Saturday October 20, 2012 through Sunday, February 10, 2013
8:30 am - 4:00 pm daily
Reception: Friday November 9, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Church Exhibition Gallery, Lyman Plant House
Print Price List
Nature Printing is a method of applying ink or dye to an object and imprinting its image onto paper, cloth, clay, or other surfaces. The process captures the detail and appeal of an insect, fish, feather, shell, rock, plant or the human body. Botanical printing specifically uses plants.
Before cameras and copiers, botanical hand illustration along with engraving was invaluable for recording the likenesses of plants. Leonardo da Vinci's writings in Codex Atlanticus, estimated to be from 1508, described the process of imprinting a leaf. With this knowledge botanical printing emerged in Renaissance Europe in response to the need to produce illustrations of herbs and medicinal plants. Subsequently, field botanists created volumes of imprints, some of which they hand colored. Introduced to the American colonies during the 1700s, botanical printing was adapted by Benjamin Franklin to print paper currency that could not be counterfeited. Printing methods developed during the Industrial Revolution eventually eclipsed the old tedious way of directly imprinting plant material, but not its aesthetic appeal. Foliage, in particular, became a key design element in mass produced fabrics, carpets, wallpaper, and furniture.
In this exhibition, botany and art merge seamlessly, and we are inspired by the impression plants make on us.
Workshop with Leonore Alaniz: Artful Collaborations on Paper
Saturday November 10, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
$60 non-members, $50 members and Smith students (includes materials)
The workshop includes a short talk on the history of Botanical Print Making, a technique also known as Nature Printing. During demonstration and hands-on sessions participants learn how to prepare plants, techniques of covering them with water-soluble, non-toxic inks, and transferring the plant's image with manual pressure onto the paper. While the focus will be on detail, impressionistic renderings and embellishment through hand coloring will also be explored.
Please call 585-2742 to reserve a space before sending your registration fee.
If this
first workshop fills up, we will offer a second time slot:
Sunday November 11, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
$50 non-members, $40 members and Smith students (includes materials)
|
|
