Filthy Beautiful

photo courtesy of John Knuth and David B. Smith Gallery

Magazine Article

First things first: Find yourself a reputable biological supply company and place an order for one million maggots. Delivery will take a few days—it’s probably a good idea to spring for tracking and insurance on this one—and while you’re waiting, get to work building contraptions to house these maggots once they become flies.

You’ll need straight wood (poplar is good) and some tropical hardwood fiberboard called luan, used in everything from boats to dollhouses. Make sure to have plenty of nails, glue, primer, paint, canvas, and sugar water on hand, plus all the corresponding tools for each. The contraptions take about three days, start to finish. Once the maggots arrive, they’ll need five days to pupate.

Then it’s time to make something uniquely, paradoxically beautiful . . .

Don’t just do a fly-by. Read the story and see the creepy-cool images right here.

- from the Summer 2015 issue of Modern in Denver magazine