The Universe in a Grain of Salt

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© Alyson Shotz. Image courtesy of The ƒ/Ø Project, Los Angeles. For educational purposes only.
The Universe in a Grain of Salt
© Alyson Shotz. Image courtesy of The ƒ/Ø Project, Los Angeles. For educational purposes only.
Artist/Maker (American, born 1964)
Publisher
Date2019
MediumSuite of four salt print photograms within a portfolio case with colophon
DimensionsSheet (each, approximately): 17 × 14 in. (43.2 × 35.6 cm) Overall (portfolio case): 22 × 17 3/8 × 1/4 in. (55.9 × 44.1 × 0.6 cm)
Credit LinePurchase, William G. Roehrick '34 Art Acquisition and Preservation Fund
Object number2019.14.1-4
Not on view
DescriptionThe artist, Alyson Shotz, says of this series: "I've always been intrigued by the photographic process - each grain of silver making up an image that we recognize as a representation of reality. It’s a two-dimensional image made up of very tiny three-dimensional grains. I was interested in experimenting with the salt process because salt is also crystalline in structure. Salt is such an iconic element and is essential for life itself. When thinking about the salt process, I wondered about making salt the subject of the imagery by using it as the medium. The many grains are like stars in the sky and the crystalline structure reflects and refracts light. In these photographs, the grains of salt become galaxies in the universe. Working in the dark room, it seems possible to visit the far reaches of the universe through the humble means of salt scattered on paper." (SOURCE: The ƒ/Ø Project website, http://www.f-zeroproject.com/alyson-shotz.html, accessed May 2019)
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Additional Details

Provenance 2019: Hamilton College (Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art), by purchase from The ƒ/Ø Project, Los Angeles, CA.
Markings None noted.
Signature Each print signed and dated on verso at lower right in pencil.
Inscribed Various inscriptions on each print verso in pencil.
Image courtesy of the Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art at Hamilton College. Photo by John Be…
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Unknown artist, Greek (Ancient)
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Object number: 1993.12.1a
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Date: c. 960-1126
Medium: Stoneware with qingbai glaze
Object number: 1993.12.2a
Photograph by John Bentham.
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Medium: Limewood
Object number: 1993.37
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Medium: Silver
Object number: S2018.1.28
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Medium: Silver
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Date: c. 1821
Medium: Silk and gold thread
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