Heirlooms

Heirlooms is a series of photograms of treasured items in which the intricate floral patterns of vintage French lacework and embroidery pieces are accentuated. The abstract representation of these personal objects lends new significance to their permanence that can be archived and observed. French bonnets, doilies and handkerchiefs are the focus of this on-going project in which I drew inspiration from my French mother-in-law. A photogram is a photographic image made without a camera by placing objects directly onto the surface of a light-sensitive material such as photographic paper and then exposing it to light. The result is a negative shadow image that shows variations in tone depending upon the transparency of the object used. The technique is sometimes called cameraless photography. These photograms were developed in lith chemistry which produces warm tones and unique characteristics. This form of lith printing is not to be mistaken with lith film or lithographic prints from stones. It is an analog printing process in the darkroom. There are too many variables to duplicate an exact print each time. Each print is unique.