Iridessa (126) — Graciela Almazan
Artist
Graciela Almazan (24)
Materials Used
Acrylic Paint and Glitter Paint
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Describe your bug and its beauty
Iridessa is a glamorous girly who's exoskeleton is painted with deep blue, purple, and forest green hues. These rich colors are accompanied with hints of bright green and pink to make a balanced contrast between the darker colors vs these lighter ones. She also has a seam of glitter paint between her wings to create a physical texture that is pretty to look at and will reflect light. The veins of the wings are a combination of the bright pink and green used for the other small details. But here I blend them together at certain points as a way to guide the viewers eye though out the beautiful pattern. The paints used are also metallic so each shade has a glimmer and reflection to it that was only enhanced once the final, glossy top coat was applied. The last main detail to point out is of course the iconic big red eyes which also have a touch of glitter and metallic paint details that stand out against the creamy, sky blue and deep purple hues that make up her head.
How long do you think you took decorating your bug?
9 hours total, made up from multiple 1-2 hour work sessions at a time
Tell us your Story
The cicadas emerging this year last visited us 17 years ago. What kind of change have you seen in your city, yourself, or someone you know over the last 17 years?
I was 7 years old the last time the cicadas emerged so it truly feels as if I've lived multiple different lives since then and have become so many different versions of myself. Some versions were thriving, feeling on top of the world without even having to try, and some had to be pulled out of the mud and encouraged to tread on.
And there have been so many set backs, from COVID lock-down to everyday life stuff like living with anxiety, dealing with seasonal depression, and of course stress. But much like the cicadas that have been just waiting to make their comeback, I feel that I have learned to take on a similar mindset when it comes to transforming myself throughout my life. It's as if, no matter how deep down in the mud I feel, there will always be the opportunity to make my way to the surface and emerge as a better version of myself. In other words, time in the mud is necessary! It's when your're at your lowest you can learn the most about yourself.
Being mindful of this concept has truly transformed me as a person because I've learned to give myself grace and to allow myself to make mistakes, take breaks, and take enough time to myself to actually FEEL the emotions that come up in my life. Rather than shoving my emotions away like I did earlier in life, I've learned that feeling them in the moment and even allowing myself to go back and feel the things I didn't allow myself to feel in the past, is the ultimate way to transform myself. I gain so much trust, intuition, and connection with myself by paying reverence to my emotions. Doing so has helped me feel more and more equipped with the right tools I need to navigate through life as well as making me learn just how resilient I am.
Location
Proska Park, 3001 Wisconsin Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402 , near pond — Map
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