Advanced Mentored Studies: Visual Storytelling and Documentary Photography Projects

In a contemporary art world where "mixed media" is increasingly prominent, exploring the development of 2D imagery for 3D forms is a timely approach in ceramics. This immersive workshop delves into the intersection of photography, screen printing, and ceramics, encouraging students to merge and expand these mediums in innovative ways. With a focus on narrative development, participants work with personal, found, or generated images to create visual stories. Emphasizing the conceptual development of photographic imagery and pictorial illustrations, students design and produce screen-printed decals for transferring onto fired ceramic surfaces. During their studio experience, students are welcome to hand build day one and then focus on image preparation and design and transfer. This workshop provides artists with the tools to seamlessly integrate 2D and 3D elements in their work.

Explore ways to create art that draws from both past and present family experiences, whether inherited or chosen. We consider the stories of those in front of our cameras, as well as those we only know through photographs. How do we understand people and our lives through photography? How can we create meaningful work that captures the essence of those with us now, connects across time and distance, or reflects on the past? Participants are invited to bring ideas for future projects, works in progress, archival materials (such as negatives and prints), or simply their digital or film cameras. For those interested, we offer the opportunity to develop black-and-white film. Together, we explore how to create meaningful and resonant work from our family lives and immediate surroundings. The workshop begins by examining a range of artists from the past 50 years who have used personal family experiences as a foundation to address broader issues. Artists such as Larry Sultan, Emmett Gowin, Nan Goldin, Sally Mann, Tomiko Jones, Odette England, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Tommy Kha, and D'Angelo Lovell Williams will serve as inspirations as we consider when and how personal stories can resonate through art. Participants are encouraged to envision various approaches through studio work, presentations, discussions, one-on-one meetings, and critiques. Together, we explore how images can create layered meanings and how photography serves as a medium for personal reflection and intergenerational dialogue.

The deceptively simple cyanotype process is one of the oldest photographic printing methods, steeped in a rich history and offering a stunning array of exquisite and mysterious blues. In this workshop, students embark on an exploration of this timeless technique, experimenting on various papers to create both photograms and photographs while learning to produce digital negatives. While cyanotype stands alone as a popular choice for contemporary photographic artists, many practitioners continue to innovate by toning their prints with a variety of organic botanical toners, allowing for a remarkable range of colors and hues. This versatile process seamlessly integrates with other alternative techniques, including gum bichromate. Participants also explore the exciting possibilities of layering gum bichromate over their cyanotypes, engaging fully with the vibrant color aspects of this combined process. This hands-on experience not only deepens their understanding of cyanotype but connects them to its rich artistic heritage.