Working with Insects Workshop: Coleoptera

Are you curious about how to work with beetles and properly preserve them? Join Jess Ellis of Curioscape Designs for a hands-on introduction to insects. This class will teach you about the ecological, environmental, and spiritual importance of beetles. You will learn about the ways in which beetles influence our lives today as well as a bit of their history in spirituality and science. Discover why dung beetles are connected to the sun god, Ra, and how this is related to their documented biological behavior. Beetles can deliver important messages to us if we are open to listening, and this class will open your eyes to the natural beauty of these often misunderstood creatures.

In addition to the lecture portion of this class, each student will be provided with the supplies and guidance needed to pin one impressive rhino, stag, or scarab beetle (dependent upon what can be ethically sourced at the time). You will bring home a foam pinning board, 1 pinned beetle, and a display frame to protect your beetles. Feel free to bring along a pen and paper for notes.

Supplies included in this series:

-Foam Pinning Board

-Insect Pins

-1 Beautiful Beetle (responsibly sourced)

-Display Frame

JESS ELLIS
Jess is a Denver-based artist who creates small sculptures and jewelry using elements of nature.

She finds inspiration in science, magic, and the natural world and explores themes of death, conservation, and the beauty of decay. The materials used in her artwork include insects, bones, moss, flowers, and crystals. She assembles these items into tiny environments called “Curioscapes”. They are inspired by the assemblages of natural curiosities found in the Wunderkammer, or Curiosity Cabinets of sixteenth century Europe. The artist’s choice of material reflects her desire to highlight the beauty of the darker side of life. Many of the specimens found in her Curioscapes are imperfect, with broken wings, missing limbs, or faded colors. The specimens used in these pieces, found already dead and sometimes in states of decay, are preserved and given new life as pieces of art. Her art serves as a ritual practice, each piece created with intention and love, and honoring the creatures that are preserved within. Jess holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, and her love of insects has brought her back to school to study biology. She is a volunteer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science where she has been trained in pinning, preserving, and identifying insects. She is passionate about conservation and educating others about insects and other living creatures that are vital to our ecosystem.