo up. Especially the blueberry one – each little berry is so perfectly placed. Love it!!
This is great!
And now I’m hungry.