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A PHOTO ESSAYBY JENN DAWSON

2My big, long science name is My big, long science name is Pentatomidae PolychromaPentatomidae Polychroma,,but my favorite name is... but my favorite name is... STINKBUG!STINKBUG!HI! MY NAME IS PETE

Fiber artists use fabric to make fine art3 THIS IS FRAN SAPLIS She is a ber arst, and she made me.She is a ber arst, and she made me.

4U nderneath the fabric and clay, I began as a ceramic mask. F ran molded my body out of clay. P entatomidae means snkbug or shield bug, and polychroma means that I am colorful.I'll tell you my secret origin....I'll tell you my secret origin.... Fran turned a mask of a Fran turned a mask of a human face into me! human face into me! First, she molded clay around First, she molded clay around the mask to shape my body the mask to shape my body and head. and head. Then, one by one, she stuck Then, one by one, she stuck all my legs on.all my legs on.I needed a lot of glue.I needed a lot of glue.

T hen it was me to find the prettiest colors to cover me up!W e picked out bumpy, smooth, shiny and slippery fabric.5

6I got to help Fran I got to help Fran pick out all of my pick out all of my favorite colors.favorite colors.We put them all We put them all together...together...This is what I was This is what I was going to look like going to look like soon!soon!As a reward, we As a reward, we tried on my new tried on my new shield. shield. It t perfectly.It t perfectly.A er scking on my face, and painng each leg, we assembled all my new colors.M y body has a special shield that keeps me clean and safe. It took lots of tries to design my shield just right.

F ran used quilng to decorate my shield and my wings.S he uses a special sewing machine to draw on my pieces with rainbow threads.7

I watched Fran I watched Fran carefully turn my carefully turn my new colors into new colors into beaufully quilted beaufully quilted works works of art.of art.It's hard for a bug to It's hard for a bug to wait paently...wait paently...8

At last, we found my At last, we found my blue bumpy skin...blue bumpy skin...and my big bug-eyes!and my big bug-eyes!9So I went for a crawl...

While I climbed, Fran While I climbed, Fran brought over my brought over my antennae mustache, antennae mustache, to see how it looked.to see how it looked.Stylin'!Stylin'!Time to get dressed.Time to get dressed.10

We tried on my wings, We tried on my wings, And then my shield,And then my shield,Piecing together Piecing together My piles of parts.My piles of parts.11

A re you ready for my big reveal? 12

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PD on't worry! I'm not snky though... at least, not around my friends.I even have a very special storage box that won't squish my legs or antennae mustache.I am complete!I am complete!Now I live at the Now I live at the Museum of Art, where Museum of Art, where anyone can visit me! anyone can visit me! Unl I'm adopted...Unl I'm adopted...14

THE PENTATOMIDAE POLYCHROMA15AND THAT'S HOW I BECAME PETE

Check out my porolio atCheck out my porolio atlynnprotzmann.wordpress.comlynnprotzmann.wordpress.com(I use a pseudonym!)(I use a pseudonym!)16A Photo Essay by Jenn Dawson Colorado State UniversityJTC 335 - Photojournalism Instructor: Jill MoJill -Fran -Kiver -James -Dyane -You gave me my eyes, my brains, my toes. You love me more, but I love you most.Thank you for sharing your beaufulspace and your journey with me.You've given me the opportunity to growin an art that I love. Thank you for yourguidance.I literally couldn't have goen therewithout your help!My partner in all. You have Pete'spaence, beauty, and joy. Thank you forbringing those into my life.BECOMING PETETHE PENTATOMIDAE POLYCHROMAJoin Pete, Fran, and Jenn  at the Museum of Art Fort Collins  for the Annual Masks ExhibionMarch 3 - May 5, 2023moafc.orgPhotographed and Designed byJenn DawsonPete was created by  Fran SaplisTo my people: