Project 1: Cyanotypes

Guided by the curriculum created by Michelle Ortiz, teaching artist Patricia Barrera led the teens from Philadelphia in the creation of works connected to immigration. Patricia added visual art activities to have the students explore different ways of creating images and conveying messages. Here are some images of the process.

Project 1: Cyanotypes-  A "cyanotype" is a photographic print made when UV light is exposed to a photo-sensitive paper. It changes the chemical structure of the paper only where the light reaches it. When placed in water, the UV-altered areas remain permanently fixed and deep blue in color, while the un-altered chemicals on the surface wash away and expose the white paper. There are many techniques to make a cyanotype. On our first week, we explored two processes: nature prints and scratch art.