The Banana Peel Project

After the fact (as usual when experimenting on a project), I realized that I should attempt to glue the skin to the mesh before attaching all the pieces together. As I have been attempting to try some glues to keep the skin to the mesh, I realized that it is so very challenging to keep the skin smooth along something with so many contours. My next plan is to use some of the scrap mesh I have and just run some glue tests. I’m looking for an adhesive which is inexpensive, strong, and will allow for flexibility.

A few weeks ago, I went to one of my favorite places in San Francisco for materials – Douglas and Sturgess. I first learned about D&S from Noel as we worked on various aspects of The Secret Alley. Noel knew about the shop because it’s the best place to get materials for making masks, makeup prosthetics, and mold making.

Originally I thought about using latex for the inside of the banana peel. I took my time handling all the samples on display next to their corresponding kits. I asked a couple questions of the thin, long haired, bearded man behind the counter. He told me that latex doesn’t last very long, perhaps a year if kept in good conditions. I realized I needed something more durable – I want to keep the peel for as long as possible. I looked around at the available alternatives and decided on rubber. So I purchased the Smooth-On Brush-On® 40 2-pint kit. If all goes well, I will most likely purchase one or two of the gallon kits for the final peel.

Some time back in 2010, I had a very silly idea pop into my head one day: what would happen if someone made a 2-story tall banana peel and, some time during a quiet night, just left it in the middle of a city intersection? So much absurd mayhem, so many people would be disrupted by such a ridiculous object, confronted but its immense banality while being unable to easily remove it from the public’s path.

To build such a thing was just a dream, and as I was often of modest means (even now), had no way of building something so monumental. Yet I thought about the idea a bit more and more over the next few weeks. I asked myself, if I scale the idea down a bit, might I be able to possibly make many larger-than-life banana peels?

Prototyping the banana peel’s framework. This is made out of coated aluminum woven mesh purchased from Blick. The four sides of the peel are ‘stitched’ together with some 26 gauge wire brite.  (I saw my spool had a description, so I did a quick search.) I’ve carried around with my tools for years. I have no idea where it originally came from but most likely it is from my mom’s craft supplies.

The other day I ate a banana.