"Heirloom Bonnet" by Joanna Yoder
Heirloom Bonnet
Joanna Yoder
Media: Salted paper print photogram, gold-toned on Hahnemühle platinum rag.
Size: 13 ⅝" x 16 ⅛"
Price: $500
PROCESS
I made an Heirloom Bonnet using the salted paper print process. First, I sensitized the Hahnemuhle platinum rag paper using a brush coating technique. Then I placed a pressed piece of Queen Anne’s Lace and a hand-stitched heirloom bonnet that was passed down from my mother’s side of the family, and exposed the paper using a UV exposure unit. I toned the photogram using gold toner.
STATEMENT
From a young age, I developed an interest in history, as I grew up in a historic farmhouse filled with antiques. I was drawn back to the darkroom to find balance, to return to something more tactile and hands-on. I wanted to be far away from a computer screen, immersed in the quiet atmosphere of the darkroom. The salted paper printing process forces me to slow down and be more reflective with my work. I enjoy the experimentation with light, chemistry, and time, as well as the surprises that come with the imperfection and uniqueness of each print. Heirloom Bonnet incorporates a hand-stitched bonnet that was passed down from my mother’s side of the family. Often, I will include family heirlooms in my photographs to connect with my family history. I want to have something to pass on through my artwork, as I never had children of my own. The inclusion of the Queen Anne’s Lace, which I collected on a recent hike in the mountains of Pennsylvania, is an homage to my father, who taught me an appreciation of hiking and camping.
BIO
Joanna Knox Yoder is a photographic artist and educator originally from Burtonsville, Maryland. Yoder received her B.A. in art education from the University of Maryland, College Park, and her M.F.A. in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. She explores the connection between history, memory, and place in her photographs. She currently teaches photography full-time in the graphic design program at the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA.
