Anthotypes, Lumen Prints and Phytograms: Weekend with Anne Eder

Come enjoy a wonderful two-day summer workshop learning how to make Anthotypes, Lumen Prints and Phytograms, against the backdrop of historic Sanborn House.

Anthotypes, Lumen prints, and Phytograms are cameraless photographic processes. The innate light sensitivity of plants can be harnessed to produce photographic images that do not require any chemical development or a traditional darkroom, and the chemical compounds in plants can be used to create a working photographic developer.

Anthotype is very romantic and delicately nuanced nineteenth century process, and images may be rendered in a color spectrum ranging from pastels to highly vibrant hues. Methods of extracting and coating plant emulsions onto watercolor papers will be demonstrated, as well as how to set up, expose, and assess exposures.

A presentation on history of the process and contemporary practitioners will be followed by making emulsions, and coating papers. The natural pigments in plants are crushed with a little alcohol or water to make a light sensitive emulsion, which is coated onto paper. An object, plant, or film positive is laid onto the coated paper and exposed in the sun.

Phytograms are similar to lumens but are made on film instead of paper and are actually developed out chemically through direct contact using a homemade developer of washing soda, vitamin C, and plant material.

Lumen prints are a type of camera-less photography in which objects or negatives are placed directly onto light sensitive black and white photographic paper and exposed using sunlight rather than an enlarger. The actions of light and chemistry produce unexpected and often beautiful color variations from black and white paper.

Level: All

Dates and Times: August 17 & 18, 11am – 4pm.

Location: Griffin Museum / Historic Sanborn House

Price: $250.00 – Member Price / $300.00 – Non-Member Price (Non-Member price includes a one-year membership to the Griffin Museum, a $75 value).

Max Class Size: 12

Materials: The instructor will provide a materials list prior to the start of the class.

About the Instructor:

Anne Eder is an interdisciplinary artist and in-demand educator. She has been internationally exhibited, awarded, and published, including multiple international awards in alternative process photography. She is currently a lecturer in the Lewis Center for the Arts, Princeton University, instructor in the Harvard Ceramics Program, Harvard University, faculty at Penumbra Foundation in NYC, and the Griffin Museum of Photography. She teaches workshops at venues across the country and, via online learning, all over the world. Much of her work is experimental and research based, combining historic processes, science, and contemporary conceptual thinking.

Throughout her career she has been an advocate for increased access to the arts, and the creation of public art is a dedicated part of her practice. She lives in New England with her fabulous chihuahua, The Brain.

www.anneeder.com

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