video killed the alternative processes brown dwarf

During the summer residency, I was able to work with Emmanuel College's Nick Pizzolato which resulted in three video shorts. Please visit http://www.vimeo.com/27244003, http://www.vimeo.com/27243664 and http://www.vimeo.com/27243001 to listen to me talk about vandyke brown prints, polaroids, and anthotypes.

Emmanuel College | Artist in Residence | Frank Schanberger from Emmanuel College on Vimeo.

Emmanuel College | Artist in Residence | Frank Schanberger from Emmanuel College on Vimeo.

Emmanuel College | Artist in Residence | Frank Schanberger from Emmanuel College on Vimeo.

introducing a new kallitypist

first frame of Sasha Ndam's portrait session

Fewer days remain of the residency, especially studio days. Today, tomorrow, then clean up and pick up Bridgette (Bogle) from the airport. After that, except for the Emmanuel College Artist in Residence Exhibit on Tuesday, I will be a Beantown tourist.

Monday I was in assistant mode. I worked with Darien Johnson on a project in which transparencies are viewed simultaneously to deconstruct and construct the image for the viewer depending on where they stand to look.

That was early afternoon. Later that day I met up with Sasha Ndam who is a student in Cynthia Fowler's Contemporary Art and Artistic Practice class. She asked me to help her create a portrait of herself in Vandyke Brown. Except for the camera and Photoshop work Sasha chose the image and did all of the chemistry work herself. This in effect makes Sasha a new Kallitypist (vandyke brown is one of the kallitype processes). I was what could be described as her historical photographic processes consultant. In my dealing with the students in Cynthia's course, Sasha has seemed the most engaged with what the four of us artists in residence are doing (she asks good questions). Look below for an example of her work.

no plum puns here

A little break from the anthotypes. Here is a companion Vandyke brown print for apple which I will simply title plum. Here is the back story: the fruit was rescued from the Emmanuel College cafeteria fruit bins. The freckled pattern seemed like it would be a good subject for the scanner and, eventually, the Van Dyke brown process. This is a test print (8.5 x 11) which has a strong contrast in the original which I've toned down a bit in the scan seen here. The final size will be approximately 16 x 20 inches.

newly emerged from the catacombs...

Some new Vandyke Browns I've been working on are visible below. The first has the incredibly provocative and imaginative title of Apple and the second, Knarled Nut. These are small work prints of about 9 x 9 inches done to determine exposure. The final scale should be either 20" x 20" or 24" x 24".

(Vandyke) Brown Heart of Mine

This past winter Bridgette and I concocted a mythical creature for me based upon the story of the white swan / black swan recently revisited through the cinematic portrayal by Natalie Portman in Black Swan. If she could be both the black and white swans, I certainly could be a swan in the glorious hue of Vandyke Brown.

Here I present the heart of this mythical beast.

and lest you thing I am neglecting my technical mastery of this printing technique I'll include the Stouffer's 21 step tablet with the pencil marking noting the "lightening" by five steps that occurred following exposure because of processing.

Ohio State Fair Fine Arts

Not being in Ohio for the last few weeks and missing the opening exhibition, I have been on pins and needles searching for specific info regarding the Ohio State Fair Fine Arts exhibition award winners. Melissa Vogley Woods, co-director of the Fine Arts Exhibition has been blogging news from the Ohio State Fair. The work selected and receiving an Ohio Arts Council Professional Award are ....from left to right "Seeds", "Birch Pollen", "Curl"