Global Pandemic
Michelle Leone Huisman
March 2–April 10, 2022
OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, March 3 @ 6pm
Global Pandemic is fine art photographer Michelle Leone Huisman’s statement on the two pandemics we are currently facing: COVID-19 and a second more insidious accumulation of waste produced in response. In the fall of 2020, the world used 129 billion disposable plastic masks every month, or three million masks per minute (source: World Economic Forum). Pairing the darker side of these two pandemics with playful childhood themes, Global Pandemic hopes to illuminate the collective consciousness that links the health of our planet with the well-being of our children, while remembering the folklore produced in previous times of societal distress.
The photographs of Global Pandemic are printed using the 19th Century technique called tri-colour bichromate gum over palladium. This process produces work that will stand the test of time (this technique is reputed to maintain its quality for more than 500 years). The enduring quality of the print ensures they can be passed down to generations to come. The paper is hand-brushed with a specific chemistry of palladium and ferric oxalate and set to dry in low light conditions. Fixing the negative to the dried substrate, it is then exposed with the image to UV light in a burner. The metal-halide screen exposure system vacuums the print and negative together to create a very close contact during exposure that is important for highly detailed artwork. The paper is then put into three different stop baths of at least ten minutes each. This hand-painted application process is then repeated for each pigment layer over the palladium (yellow, magenta, then cyan) and can be repeated a virtually unlimited number of times to create the desired effect. No two images are alike despite starting with the same negative. Each one-of-a-kind image can take up to five days or more to process. To read the full artist statement, please click here.
Global Pandemic will be on display at the Dal Schindell Gallery from March 2nd to April 10th. An Artist Reception will take place on March 3rd at 6:00 PM and an Artist Talk on April 7th at 6:00pm. There is no charge to attend the exhibition. For more information please visit MichelleHuisman.com.