Polaroid Transfer and Manipulation Workshop

Release Date: 2/22/2002. Expired: 3/9/2002

Wondering what to do with those unused packs of Polaroid film collecting dust on the desk? Artist and photographer Glenna Butts has the perfect solution.

Join this creative Kingston Springs artisan March 9 at The Renaissance Center for her one-day workshop on Polaroid Transfer and Manipulation where students will explore several processes using instant Polaroid film.

Students will start with image transfers and move on to emulsion lifts and transfers.

By learning both techniques, participants can readily envision expanded creative potential in working with a single image.

“Working from the precise, stark images photography offers, transfer art has the ability to render a surreal, dream-like and vintage feel to current images, providing unlimited creative possibilities,” Butts said. “These transfers can be created in the field by in-camera method, or in the studio through the use of an enlarger. Given the manipulative qualities of the film being used, it is possible to produce numerous hand worked, unique originals from a single transparency or negative. These images lend themselves naturally to both striking artistic interpretation and to effective commercial use.”

Deeply concerned about the deteriorating environment, and her personal and community heritage, Butts said she finds transfer art has a remarkable ability to articulate the fragile and elusive fabric of the environment.

“My ongoing series, Almost Gone, is an artistic, photographic attempt to generate awareness of the images of our personal, day-to-day lives that are gradually slipping by, either through pervasive ignorance, benign demolition by neglect, lack of funding, or aggressive demolition under the mask of progress,” she said. “I hope, through the feeling of evanescence immediately cognitive to this art, to be able to assist in cultivating an awareness of how fragile these sites are becoming, and to help instigate, expedite and perpetuate preservation efforts.”

Butts explained the different processes she will use in her workshop at The Renaissance Center.

“Image transfers occur by interrupting the development process of the Polaroid film and developing the image onto a myriad of alternative surfaces, such as watercolor paper, claybord, canvas, wood, natural fabrics such as silk or cotton, or another other stable, absorbent receptacle,” she said. “Utilizing the image transfer process, a vintage, sepia-like image is obtained. These images can also be enhanced by hand coloring using common artist materials such as pencils, watercolors, pastels and acrylics.”

Emulsion transfers are completely different, Butts said.

“They require full development of the image, whereupon the extremely delicate emulsion layer is removed and carefully transferred to virtually any other surface, including three-dimensional objects. The emulsion can be stretched, sculpted and torn, then carefully hand colored.”

Students will also experiment with SX-70 manipulation.

The basic equipment to begin creating transfers is available for use and film is provided.

“This is a hands-on workshop, and enrollment is limited so each student can receive individual attention,” said Butts. “Each participant should leave the workshop with several images suitable for framing.”

Butts said her fascination with photography began when she won a Brownie camera when she was just six years old. Her father worked for the Eastman Kodak Company, so while the immediate gratification of Polaroid film was fascinating, it wasn’t allowed in her home.

“As an adult I have finally found the medium which offers the best of fine art photography,” she said. “I am able to use the 35mm and medium format cameras and transfer to Polaroid film, marrying the phenomena of photography with the magic of instant development, as well as the opportunity to implement my drawing and painting skills.”

Butts studied Fine Arts at East Tennessee State University. She completed her course work at Watkins Institute and Nashville Tech in photography, drawing, painting and various art classes, and studied Image and Emulsion Transfer with Kathleen Carr in Sebastapol, Ca., and with Tracy Storer in Polaroid large format at Calumet Photography in San Francisco.

She and her husband, Sam, own Holly Hill Farm in Kingston Springs. Some of her work can be seen at Studio 123 located at 123 Main St. in Dickson, at The Arts Company, 215 Fifth Ave. N. in Nashville and at The Renaissance Center.

Tuition for the workshop is $85 and the registration deadline is March 1. Class size is limited to 15.

For more information on the Polaroid Transfer and Manipulation Workshop with Glenna Butts call The Renaissance Center at (615)740-5600.

The Renaissance Center is located at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 minutes west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.

Visit the Visual Arts Workshops page for more about the workshops.

News

Date Released	Expiration	Headline
No Press Releases to show...