August 9 – September 10, 2021

Lisa Tyson Ennis: Botanical Alchemy

Opening Reception: Wednesday, August 11 from 5–7pm

Botanical Alchemy highlights a series of cyanotypes by Lisa Tyson Ennis, a photographer who works with historical processes. The colors and textures of these unique one-of-a-kind prints are exquisite—and best viewed in person where they can be throughly appreciated. Streaks of a cream-cycle orange electrify brilliant cyans and cobalt blues. They are a force of nature.

Ennis works with a variety of historic photographic processes including large and medium format cameras, black and white film, handmade toners and oil paints, and most recently cyanotypes, a beautiful nineteenth century photographic process whereby two benign iron salts become light sensitive when mixed together with water.

For the cyanotypes, Ennis combines iron salts in her darkroom and gently brushes several coats onto heavy watercolor paper. She then lays plant material, including delphinium, sweet peas, and dahlias, thistle, water hemlock, and bladderwrack, onto the wet paper. This is placed under a large sheet of glass and left outside to be exposed to the elements for many hours, sometimes days.

Together, the sun, wind, humidity, and type of plant create the final image—a true record of time and place, as the landscape literally imprints itself on the paper. Petals, seeds, or colorful extracts from the plants themselves often remain, embedded into the surface of the paper. For this reason Ennis does not fully process the prints with water, and so they remain mildly responsive to the environment in which they live.

The cyanotype prints are mounted and framed without glass, so the tactile surface of the print can be thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed. As with any photograph or print, direct sunlight on the work should be limited. No other care should need to be taken with the cyanotypes. If the bottom of the frame collects dust, simply wipe it with a soft cloth.

LISA TYSON ENNIS
Beckoning the Elements
Summer Diptych II, IV
unique cyanotype diptych on paper
50 x 45 inches
$5400 LISA TYSON ENNIS
The Will of the Wild Remains
unique cyanotype triptych on paper, museum acrylic
22 x 54 inches
$3800 LISA TYSON ENNIS
Bladderwrack I
unique cyanotype on paper, museum glass
28 x 28 inches
SOLD LISA TYSON ENNIS
Algae III, Green Sea Fingers
unique cyanotype on paper, museum glass
28 x 28 inches
SOLD LISA TYSON ENNIS
Bladderwrack II
unique cyanotype on paper, museum glass
28 x 28 inches
$2800 LISA TYSON ENNIS
Algae II, Green Sea Fingers
unique cyanotype on paper, museum glass
28 x 28 inches
SOLD LISA TYSON ENNIS
The Sea Is As Near
unique cyanotype on paper, museum glass
28 x 28 inches
$2800 LISA TYSON ENNIS
Drink the Wild Air
unique cyanotype on paper, museum glass
26 x 26 inches
$2600 LISA TYSON ENNIS
Beckoning the Elements
Spring VI, IV
unique cyanotype diptych on paper
50 x 45 inches
$5400 LISA TYSON ENNIS
Beckoning the Elements
Spring I, III, VII
unique cyanotype triptych on paper, 50 x 78
$8000 LISA TYSON ENNIS
Beckoning the Elements
Summer Garden III
unique cyanotype on paper, 50 x 22.5 inches
$2800 LISA TYSON ENNIS
Beckoning the Elements
Summer Garden I, Water Hemlock
unique cyanotype on paper, 50 x 23 inches
$2800 LISA TYSON ENNIS
Beckoning the Elements
Spring II
unique cyanotype on paper, 50 x 23.75 inches
$2800
LISA TYSON ENNIS Beckoning the Elements Summer Diptych II, IV unique cyanotype diptych on paper 50 x 45 inches $5400
Inquire
LISA TYSON ENNIS The Will of the Wild Remains unique cyanotype triptych on paper, museum acrylic 22 x 54 inches $3800
Inquire
LISA TYSON ENNIS Bladderwrack I unique cyanotype on paper, museum glass 28 x 28 inches SOLD
Inquire
LISA TYSON ENNIS Algae III, Green Sea Fingers unique cyanotype on paper, museum glass 28 x 28 inches SOLD
Inquire
LISA TYSON ENNIS Bladderwrack II unique cyanotype on paper, museum glass 28 x 28 inches $2800
Inquire
LISA TYSON ENNIS Algae II, Green Sea Fingers unique cyanotype on paper, museum glass 28 x 28 inches SOLD
Inquire
LISA TYSON ENNIS The Sea Is As Near unique cyanotype on paper, museum glass 28 x 28 inches $2800
Inquire
LISA TYSON ENNIS Drink the Wild Air unique cyanotype on paper, museum glass 26 x 26 inches $2600
Inquire
LISA TYSON ENNIS Beckoning the Elements Spring VI, IV unique cyanotype diptych on paper 50 x 45 inches $5400
Inquire
LISA TYSON ENNIS Beckoning the Elements Spring I, III, VII unique cyanotype triptych on paper, 50 x 78 $8000
Inquire
LISA TYSON ENNIS Beckoning the Elements Summer Garden III unique cyanotype on paper, 50 x 22.5 inches $2800
Inquire
LISA TYSON ENNIS Beckoning the Elements Summer Garden I, Water Hemlock unique cyanotype on paper, 50 x 23 inches $2800
Inquire
LISA TYSON ENNIS Beckoning the Elements Spring II unique cyanotype on paper, 50 x 23.75 inches $2800
Inquire