DAVA’s middle and high school students learned about the history of photographic processes before exploring a myriad of cyanotype possibilities with artists Lizeth Guadalupe and Leah Diament.

Students used film photography, digital photography, drawing, and digital collage as the base of their works. Some even experimented with cyanotypes on porcelain! In addition, DAVA’s youngest students in the Open Studio took photos using disposable film cameras. The photos are displayed as a mobile with fabric pieces, hand prints, and text.

The guest artists included in Blue Wonder use the historical process of cyanotype to explore a variety of subjects and techniques that represent their unique story and experimental approaches.

Lizeth Guadalupe, who also teaches at DAVA, covered a skirt with cyanotypes using photographs of family members and digital drawings to represent her family tree and cultural heritage.

Leah Diament is folding cyanotype prints to create a light-filled three-dimensional installation. Christine Nguyen’s large experimental cyanotypes use botanical items and cosmic special effects. A master of photographic processes and light, Christopher R. Perez uses cyanotypes in ethereal landscapes. All of the artists in the show provided technical knowledge and inspiration for teachers and students at DAVA.