JOIN US AT MAINE MEDIA!
Dates:
Jul 28, 2027 – Jul 2, 2027
Levels: Beginner, Intermediate
Workshop Fee: $1695
Workshop Duration: 1 week (Monday-Friday)
Workshop Location: On-campus
Class Size: 10
Whether you're an artist, photographer, nature enthusiast, or just an Anna Atkins fan, you'll love making this one-of-a-kind artifact that preserves the seaweeds, stories, and memories gathered in Maine, while celebrating the intersection of nature, photography, and the handmade book. Join artist Katama Murray and ecologist Jordan Chalfant for this extraordinary workshop!
Discover the incredible legacy of Anna Atkins (1799–1871)—a pioneering botanist, photographer, and bookmaker whose work forever changed the relationship between science, art, and the printed book. In 1843, Atkins published Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, widely recognized as the very first photobook. At a time when photography itself was still in its infancy, Atkins embraced the newly invented cyanotype process to create a publication with remarkably detailed images of seaweed and botanical specimens, producing a publication that was both a scientific reference and an exquisite work of art.
Anna Atkins and one of her seaweed cyanotypes.
Inspired by her groundbreaking vision, artist Katama Murray and marine ecologist Jordan Chalfant invite participants to experience the same intersection of natural history, photography, science, and book arts. The workshop begins with a guided beach excursion to collect seaweed while learning about the ecology, diversity, and environmental importance of Maine’s coastal ecosystems.
Back in the studio, you’ll create a series of luminous cyanotype prints from your collected specimens, exploring the same photographic process Atkins used nearly two centuries ago. Jordan will guide participants in identifying the seaweeds and understanding their ecological significance, while Katama will teach techniques for composing, exposing, and developing beautiful botanical cyanotypes on paper and fabric.
Students collect seaweed in Rockport, Maine with Jordan Chalfant.
The culmination of the workshop is the creation of your own handbound artist’s book. Participants will carefully sequence their prints, pair them with specimen identifications and observations, and learn traditional bookbinding techniques to transform a collection of individual cyanotypes into a beautifully crafted volume. You’ll create a beautifully-crafted book with a lasting record of your time on the Maine coast, echoing Atkins’ pioneering publication. Along the way, you’ll gain practical skills in bringing together photography, natural history, and craftsmanship in a single handmade object.
No previous experience in photography or book arts is required. Whether you’re an artist, photographer, nature enthusiast, or simply someone who loves the Maine coast, you’ll be guided through every step of the process. Participants will leave with a one-of-a-kind artifact of Maine that preserves the seaweeds, stories, and memories gathered during the workshop, while celebrating the intersection of nature, photography, and the handmade book.
INSTRUCTORS
KATAMA MURRAY
Katama Murray (she/her) is an artist, educator, naturalist, and small business owner from the Blue Hill peninsula now residing in Deer Isle, Maine. Her mixed media work and company, Teach Peace Prints, are inspired by place-based making and our interconnectedness to the environment. While living and studying throughout regions of New England and the Midwest, she has always been influenced by the outdoors and the ways in which we coexist with the natural world. Utilizing locally foraged natural materials, she layers print and fiber processes to visually communicate ideas, observations, and perpetual experimentation. Through hands-on techniques, Katama teaches regional workshops focused on versatile methods that encourage exploration and foster life-long learning. Katama also teaches at the Blue Hill Harbor School as their Visual Arts Educator. With a passion for multidisciplinary making, she enjoys inspiring others to become more connected to the earth through the power of art and community.
JORDAN CHALFANT
Jordan Chalfant is an artist and naturalist who lives year-round on the coast of Maine. Her dual studies in fine arts and botany at College of the Atlantic (Class of 2012) sparked a deep fascination with Maine’s seaweed flora, which she has been studying ever since. Jordan is a research scientist at Maine Natural History Observatory, a nonprofit organization focused on biological monitoring and the creation of educational materials. She is also the coauthor of the forthcoming "Field Guide to the Seaweeds of Maine."
CANCELLATION POLICY
Please refer to the Maine Media registration and cancellation policies.
