The SEAD Gallery hosted an opening for its newest exhibition, Gustavo Castilla: Ether Dreams. Based out of New Mexico, Gustavo creates fine art using historical photographic processing techniques, such as Cyanotype, Platinum, Kallitype, Ambrotype, and Tintype to develop the film.
The Piece of the Week focuses on the tintype photograph, “Wildflowers”. Aptly named, this picture is of flowers growing in a field; it is both whimsical and unruly. The blossoms elicit tranquility and serenity – the picture of delicacy in nature. Yet the rustling of their leaves and ghost-like movement appear to be the result of a forceful wind. Encompassing these opposing forces, “Wildflowers” accomplishes the depiction of the paradox of nature: power and beauty.
The photograph is developed using an iron-based salt and lavender oil on tin, which is only sensitive to ultraviolet light in exposure. This style was popular in the late 1850s through the early 1900s.
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