I’ve finally put the finishing touches to my Anthotype project, two months later.
Upon revisiting I’ve had to say goodbye to one of the Anthotypes that has already faded into a whisper and my text piece that was for the top of the box has also faded considerably, but I used it anyway as it shows the nature of this process and a statement against the obsessiveness over archival quality and preservation of prints that I have to consider in my normal work.
I also decided against binding my newsprint pamphlets, preferring the freedom to interchange everything in accordance to the person viewing the complete work. While this is still very primitive, I’ve got the bug and I’m already planning a pair of art-books over the Summer, sticking with a theme of nature and natural materials with a peppering of Dadaist chaos.
For anybody interested, this project is a mixed-media collection of:
- Two hand-cut newsprint pamphlets; 11x8.5” book of automated Dadaist/Concrete poetry and ‘stream-of-conciousness’ dream text and a 7x5” book of the artist statement and peer correspondence on the subject of the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle.
- Raw cotton
- Watercolor paper
- Photomontage
- Found objects
- Presented in a re-purposed wooden cigar box.
I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback for my work with Anthotypes from visitors and students alike, so for those who enjoyed it, here is the finished product with a few other elements that were not shown in my Exhibition No. 7 portfolio.
Dante.
This is the final post by the SPAO student promo team of 2011-2012. In the fall a new team will be established and perhaps over the summer some returning students will drop a line to let you know what they are up to.
To our patrons, our teachers, the SPAO admin staff and all the friends of SPAO who have followed us and supported us throughout our year, we say thank you and applaud you. We invite you to continue following our careers as we move forward.
I am sure I speak for all non-returning students when I say leaving SPAO is bittersweet but eventually it comes the time we have to say “so long.”
All the best everyone,
Vera …a.k.a. Victory Sunshine
P.S. If you liked our work and are interested in attending the portfolio development classes as we have, please check for more information here.
Meet the second year class for 2012 - 2013. As you can see, they like to have fun. It is going to be an awesome year. Some have blogs and websites you can check out already. They are: Jen Schad, Blair Smith, Stephanie Masters, Matthew Bula, Treawna Harvey , Zac Pantalone, Angela Walker, Sarah Anderson, Jessie Park-Wheeler, Valerie Mercier. Missing: Dante Penman and Eric Anderson.
I am Vera Saltzman (a.k.a. Victory Sunshine), the last of the Level 2 grads for 2012 to be featured here. You’ve heard a fair amount from me as I headed up the student promo team for 2011-2012. If you attended Exhibition No. 7, I exhibited platinum palladium prints of iconic buildings in Ottawa, a series of portraits of women with their childhood dolls, and a small book on a recent trip to the Arctic. My website www.verasaltzman.com is a work in progress. I have not completed it yet as since grad I have been busy preparing for a move to Fort Qu’appelle, Saskatchewan. If you ever want to contact me though, my email information is on my website.
SPAO has had a tremendous influence on my life. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine being part of this community of talented individuals. When we saw Michael Tardioli’s work as a Master Printer hanging at the Library and Archives Canada I was awestruck. I could go on about the school for a long time, but will end with a simple Thank You SPAO!
Peter Simpson, arts-editor-at-large for The Ottawa Citizen, wrote that, “Stephan Gaydos has a black and white photo of the Alexandra Bridge, below the National Gallery, on a wet day, and Ottawa never looked more like Paris, but for that wall of Canadian shield that bunkers the right side of the frame.” Stephan’s urban and rural landscapes are studies of the fragile and fragmented qualities of time, and of the environments that humans create and live in. Check out www.stephangaydos.ca and you will see why Peter was drawn to this amazing work.
We can look forward to his solo exhibit on the Red Wall next year as Stephan plans on returning to SPAO for a 3rd year as an artist in residence.
V.S.
Rachel Gaboury provided us with an escape from reality at Exhibition No. 7. Working as a mixed media photographer, she combines her love of photography with her talent as a painter. She plans to return to SPAO next year to work as an artist in residence. It will be exciting to see what new work she will share. You can contact Rachel through her website www.rachelgabouryphotographs.com and also view the work she shared at Exhibition. All the best Rachel!
Though Nick Wojtas is known for his triptych’s of Constance Bay and the Carlton Racetrack, his very personal reflections on his own struggles with anxiety have influenced me the most. Openly sharing his feelings, Nick uses photography as a means to confront issues haunting his life and in doing so encourages the viewer to address their own challenges. Nick, an accomplished photographer, has also been an amazing friend to all at SPAO over the last two years. He plans on returning for a 3rd year as an artist in residence. We wish him the best and look forward to seeing more work!
Vera
You may remember Danielle Denis and her wonderful red glasses from some of her shifts at Henry’s. Though during her two years at SPAO Danielle focused mainly on self-portraiture, she has been recognized by a gallery in Los Angeles for her night landscapes. You can see some work by her on her website at www.danielledenis.com or follow her on tumblr. Good luck Danielle!
Mike Marquette is one of the most sensitive photographers I know as evidenced by his series on his hometown of Inkermen. You can follow Mike on his blog or stop by to visit him while working at the Ideal coffee shop. Last year he was recognized with an honorable mention by the New York Photo Awards. We hope Mike experiences NYC for himself and that NYC gets to enjoy more of his work.
After winning the Award of Visual Merit: Portfolio, Level 2 and The Alumni Award for Integrity of Vision, Josh Hotz hasn’t missed a beat since grad night. This evening you can see his work at GRILLZ AND GLAM PRE-PARTY + JOSH HOTZ PHOTO EXHIBIT. Keep an eye out for his name as this won’t be the last show. Though Josh loves Ottawa, an internship with Color magazine may pull him away to Vancouver for a couple of months this fall. You can check in with him at www.joshhotz.com or follow his blog.
Good luck Josh!
V.S.
