Lost in the Lavender
ORIGINAL CYANOTYPES
We hosted Sarah Bourne Rafferty of Atwater Designs as our Artist in Residence, for the 2022 lavender bloom. The exhibition Lost in the Lavender is a collection of 15 pieces Sarah made during her time on the farm. Cyan or Blue outfits were encouraged at the opening.
ARTIST STATEMENT
To be lost often has negative connotations: unable to find the way or not knowing one's whereabouts. The implication being that one took a wrong turn or lacks direction. As I have gotten older the feeling of being lost has become one more of delight than of fear or sorrow. It’s hard to truly get lost when tied to an agenda or smartphone. One has to go out of their way to be immersed in another place, another time. My time here on the farm was otherworldly. I was lost in the most beautiful way, without a tether to my life back home, on a different timeline. I observed different patterns and learned new things about myself. The time was sacred. Just as in making mistakes we often find answers, it was in getting lost that I found my way to my work and a new home for my heart. This work is an invitation for you to get lost, even if just for a moment. -Sarah Bourne Rafferty
ABOUT THE CYANOTYPE PROCESS
The cyanotype process is the oldest photographic process that begins by mixing a light-sensitive solution, which is then painted onto paper. Once dry, I expose the paper to the sun with a plant or natural object touching the paper which is called a photogram. Once the paper has fully exposed, it is developed by using a water bath. The result is a white silhouette of the object on a Prussian blue background. Because of the solution used the result is always blue and white.
SHOP THE STATIONERY COLLECTION
Delight your friends, family and penpals with a small gift of art and a handwritten letter. Each collection features two each of four unique images on blank notecards from our artist in residency program. Limited Print Run.
Beautifully printed in Chester County, Pennsylvania. 100lb stock. Includes Envelopes. (12.7 x 17.8 cm, 5 x 7 in)
OPENING RECEPTION THEMED REFRESHMENTS
Blue Desserts by Dolly Rosen inspired by Sarah’s work.
PROCESS
“Walking in the woods and even through my backyard garden is the starting point of my creative process. It, in itself, is a meditation and reminds me daily how important it is to take note of where we are, and to breath. There is nothing that helps to center me like being among the natural beauty of open spaces. I first experimented with cyanotypes and alternative process photography in college. I immediately fell in love with the techniques. I’m drawn to how the process incorporates the chemistry of photography and the tactile quality of printmaking while connecting me more fully to the natural world. Each cyanotype is a unique record of my time in nature: the light, the shadows, the wind, and the time of year. The poetry of the moment is marked on the page, never to be duplicated exactly the same way.”
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Portrait of Sarah and her work by Claire Rosen
Sarah Bourne Rafferty is consistently inspired by the natural world, be it her small backyard in West Chester or adventures on mountain tops far away. She creates botanical prints using the cyanotype process. Her exploration of nature is an ever-evolving attempt to dissect what is happening with the changing of the seasons and how they can relate to communication.
Rafferty received a MFA in Book Arts/Printmaking from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA and received a BA in Studio Art with a concentration in Photography and Book Arts from Warren Wilson College near Asheville, North Carolina. She has continued her studies at Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, BookWorks in Asheville, NC, Maine Media in Camden, ME, among many others.
Rafferty is the founder of Atwater Designs, a cyanotype design studio that produces original cyanotypes, fine art prints and paper goods. She is also an educator and finds working with students to be integral in her process. Rafferty's work has been shown both nationally and internationally. She currently lives in West Chester with her husband, John, dog and cat.
Sarah gives a portion of her proceeds to land and water conservation in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Follow along on her creative journey via Instagram: @atwaterdesigns and on the web at: www.atwaterdesigns.com
