DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION OF THIS PAGE HERE: Phytogram and the Chemistry of Plants Workshop

Artists: M. Simon Levin and Lynn Ouchi-Moir
Special thanks to Terra Jean Long, Lisa Marr and Karel Doing (phytogram.blog)

Create photographic prints through an encounter between plants, chemistry, emulsion and sunlight. Without using a camera we will explore a non-toxic method of making photographic prints and create images where leaves, flowers and moss leave beautiful traces of themselves. This workshop invites you to consider how we tell the stories of plants, how we make images with them, and how we can learn about their structures and their internal chemistry through the traces they leave

Creative Exploration: Photography without a camera

Level: Intermediate/Advanced 

Age: This activity is recommended for Grades 6 and up

TEACHER PRE-CLASS PREPARATION:

Here are some things that you, the teacher, will need to prepare prior to the activity.

• Tupperware container for each group of 3-4 students (500ml)
• Permanent marker to write name and school on back of photograph

KIT INCLUDES:

• Envelope with Photo Paper (1/student)
• Bag for Gathering Foraged Materials
• Chemistry for plant soaking
• Bucket for class to put photos with fixing solution provided

Introduce the Dakota Bear Sanctuary in your class. What is the role of an ancient forest? What is an ecosystem? How to plants interact together? What plants can you name? Have students share a story about the last time they were in the forest. What do they remember?  This workshop invites them to consider how we tell the stories of plants, how we make images with them, and how we can learn about their structures through the traces they leave.

Go for a walk in the forest with the foraging bag. Have your students collect fallen plant materials from the understory of the forest – lichen, moss, ferns, salal, Oregon grape, cedar and anything else they might be curious about. Talk about foraging in a responsible manner. What is the understory of the forest and what might be the importance of it?

Once students have gathered their materials during the walk, you are now ready to watch the workshop video below and start to make your phytogram. Plants must soak for a minimum of 10 minutes. Once all the phytograms have been completed and you’ve looked at what you have created, place the photo-paper into the bucket with salt solution. Then either drop the bucket off at the Art Centre, or contact us as we will come and pick it up. You will have to wait until the exhibition to see the final photographs that you made.

Visit the gallery between April 23^rd – May 23^rd for a tour of the exhibition and a chance to see and talk about the work. Following distancing protocols, each class will be given an hour in the gallery, with a guided discussion. Please use the following link to book a date and time to visit: https://doodle.com/poll/hs3h8pa3hy2eg3ns?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link