GOWANUS — Budding printmakers will get a chance to craft neighborhood inspired images through a 19th century process called cyanotypes.
Red Hook artist Katarina Jerinic will guide locals through the process, which produces striking cyan-blue prints, in a pop-up workshop on Whole Food's Third Street esplanade with the hope of helping people appreciate Gowanus' industrial wild side.
"With cyanotypes you get this really gorgeous, rich, intense image and I hope it will open up a door of looking at the neighborhood and the canal in a different way for people," said Jerinic, who has an installation of Gowanus Canal-inspired cyanotype flags peppered along the waterway until Sept. 21.
Invented in 1842, the surprisingly simple photographic printing process involves placing objects or film negatives on chemically treated paper or fabric, exposing the print to sunlight and then rinsing it in water to develop the images.
(Katarina Jerinic)
It's a refreshingly straightforward process that can be used to fantastical effect and will add another tool to folks' artistic arsenal, said Jerinic.
"It's one of the easiest processes," said Jerinic. "I want to pass on that information so other people can experiment."
During the workshop participants will explore the neighborhood to gather objects and ideas for their cyanotype creations, along with negatives and other materials provided by Jerinic.
Those who walk away with the desire to dabble in the old school chemical process can grab a list of supples and resources to dive into the art form.
The session is part of the Gowanus Canal Conservancy's pop up ArtLab, which hosts free summer workshops along the canal and aims to connect locals to the community.
Register for the pop-up art class here.
