Cutout Art x Cyanotype
Site-specific project that combines cyanotype and cutout art. Cyanotype is one of the oldest photographic printing processes that creates shade of cyan blue as the result of its exposure to ultraviolet light (the sun.) Production takes place at a variety of local nature spots and historic sites in the Hudson Valley.
Site-specific / Sun & Shadow / Chance operation
This project is guided by the words in the book John Cage Visual Art - To Sober and Quiet the Mind:
aCt
In
accoRd
with obstaCles
Using
theM
to find or define the proceSs
you're abouT to be involved in
the questions you'll Ask
if you doN't have enough time
to aCcomplish
what you havE in mind
conSider the work finished.
I find it beautiful that each session of this project captures a particular day and time of the day, of a particular season in a particular place. It's one unique moment that happens once and never happens again. No matter how the artwork turns out to be, it wouldn't change the fact that this day happened and that I lived it.
Process
sketch - draft - cutout - sun exposure - development
It’s important to work hard and hone your skills. At the end of the day, your craft speaks the truth of your work as an artist than any statement you make with words. I have also learned over my two decades of art-making, you need to let your agenda go and not interfere with the life of the art. As the former takes deliberate effort, and latter spontaneity and intuition, it is not easy to make both of them happen at the same time. One of the strategies I found that could help with this is to set a time limit. As Bruce Gilbert of Dome said, “make things, no rules, but be quick.” I love this workflow of bringing the piece to complete within one day.
This project is funded by Columbia County Creative Catalyst Grant, CREATE Council on the Arts’ initiative sponsored by the Columbia County Legislators.
Swimming Pool Series
11"x14" on paper, 2024
