BY Abigail Doan | August 1, 2010

Harness the sun’s rays for experimental textile printing

Artist Matt Shapoff has created a modern interpretation of the 19th century cyanotype photograph by using the sun's rays to print natural silhouettes on one-of-a-kind silk scarves. You might recall from your art history studies an amazing woman named Anna Atkins - touted to be the possible inventor of photography or at least the first person to publish a book of photographic images. Her Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressionswas created using direct contact printing of dried sea algae on cyanotype paper.

Handmade on Peconic Bay artist Matt Shapoff has revived this process by printing directly onto silk with a giant plate he has constructed for use outdoors on a sunny day. Arrangements of dried vegetation, feathers, and other sea treasures are thoughtfully arranged on solution-treated silk and then exposed to light to create organic, blueprint-like impressions. No dyes are used in this process and the vintage glow is all solar-generated.

Printing on fabric is a new experiment for Shapoff who typically creates modern vintage photographic prints and handmade paper goods as part of the Handmade On Peconic portfolio. With the ongoing quest for less toxic textile printing methods as well as reduced energy consumption in the studio, this is an intriguing alternative to standard fabric treatments. Cyanotypes on cloth are long lasting but must be washed by hand with non-phosphate soap in order to avoid yellowing of the image. Interestingly, prints that have been over-exposed to sunlight can apparently be restored to their original tone by simply storing them in a dark environment for a set period of time.