From Anna to Rinne

[Detail view followed by full image: Rinne Allen's Virginia Creeper cyanotype available at Terrain.]

Although she didn't invent the cyanotype process, Britain's Anna Atkins (1799-1871) is credited with producing 1843's groundbreaking British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, the first book illustrated solely with photographs. She is also generally acknowledged to be the first female photographer. Today her photographs -- well, to be precise her photograms -- are in the V & A's collection. Photograms are made without a camera or film: the artist (or scientist) simply puts pieces of interest, for example botanical specimens, on light-sensitized paper and then exposes the treated paper to light. In short, this is the cyanotype process.

[Anna Atkins, Poppy, about 1852. V & A Museum no. PH.381-1981.]

Fast-forward about 170 years and across the pond to Athens, Georgia and find Rinne Allen continuing the technique with her Light Drawings. If you read Selvedge, you were probably swept away by the beautiful examples of her work in the latest issue. I was. In fact, the story inspired me to do a little research of my own. I've been learning about Rinne's work with Alabama Chanin and Hable Construction, as well as the cyanotypes. A related post will be up in a while but for now I'm popping in to help spread the word about Rinne's new limited edition prints available at Terrain. You can also take a peek at her bountiful Southern garden here.

[Emily Gomez, Cowee, Franklin, North Carolina – 2006. Cyanotype on vellum from an 8”x10” negative. Print size is 8”x10”, framed size is 20”x16”]

Update 11.16.12
Many thanks to curator Shannon Morris for letting us know about another Georgia-based photographer, professor Emily Gomez, and her innovative cyanotypes which are currently on view through November 30 in Unearthed: A Photographic Search for Native American History at the Museum of Fine Arts at Georgia College.