Something interesting has started growing on my pig gut.
Another artist had asked if there were problems with things growing on or consuming the pig/hog intestine sculptures after drying. Organic materials… you never know! On initial thought, I replied “No”. However I should probably revise that answer. After four or five days of drying, my squares started taking on a white bloom along the wire lines. Normally the wire just rusts and bleeds out onto the material. Previous sculptures have all remained upstairs, during drying, with a room temp around 68-70 degrees F. With this batch, the stench was a bit potent so I moved them downstairs, a cool 55-60 degrees F. This could possibly have slowed the curing/drying process and allowed the white stuff to bloom.
Currently this project is on hold until the mystery behind the bloom is solved. I’ll move the squares upstairs to a warmer environment to see if it settles down. The application of a shellac coating will wait along with the acquisition of wood for the 5 to hang in.
Ah, the joys of new materials!
Sticks, Stones, and Paper Stew Blog 
Will the shellac only be on the outside? If it ends up in a humic climate could the white stuff still grow on the interior? Interesting….
If I can spray shellac on the interior, I will. This is all still a learning process. Not certain what it would do in a different climate. Our house humidity can be over 50%, due to the cockatoo’s upper respiratory problems. He would prefer it at 70% but I don’t think WE could handle that.