Ask the River: Cyanotype Workshop
As part of my AmeriCorps service year with In-Sight Photography Project, I co-designed and co-taught a place-based arts workshop in partnership with the Vermont-wide community art initiative Ask the River. The project aimed to deepen students’ relationship with their environment through hands-on cyanotype printmaking and connecting art, science, and storytelling through the lens of the Connecticut River.
Design Process
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Our goal was to create an immersive educational experience that:
Introduced students (ages 11–18) to cyanotype printmaking, both technically and historically
Encouraged place-based reflection and environmental awareness
Contributed student-created artwork to a public installation at the Brattleboro Transportation Center
Built confidence and collaboration through a multi-day, interdisciplinary experience
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Day 1: Foundations in Technique & Context
Introduced students to the history of cyanotypes, including the work of Anna Atkins, an early female photographer and botanist
Led a hands-on session creating personal cyanotype prints using natural materials and found objects
Built student confidence in using light, timing, and composition intentionally
Day 2: Collaboration & Public Art Creation
Met artists from Ask the River at the banks of the Connecticut River
Facilitated group printmaking sessions to create large-scale silk banners using local flora and river patterns
Guided students in discussing the symbolism of water and place in their work
Documented the process and helped curate pieces for a public art display
Instructional Materials Developed:
Cyanotype primer & visual handouts
Workshop slides for framing history, technique, and safety
World Cyanotype Day community flyer
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A two-day workshop blending art, science, and environmental reflection. Deliverables included:
12+ student-created cyanotype silk banners
Instructional materials to support cyanotype learning
Student-led discussions around place, identity, and collaboration
Public exhibition of student work at the Brattleboro Transportation Center
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100% student participation and project completion
Students reported increased confidence in both technical art skills and collaboration
Student work permanently exhibited as part of the Ask the River public installation
Strengthened community partnership between In-Sight and regional artists/initiatives
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This project reminded me how powerful experiential learning can be when tied to identity, environment, and care. If I were to extend the workshop, I’d build in additional days for student-led design and storytelling, perhaps through zines, written reflections, or digital collages about their relationship to the river.
