For the winter 2024 semester, students in the cyanotype photography course taught by Dr. Risa Horowitz installed artworks in the two display cabinets at the Dr. John Archer Library and Archive’s main floor. Cyanotype photographs are made without cameras. The chemistry is applied to paper with a brush, and once dried, objects are placed directly on the paper and exposed under ultraviolet light. The cyanotype prints on display were made by Elizabeth Dow, Florence Duesterbeck, James Hall, Nico Inocalla, Johnathan Jones, Rose Molina, Jayden Thompson, Rhylynn Wahl, and Risa Horowitz.

For the first iteration of the installation, students used specimens from the George F. Ledingham Herbarium. With the facilitation of Associate Dean Dr. Mel Hart, of the Faculty of Science, students were able to peruse through and borrow specimens not yet formally accessioned. The Herbarium was established in 1945 and has tens of thousands of specimens from Saskatchewan and beyond. Dr. Hart also loaned students some marine invertebrate specimens, which were featured in some of the works on display. For the second installation, students worked on making cyanotype photographs using digital negatives. As with their Herbarium specimens, these images are made using a contact printing process, where the printed negative is sandwiched between the coated/sensitized paper and glass.

These students have presented impressive artworks using the cyanotype process to explore their personalized choices of imagery within each of their unique art practices.

“I had a question about an assignment that was due at midnight and asked a question at 9 pm and got a very helpful response quickly.”

- Student feedback