This workshop will introduce participants to the fundamentals of mordançage. Mordançage is an obscure darkroom technique developed in the 1970’s by French photographer Jean-Pierre Sudre, which evolved from the 19th century process of bleach-etching. After producing silver gelatin prints in the darkroom, we will learn how to add veils and textures to each print with mordançage chemistry. We will discuss the components of the chemistry, the steps of bleaching and redeveloping, and emulsion manipulation techniques. Participants will have time to explore the nuances of this haunting process and will leave the workshop with at least one fully-realized mordançage print.
Requirements:
-Basic darkroom printing experience required.
-Please bring thin negatives in any format that will produce large shadow areas on the final print. Digital negatives can also be used.
-Please bring fibre-based paper or purchase from Gallery 44.
-Please bring an N95 or respirator mask to protect from chemistry vapours.
Please e-mail lfatemi@gallery44.org with any questions you may have.
Ella Morton (she/her) is a Canadian visual artist and filmmaker living in Tkaronto/ Toronto. Her expedition-based practice has brought her to residencies and projects across Canada, Scandinavia and Antarctica. Working primarily with lens-based media, she uses experimental analogue processes to capture the sublime and fragile qualities of remote landscapes.
She has exhibited her work internationally, including shows at Lonsdale Gallery (Toronto), Foley Gallery (New York), Contemporary Calgary (Calgary), Galérie AVE (Montréal), Idea Exchange (Cambridge), the Center for Fine Art Photography (Fort Collins, CO), Photographic Center Northwest (Seattle), the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art (Kelowna) and Hanstholm Art Space (Denmark). Her work has been featured in a variety of publications including the NPR Picture Show, Better Photography Magazine, Analog Forever Magazine, Lenscratch, the Toronto Star and the British Journal of Photography. She is a sessional photography instructor at York University.
