Sue Silverstein’s artist brigades returned to art class fresh from two weeks off for the Easter holiday. Sue was ready for them, and they were happy to jump in.
Today they made Cyanatope, a photographic process that produces blueprints using coated paper and light. It is very rare to see it in school art programs.
The process was invented in 1842 by astronomer John Herschel so he could reproduce mathematical tables, notes, and diagrams. We’ve come a long way.
Sue depends on the Army of Good to send used and recycled objects – metal, clothes, jewelry, metals, acrylic paint, brushes, photo paper, and wood or other discarded objects – to be used in art subjects she creates to make art and challenge the students who have rarely been challenged by art programs before..
Few schools in America can afford to buy the art supplies art teachers want and need; Sue and I work together to seek contributions and donations that people all over the country send only for the cost of shipping.
It’s been a brilliant success for Sue and the most exciting art project I’ve ever seen in a school, from wind chimes to stunning photography and wood painting.
If you wish to contribute, the address is Sue Silverstein, Bishop Gibbons High School, 2600 Albany Street, Schenectady, New York, 12304. And thanks for the amazing support you have given this extraordinary art program. It is very much appreciated. To me, it’s a revolutionary and free way to make beautiful art and stir the creative spark in a generation weaned on social media.
That is so cool! I did something sort of similar with my preschool kids. We would take a piece of black construction paper and place an assortment of objects like blocks, buttons, anything they wanted to try on the paper. Then we would set it out in the sun for the afternoon. When we brought it inside the sun had faded the paper but you could see where each object was because those areas were still dark black. The kids were fascinated! We tried it with other colors of paper but black gave the most dramatic effect. Art is a wonderful way to express ourselves!
I took classes in making cyanotypes on handmade papers, which we then bound into books, earlier this year. A fascinating, and fastidious process. Lots of time and materials and patience needed. How beautiful the photo you took. What a wonderful art program! Sue is an amazing person from everything I have seen on your blog.
Cyanotypes are such fun! I used to do them, called solar prints, with my fifth graders and they got some amazing results. Fun to see another teacher doing the same! Sue does so many interesting lessons with her students!