Michelle Mongey CYANOTYPES
The shapes of nature inspire many local artists, and Michelle Mongey has found a unique and striking way to create art from local flora. Cyanotype is the original science behind blueprints and requires the artist to follow a specific process. First, she paints a combination of iron-based chemicals onto fabric and leaves it for several hours. Plant matter is then arranged on the surface, and the whole thing is exposed to UV light for around ten minutes. Initially the surface goes a dark green-brown, but after washing, a stunning blue is revealed. With a goal of upcycling and only using found / used materials in her work, she then turns each print into a garment, lampshade, wall hanging, or light display. She even makes her own picture frames.
Mongey began her artistic journey drawing portraits as a teenager and also enjoys sketching and acrylics. She settled on watercolour as her primary expression and continues to paint regularly. Cyanotype is a more recent endeavour, giving the artist a new avenue to use the leaves and flowers that she finds on her regular nature walks around Fernie.
Originally from Sydney, Australia, she arrived in Fernie for a ski season 8 years ago and made a home in the mountains. In Fernie, she has developed a passion for recycling and repurposing, combining this with her art and love of the outdoors. Regular visitors may remember the moose she built out of old records for the Moose on the Loose exhibition, or the Three Sisters Light Installation that hung on the outside wall at Freshies. Her work has been exhibited at Mugshots and the Arts Station, and in November, her exhibit‘ Where Light Leaves a Trace’ will be on display in the Cabin Room from the 6th- 23rd.
michellemongeyart. wixsite. com / portfolio
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