INVASIVE: Photographic Works by Rachel Rushing

Invasive: Photographic Works By Rachel Rushing
September 28-October 31

Opening, September 28th, 6:00-8:00 pm

Oil and Cotton is pleased to announce an exhibition of the recent work of Rachel Rushing. The opening reception will be hosted at Oil and Cotton on Saturday, September 28 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The event is free to the public, with food and beverages provided.

Invasive is a presentation of photographic prints, installations, and artist books that explore threats to local ecosystems in the form of excess waste and litter. Rachel Rushing has desired to find a meaningful connection to the natural world in the midst of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolis and through her investigation has come into a greater understanding of her own ecological relationships. Rushing’s work brings awareness and thoughtful consideration to habits of consumption, waste, and apathy within the local biome.


Oil and Cotton Creative Exchange
837 W. 7th St.
Dallas, TX
214.942.0474

Gallery hours:
Tuesday - Friday, 1 pm - 6 pm
Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm

Anthotypes with Rachel Rush on Saturday, June 1st

This beginner friendly class invites exploration and experimentation, two things that make for exciting photography! During this workshop you'll learn some of the basics in historical photographic processes including contact printing vs. enlargements, various materials that can be used as a substrate, such as paper or cloth, and the specifics of anthotype printing, which uses natural dyes found in plant materials to create photographs. Because this is an organic process, every print is unique; the same plant may produce images that vary in contrast, texture, value, and intensity. This fluidity makes for an ethereal process that pushes photographers to rely on instinct and a free spirit.

This mysterious process was discovered early in the history of photography, but artists and scientists at the time could not find suitable chemistry that would make the image permanent, an incessant challenge that plagued much of early photography. In this workshop we will explore color-fast methods used for hundreds of years in textile dying that are uniquely suited to this photographic process.

Join us for an afternoon of exploration and leave with an archival, handmade specimen book for collecting your own flora, as well as swatches and recipes for creating your own anthotypes.

Photography: Anthotypes
Saturday, June 1

Instructor: Rachel Rushing 

Cost:$45

Photoshop Collage
Saturday, September 22, 3-5pm
Instructor: Rebecca Carter

Using Rene Magritte's charming pants painting at the DMA and the narrative after it was named as inspiration participants will take a short walk in the neighborhood collecting images with their digital camera. Basic photoshop skills dealing with manipulating images will be taught and students will combine a minimum of two images in absurd or poignant juxtaposition as a digital image. The resulting works may then be published online as a part of Rebecca's MAP (Make Art with Purpose) open source project . An iphone works, or any digital camera which will alllow you to import images to a computer. Students will need to bring their own computers (laptops). The program will be taught using a Mac, but the information should translate fairly directly to PC.

Photography Classes at Oil and Cotton

The Camera Obscura and Pinhole Cameras
Saturday, October 13, 11-2pm
Instructor: Laura Barth Turner

This special class will explore two significant historical photographic processes: Pinhole cameras, and the original camera: the Camera Obscura.

The modern term "camera" is derived from the word Camera Obscura (latin for "dark chamber"), a basic optical viewing device that involves a simple hole for a lens, and a wall or board for a screen. It was used by many painters to compose scenes before putting brush to canvas, and experimented with by scientists as early as Aristotle.

The pinhole camera is an extension of this concept- it minimizes the large size of the camera obscura, and adds the ability to actually record an image on light sensitive material, creating mysterious, fleeting, and beautiful one-of-a-kind images.
For this workshop, we will begin by creating and exploring our own room-sized Camera Obscura. Next, we will build individual pinhole cameras, which we will use to make photographs and develop them, leaving you with unique pieces of art to take home with you.
Students will receive a kit that includes all materials. You will take home a reusable pinhole camera, and 8-10 pinhole photographs made during the workshop.

Camera Obscura Kit:
-heavy weight Mat board for building pinhole cameras
-gaffers tape for sealing the camera
-black and White darkroom paper for making prints
-developing chemistry will also be provided

Laura has created a series of photography based classes for Oil and Cotton. Look for more to come, including Polaroid Transfers and Iphoneography!

Laura Turner is an artist whose main medium is photography, though she is also passionate about mixed media projects. She is also very interested in the intersections between film and analog photography, digital photography, and social and mobile mediums.
www.laurabarthturner.com

Photographing People: Street Photography and Portraits

Two-part series: Saturday, Oct 1-8, 10-1pm

We are very fortunate to be able to offer this class with photographer Kael Alford. Students will examine transcendent photographs in two documentary genres: street photography and portraiture. We’ll discuss what makes great photographs of people stand apart in an image-saturated world. We’ll address how documentary images are discovered and constructed, and explore techniques for telling stories about people in single photos and in groups of images.

Experienced photographers will be encouraged to find ways to make their work more personal and fulfilling and amateurs will be challenged to take their photography out of the realm of snapshots and into the space of shared revelation.

We’ll make some photographs together in the first session, participants will leave the first class with an assignment and return to the next week's class to edit and discuss their work. Though we will review technical skills, participants should know how to use their cameras.
Participants must have their own digital cameras. Digital single lens reflex cameras are preferred, but not essential - you can also bring your point and shoot.

Participants from 12 to 120 are welcome. Please feel free to contact Kael with questions about the class: kaelalford@gmail.com

Visit our website to register online.

Kael Alford is a documentary photographer and journalist with 15 years of professional, international experience who has recently moved to Oak Cliff. She has taught photography courses to young people, college students and other adults.

You can learn more about Kael and her photography here:
www.kaelalford.com
www.unembedded.com

This Saturday - Clay and Cyanotypes...

In part one of this two session class students use their hands to build artwork out of earth clay. The clay will be fired to prepare for part two of the class where students learn to glaze. This Saturday from 10-11:30.

This class will introduce students to the history of the Cyanotype process. Students will learn how to mix chemicals to make sensitizing solutions and application techniques for coating various papers, fabric. Photograms may be created with botanical specimens, feathers, lace, stencils, and other objects (no film, camera, or negatives needed for photograms). Most of the class will take place outside, as sunlight will be used to expose the Cyanotypes.

This workshop is adaptable for participants of all ages and levels of experience.
Teacher: Shannon Driscoll
October 2nd, 1-3pm
$85.00