Other Publications: Out of the Blue: Explorations in

The cyanotype was discovered by Sir John Herschel in 1842. Also known as the blueprint or ferroprussiate process, the
cyanotype was one of many iron-based photographic processes developed in the early days of photography and, due to its
relative simplicity, is often one of the first historical processes that people study.
Though typically an image rendered on paper in various shades of blue, the cyanotype is a process that lends itself to adaptability and experimentation regarding substrates and color alterations through various toning techniques.
This is a juried exhibition showcasing the cyanotype process. These include traditional cyanotypes on paper, cyanotypes
printed on other materials or manipulated through toning, and mixed media pieces utilizing the cyanotype process.
August 6–27, 2016
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
Christina Z. Anderson*
Matthew Beniamino
Victoria Byers
Siobhan Byrns*
Sarah Carman
Caleb Cole
Wendy Constantine
Nicole Cudzilo
Kristofor Dahl
Susan Davens
Shari Diamond
Mary Donato
Amy Evans
Ania Gilmore*
Nancy Goodrich
Mike Hoover
Elina Julin
Jaclyn Kain
Ryan Larson
136½ Pine Street
Manchester, CT 06040
P: 860 783 5443
F: 860 783 5445
W: photosynthesisct.com
E: chris@photosynthesisct.com
Jocelyn Mathewes
Scott McMahon
Marek Noniewicz
Heather Oelklaus*
Caroline Roberts
Azalea Rodriguez
Pam Rouleau
Alyssa Salomon
Georgia Schwender*
Sara Silks
Nicole Small
Laurie Snyder
Leona Strassberg Steiner
Treë
Lara Vaienti
Melanie Walker
DB Waltrip
Francine Weiss
Juror: Jesseca Ferguson
Director: Chris Huestis
Catalog Cover Design & Support: Jordan Smith
Catalog Cover Image: Christina Z. Anderson
* Award Recipients
© Each Image Copyright of the Creating Artist
A Statement from Our Juror:
Out of the Blue: Explorations in Cyanotype
PhotoSynthesis, in mounting a show dedicated to the mystery and magic of the cyanotype, is presenting something special.
Historically overlooked as an artistic process, cyanotype was seen in the 19th century as an inexpensive photographic proofing method or as a mechanical means of copying handmade originals, such as architectural drawings, which then became
known as “blue prints.” The monochromatic blue was thought to be off-putting and artificial. During the 20th century revival
of handmade photo processes, the iron-based cyanotype was considered inferior when compared with other early photo
techniques based on platinum, palladium, and silver. Sometimes the lowly cyanotype served as a hidden foundation for other
processes such as gum bichromate or palladium. Even today cyanotype is dismissed as simple and is used as a low cost/lowtech introduction to handmade photography for children and beginning students. And yet — in the words of jazz musician
Thelonious Monk — “Simple ain’t easy.”
Happily, 2016 seems to be the year of the cyanotype. Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA mounted Cyanotypes: Photography’s Blue Period, the first-ever museum exhibition devoted to the cyanotype, ranging from Anna Atkins’ 1843 photograms
of British sea algae to images and objects made by contemporary artists. PhotoSynthesis is on trend in its celebration of the
cyanotype.
As a longtime practitioner and teacher of cyanotype myself, I was excited to see the range of work submitted for this show.
Cyanotype easily yields high contrast graphic images, but, with effort, is also capable of delicately nuanced tones of blue. I
looked for work by artists who combined the evocative blues of cyanotype with an imaginative array of materials in order to
express their ideas. Artists printed on fabric, found papers, and egg shells. They combined cyanotype with sewing, and collage to make artist books and 3-D objects. Some artists printed with digital, lens-based or pinhole negatives. Others worked
without cameras, using found objects to make photograms. Some simply painted cyanotype solution onto paper and did away
with negatives entirely.
I chose work that engaged me, that rewarded deeper looking. I sought out work that told me something new about cyanotype
and how its limitless shades of blue could be relevant to artists and viewers in the 21st century. I was looking for, and found,
work that could take me somewhere that only a cyanotype can take me.
Thank you to Chris Huestis for the privilege of choosing the work for exhibition in Out of the Blue: Explorations in Cyanotype at PhotoSynthesis. And thank you to all the artists who shared their cyanotyped images and objects with me.
Jesseca Ferguson
JUROR’S AWARD
Lalka
Artist Book
Cyanotype, Vandyke,
Rives BFK, Silk, Linen, Wooden Box, Needle, Cotton Thread, Antique Doll
Ania Gilmore
DIRECTOR’S AWARD
Georgia
Cyanotype over Palladium
Christina Z. Anderson
Wanaka
Cyanotype over Palladium
Christina Z. Anderson
Untitled (Magpie)
Toned Cyanotype on Paper
Matthew Beniamino
Because We Have a Song
Cyanotype and Vandyke
on Cotton Rag, Waxed
Alyssa Salomon
Flight
Cyanotype
Amy Evans
Nest with Words
Cyanotype
Amy Evans
March 5, 2015
Pigment Ink Print of Cyanotype
on Duck Egg
Victoria Byers
October 13, 2015
Pigment Ink Print of Cyanotype
on Duck Egg
Victoria Byers
HONORABLE MENTION
Bird
Cyanotype on Braille Page
Heather Oelklaus
Rabbit
Cyanotype on Braille Page
Heather Oelklaus
Pluto’s Inversion
Embroidery, Cyanotype, and Drawing
on Paper
Jocelyn Mathewes
Free Flight, After Max Papart
Cyanotype Collage on Fabric, Mounted on Table Linen, Embellished with Hand Embroidery
DB Waltrip
Pine
Cyanotype on Paper
Nicole Cudzilo
Woman
Layered Cyanotype
Sarah Carman
Private Moment
Gum Bichromate over Cyanotype
Sara Silks
Forest Whoes
Cyanotype on Fabriano Hot Press
Nicole Small
Blue Boy #4
(Thirty Years’ Experience
in First Class Servitude)
Cyanotype on Paper
(Vintage Personal Ads)
Caleb Cole
Blue Boy #27
(Completely Inexperienced)
Cyanotype on Paper
(Vintage Personal Ads)
Caleb Cole
Anonymous Woman #2 (from a Daguerreotype)
Toned Cyanotype and Colored Pencil on Paper
Susan Davens
Anonymous Woman #3 (from a Daguerreotype)
Toned Cyanotype and Colored Pencil on Paper
Susan Davens
Anonymous Woman #1 (from a Daguerreotype)
Toned Cyanotype and Colored Pencil on Paper
Susan Davens
Progression 1
Cyanotype, Watercolor, and Thread on Driver Log Document
Azalea Rodriguez
Bloom
Mixed Media with Cyanotype on Paper
Elina Julin
Meeting Here at Night, Confused
Toned Cyanotype on Fabriano Torchon
Mike Hoover
In Their Extremity
Partially Developed Cyanotype
on Paper
Caroline Roberts
Like a Rainbow, No. 18
Cyanotype on Folded and Unfolded Paper
Shari Diamond
Water Surface #47
Cyanotype on Arches Platine
Jaclyn Kain
2Aerial View
Cyanotype Manipulation and Plastic Bags
Lara Vaienti
Iliaster
Cyanotype on Paper
Marek Noniewicz
HONORABLE MENTION
Bubble Chamber
Cyanotype and Digital Print
Georgia Schwender
Ming Vase
Papier-mâché,
Cyanotype Embellishment
Nancy Goodrich
La Moderne
Hand-printed Cyanotype Fabric,
Handmade Doll
Nancy Goodrich
Leaves and Stones
9 Coptic Bound Books
Laurie Snyder
Puppet
Cyanotype and Vandyke Print
Melanie Walker
Most Everything
Cyanotype on Fabric
Treë
Venice
Cyanotype on Artist Paper
Treë
Fading
Cyanotype Leaf Impression on Paper
Ryan Larson
Emerging
Vandyke Leaf Impression
with Cyanotype
Ryan Larson
Nimbus
Cyanotype on Topographic Map
Mary Donato
Asleep
(from the Fourth Trimester
Series)
Cyanotype
Francine Weiss
Missile Hanky III
Cyanotype on Linen Handkerchief with Embroidery
Heather Oeklaus
Expired
Toned Cyanotype
Scott McMahon
Standing Nude #4
Waxed Cyanotype on Watercolor Paper
Kristofor Dahl
Whose House Is This
Cyanotype
Leona Strassberg Steiner
Acqua Non Potable
Cyanotype on Torn Paper
Pam Rouleau
Angel
Cyanotype
on Hahnemühle Platinum Rag
Wendy Constantine
She Holds the Key
Palladium over Experimental Cyanotype
Sara Silks
Energy Emerging, Matter Moving
Cyanotype (Pinhole)
Scott McMahon
HONORABLE MENTION
What the Water Took
from Us #5
Triptych Cyanotype Photogram
Siobhan Byrns
Prepared by MagCloud for Chris Huestis. Get more at celticbrewer.magcloud.com.