Price: $30 + $12 Class Supply Fee 

Cyanotypes, (AKA “sun prints”) are a perfect way to celebrate the peak of summer. This non-toxic, cameraless photographic process produces deep blue and white prints using UV light from the sun. All levels are welcome! Capture shadows, play with composition, and admire details of nature in this 2-hour workshop, starting with a brief introduction about the history of this 19th-century process. Attendees will be provided with photo-sensitive paper, plants from the UW Botanic Gardens and other organic materials to cast shadows, glass plates, and water baths to watch the cyanotypes develop before your eyes! Participants can also bring their own small objects (such as leaves, flowers, feathers, ribbons, or pieces of lace) to cast interesting shadows. Mercer Hanau will provide guidance about exposure times and guide you through the process of arranging and developing cyanotypes.

Mercer Hanau (she/her) is an artist and designer who specializes in cyanotype, printmaking, and digital art. Her work draws inspiration from intersections of science and culture, often featuring animals and plants with a sense of reverence and surreality. In Summer 2020, Mercer made cyanotypes during her “Garden Ghosts” residency. She led art activities with visitors to explore the local Salish Sea ecosystem and the relationship between pollinators and agriculture. She loves the way cyanotype lets her capture the shadows of objects, including the delicate textures of insect wings, to create ethereal images that can tell stories about nature.