“Photograms”

An Exhibit by Kate Breakey

January 27 - May 29, 2022

Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson presents an exhibition by acclaimed Artist, Kate Breakey, in the gallery from January 27th through March 30th. 

 Photograms, or 'photogenic drawings’, are the earliest form of photography, a process invented by Henry Fox Talbot. The images are made without a camera; subjects are simply placed on light sensitive paper and exposed to light resulting in a negative shadow with variation in tone according to the transparency of the object. Specimens used in this process include beautiful natural living organisms such as plants, insects, and animals. Their ghostly imprint, a permanent record of their brief existence on this earth. These are part of Breakey’s larger series ‘Las Sombras/The Shadows’ spanning 10 years, in which time she recorded hundreds of plants and creatures as part of her ongoing fascination with the natural world. 

Also in this exhibition are ‘Orotones’ - photographs printed on the back of glass and gilded with hand-applied gold-leaf. Breakey was inspired by this early 20th century photographic process popularized by among others, American photographer, Edward Curtis. However a similar process, ‘Maki-e’ (gold lacquer) Photography had been invented earlier in the late 19th century by Hanbeh Mizuno in Japan. 

 Artwork courtesy of the artist and Etherton Gallery. 

 The Exhibit is free for Members and with regular Gardens admission.