VSW Salon November: White Corn, River Water and Patience: Forging New Photo-chemical Relationships

  • Alice Cazenave is a photo-artist, scholar, and the Project Lead of Sustainable Darkroom, a research community developing low toxicity photo-chemistries. Cazenave spent over a year in Rochester, NY to research locally sourced, plant-based ingredients that could be made into photo-chemistry. VSW invited Cazenave to share her research and the photographs she made while in Rochester. Afterwards, she spoke with artist and VSW Assistant Curator, Hernease Davis about how her work is aiming to contribute to an anti-colonial history of photography

    These photographs were made by Cazenave in Rochester and developed using Rochester-sourced ingredients such as white corn, milk thistle growing in Kodak’s parking lot, and Genesee River water. The image selections show the variety of locations and techniques Cazenave creatively and resourcefully wielded to make each photograph. These images are a small selection from the work Cazenave will share in her upcoming online artist conversation on November 14th.

     

    A vertical black and white photograph of a cluster of brightly lit whole ears of white corn on the stalk. Most of the ears are in shadow except one in the lower right side of the photo that is illuminated by the sun.

    a:yetíya’ dágeha’ [We Should Help Her] 2024. Image by Kalen Fontenelle, printed by Alice Cazanave, White Corn & Lye photo-chemistry on outdated gelatin silver fibre based paper

    Image description: A vertical black and white photograph of a cluster of brightly lit whole ears of white corn on the stalk. Most of the ears are in shadow except one in the lower right side of the photo that is illuminated by the sun.

     

    A horizontal color photograph shows a variety of collected leaves, stems and other plant parts separated into ziplock bags, mason jars, empty film canisters and plastic take-out containers sit on top of a table that is backlit from light coming through a window.

    Collected plants for photo chemistry

    Image Description: A horizontal color photograph shows a variety of collected leaves, stems and other plant parts separated into ziplock bags, mason jars, empty film canisters and plastic take-out containers sit on top of a table that is backlit from light coming through a window.

     

    Horizontal black and white photograph with a warm tone. In the foreground is a chain link fence guarding an empty parking lot with a horizon of trees in the background. . On the fence is a sign that reads, “This KODAK Parking Lot Is Under Surveillance B Closed Circuit Television”. The words “Is Under” are flanked by illustrations of eyes. The left portion of the fence is dilapitated and hanging at a diagonal, leaving the fence partially open. Vegetation grows through cracks in the concrete parking lot.

    Legacy: The City That Kodak Built IV (Eastman House lawn cuttings & foraged plants from Kodak landfills were used as plant-based photographic chemistry), 2024

    Image Description: Horizontal black and white photograph with a warm tone. In the foreground is a chain link fence guarding an empty parking lot with a horizon of trees in the background. On the fence is a sign that reads, “This KODAK Parking Lot Is Under Surveillance B Closed Circuit Television.” The words “Is Under” are flanked by illustrations of eyes. The left portion of the fence is dilapidated and hanging at a diagonal, leaving the fence partially open. Vegetation grows through cracks in the concrete parking lot.

     

    Horizontal black and white, warm toned photograph of a parking lot with vegetation growing through the cracks. The parking lot is dotted with tall, slender light polls. In the background are trees that line the horizon.

    Legacy: The City That Kodak Built II (Eastman House lawn cuttings & foraged plants from Kodak landfills were used as plant-based photographic chemistry), 2024

    Image Description: Horizontal black and white, warm toned photograph of a parking lot with vegetation growing through the cracks. The parking lot is dotted with tall, slender light poles. In the background are trees that line the horizon.

     

    A horizontal black and white photo of Alice Cazenave, a white woman with short brown hair, wearing pants, and a light colored t-shirt. Cazenave kneels on the shore of the Genesee River to boil plants in a pot using a portable hot plate. She smiles as she holds a long, flat rock over the pot as a make-shift lid. On the ground next to the hotplate is a smart phone and a utensil for mixing. In the background to the right is the lower body of a light-skinned person wearing dark shorts and white boots stands.

    Untitled (film developed with heavy metal remediating ‘weeds’ growing along the Genesee River, developed on site using river water), 2024

    Image Description: A horizontal black and white photo of Alice Cazenave, a white woman with short brown hair, wearing pants, and a light colored t-shirt. Cazenave kneels on the shore of the Genesee River to boil plants in a pot using a portable hot plate. She smiles as she holds a long, flat rock over the pot as a make-shift lid. On the ground next to the hotplate is a smart phone and a utensil for mixing. In the background to the right is the lower body of a light-skinned person wearing dark shorts and white boots stands.

     

    A vertical black and white photograph of the Genesee River shore. In the top 1/3 is river breakwater that is reflecting bright sunlight. Below that are rocks from the shore. The lower 2/3 of the image fades into a bright white triangular shape.

    Untitled (film developed with heavy metal remediating ‘weeds’ growing along the Genesee River, developed on site using river water), 2024

    Image Description: A vertical black and white photograph of the Genesee River shore. In the top 1/3 is river breakwater that is reflecting bright sunlight. Below that are rocks from the shore. The lower 2/3 of the image fades into a bright white triangular shape.

     

    A horitzontal black and white photograph of a road on a sunny day in Rochester’s Corn Hill neighborhood and a highway pass overhead. There are shaded cars parked on the left hand side of the street, and houses, streets and the sidewalk stretch into the background. On the highway overpass above the road is a sign that reads, “Welcome Corn Hill Center City”. The sign is flanked by Rochester, New York’s flower emblem.

    Scarification (plant developed Rochester neighbourhoods ‘scarred’ with highway road grit), 2024

    Image Description: A horizontal black and white photograph of a road on a sunny day in Rochester’s Corn Hill neighborhood and a highway pass overhead. There are shaded cars parked on the left hand side of the street. Houses, the road and the sidewalks stretch into the background. On the highway overpass above the road is a sign that reads, “Welcome Corn Hill Center City.” The sign is flanked by Rochester, New York’s flower emblem.

     

    A horizontal black and white, wide angle photograph of an elevated, concrete walkway that is partially covered in fallen leaves. On both sides of the walkway is a fence with handrailing. In the background on the right is a person walking wearing dark pants and a light long-sleeved shirt. In the very back of the image is a hill covered in trees and a stairway that leads up to a road at the top of the hill.

    Scarification (plant developed Rochester neighbourhoods ‘scarred’ with highway road grit), 2024

    Image Description: A horizontal black and white, wide angle photograph of an elevated, concrete walkway that is partially covered in fallen leaves. On both sides of the walkway is a fence with handrailing. In the background on the right is a person walking wearing dark pants and a light long-sleeved shirt. In the very back of the image is a hill covered in trees and a stairway that leads up to a road at the top of the hill.

     

    A horizontal image collage made of a photograph of beachgoers on the shore of Lake Ontario. There are a cluster of people in the water. An image inset on the top right corner of the photograph depicts a dock and handrails used to climb in and out of Lake Ontario.

    Untitled (Lake Ontario), 2024

    Image Description: A horizontal image collage made of a photograph of beachgoers on the shore of Lake Ontario. In the mid-ground of the image are a group of people standing in shallow water just off the shore. An image inset on the top right corner of the photograph depicts a dock and handrails used to climb in and out of Lake Ontario.

     

    A horizontal image collage made of a photograph of Lake Ontario, and a lumen print of an Eastman Tulip. In the larger depicts Lake Ontario at dusk or dawn, surrounded by trees on the shore. In the background are two dark structures. The structure casts a long reflection in the lake. The lumen tulip print is inset on the top left corner of the photograph.

    Untitled (Lake Ontario Eastman Tulips), 2024

    Image Description: A horizontal image collage made of a photograph of Lake Ontario, and a lumen print of an Eastman Tulip. In the larger depicts Lake Ontario at dusk or dawn, surrounded by trees on the shore. In the background are two dark structures. The structure casts a long reflection in the lake. The lumen tulip print is inset on the top left corner of the photograph.

     

    A horizontal image collage made of four images. A black and white image of a snow covered mountainous area. Underneath is horizontal image of a mountainous range and a blue sky. Next to this image is a vertical black and white image depicting grass in the lower half of the image and a clear white sky. This image crop includes the film sprockets of the negative that shows it was photographed on XP2 film. Underneath this image is a color horizonal image of a beige and orange building and an empty parking lot with vegetation growing through the cracks.

    Landscapes of Photographic Silver, 2024

    Image Description: A horizontal image collage made of four images. A black and white image of a snow covered mountainous area. Underneath is horizontal image of a mountainous range and a blue sky. Next to this image is a vertical black and white image depicting grass in the lower half of the image and a clear white sky. This image crop includes the film sprockets of the negative that shows it was photographed on XP2 film. Underneath this image is a color horizonal image of a beige and orange building and an empty parking lot with vegetation growing through the cracks.

     

    A horizontal color photograph of the Rochester skyline. Kodak Tower is the tallest building and sits in the middle of the image. The image is coated with colorful processing chemistry.

    Untitled (Rochester Genesee Souped), 2024 Cazenave soaked this film in Genesee river water before processing.

    Image Description: A horizontal color photograph of the Rochester skyline. Kodak Tower is the tallest building and sits in the middle of the image. The image is sharp while the color film emulsion holds reddish-brown sediment and residue from being soaked in Genesee River water.

     

    This is a visual that Cazenave redraws periodically to illustrate the complex historical, social and environmental relationships connected to the production of Kodak film. This is the latest iteration of Cazenave’s map. It will continue to evolve as her research deepens. Cazenave provides more context for this map in her recorded talk.

    Alice Cazenave’s Metabolism Map

    Image Description: This is a visual that Cazenave redraws periodically to illustrate the complex historical, social and environmental relationships connected to the production of Kodak film. This is the latest iteration of Cazenave’s map. It will continue to evolve as her research deepens. Cazenave provides more context for this map in her recorded talk.

     

    Alice Cazenave, River sediment lumen print on outdated Kodak paper

    River sediment lumen print on outdated Kodak paper, 2024

    Image Description: A horizontal color image. This is a scan of a lumen print of sediment from the Genesee River. The image of sediment is a rusty and white hue that covers the majority of the frame. The portion of the print not covered by sediment is a light grayish blue.

     

     

    Relevant Reference Readings: 

    The following is a list of readings that expand on Alice Cazenave’s lecture, Legacy: The City That Kodak Built. These readings address topics such as Haudenosaunee traditions, the ongoing effects of photo-chemical pollution, indigenous philosophy and research that delves into the historical implications of mining the core elements that create conventional photographic materials. It is wide ranging and incomplete, as is the history of photography.

    We have included links to publications that are accessible and free to read. We have also included titles of books that are in print and available to order or check out from your local library.

    Accessible Readings:

    Publications accessible in physical archives, local libraries or are texts available to purchase:

    • Robin Wall Kimmerer, Gathering Moss, Oregon State University Press, 2003