A leading Western Pennsylvania arts organization is celebrating a group of creators who use a 19th-century precursor to modern photography.
The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP) will unveil an innovative exhibition titled The Light Divides and the Story Multiplies, curated by Pittsburgh artist and AAP member Dan Hendrickson.
Running from Aug. 29 to Oct. 30 at Ice House Studios in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, this exhibition promises to captivate audiences with over 50 works by six regional artists reimagining the expressive possibilities of cyanotype, one of the earliest photographic processes.
Hendrickson, together with artists Christine Holtz, Andy Julo, Christine Lorenz, Michele Randall, and Cathleen Richards, explores how a 19th-century technique continues to evolve in the hands of contemporary artists.
The cyanotype process, celebrated for its distinctive Prussian blue tones, is showcased not as a historical relic but as a living artistic medium being reshaped by new materials, subjects, and interdisciplinary approaches.
Pattern Preference Studies (Learning from WE, PE, and RA) by Christine Lorenz
The exhibition effectively surveys the breadth of contemporary cyanotype practice in Pittsburgh, ranging from direct photographic observations to conceptual explorations.
“Since its invention in the 1840s, the rich blues of cyanotype have continuously inspired artists to experiment and reinvent the medium,” Hendrickson explains. “This exhibition offers a snapshot in time of how several Pittsburgh artists are using cyanotype today, as a tool for inquiry, imagination, and expression.”
Hendrickson’s own journey into cyanotype was motivated by its accessibility and non-toxic nature. Unlike silver-based photography, cyanotypes are developed using water and sunlight, making them ideal for home experimentation.
Coral Archive by Christine Holtz
“The deep blue pigmentation has always been a huge attraction to me as a baseline to start from. I like to start with the blue and then apply other colors,” he adds.
The exhibition’s diversity is reflected in the varied approaches and subjects the artists tackle.
Hendrickson highlights a series he created while standing on a balcony in Portugal, capturing people passing through a city square. The bright sunlight and cyanotype’s unique characteristics produced images focusing solely on silhouettes and shadows, emphasizing the individuality and stories of each subject.
“I imagined it as something that really isolated the subjects,” Hendrickson describes. “Each one of those individuals has their own world in a sense, their own anxieties, fears, dreams, and excitements.”
This thematic richness is further enhanced by an exhibition guide featuring an essay by local author Dani Lamorte, offering deeper insight into the medium’s allure and the participating artists’ creative processes.
Piccoli Pois by Andy Julo
The Light Divides and the Story Multiplies is not just an exhibition; it’s a celebration of cyanotype’s enduring legacy and its dynamic future.
By bringing together a community of artists who push the boundaries of this medium, the exhibition offers viewers a unique opportunity to engage with the past and present of cyanotype art.
Check out The Light Divides and the Story Multiples show starting Aug. 29 with an opening reception from 5-7 pm at the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Exhibition Space.
