Cyanotype project leaves participants feeling a little less blue
The art project Abbotsford in Blue: The Cyanotype Project was held on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Kariton Art Gallery in Mill Lake Park. Hosted by artists Amanda Garcia and Zaira Luis, the workshop focused on making cyanotype prints, which Garcia explained as “a photographic printing process developed in the mid-19th century, distinctive for creating Prussian blue monochromatic prints.”
The project is notable for incorporating local Abbotsford botanical species. The choice for this, according to Garcia, was made to both pay homage to the use of cyanotypes by English botanist Anna Atkins and other biologists when indexing plant specimens, as well as the neglect local flora is experiencing due to construction and development projects.
The event was held outside the Kariton Art Gallery on what turned out to be a beautiful Saturday. There was a miniature showcase of the artists’ previous work with cyanotypes, not just exploring plants as a subject, but combining the process with photography to create ghostly monochrome images. These were not just a way to engage with the artists’ work, but also an example of how cyanotype printing can be used in mixed-media art.
The event attracted a good crowd, but there was ample room for social distancing and attendees were encouraged to wear masks, so the event’s safety precautions were within those recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Both of the artists were attentive in helping the public to create their own cyanotype prints on either paper or fabric. Patterns were laid out with dried flora samples, including lavender, baby’s breath, and ferns. Even the changing autumn leaves were used in some people’s projects. After, the pieces were placed in the sun to develop the print then washed in water and laid out to dry. The results were a mosaic of blue-toned bouquets that participants were able to take home as a keepsake of the event.
For anyone interested in trying this medium who was not able to attend the event, the artists had a few suggestions. Luis recommended taking a photography class for the most complete understanding of the process but also mentioned that there were many tutorials on YouTube. Garcia mentioned that all the materials can be found at House of Fine Arts, a local art supply store in downtown Abbotsford.
The event brought together art and the community in Abbotsford in this difficult time. What’s next for these two artists? Luis is working on assembling a catalogue book in Davida Kidd’s class, VA 351: Print Media III, at UFV. She will be continuing work with cyanotype prints as well as other projects. Garcia, a recent graduate of UFV’s fine arts program, expressed interest in continued exploration of cyanotype as a medium and in becoming more involved in the local Abbotsford art scene.
