While not a required course within the School of Print Media curriculum, Technology of Organic Materials class, offered through the College of Liberal Arts, offers students an exceptional experience in the technologic, historical, and cultural applications of 19th century printing and photography to help them better understand the importance of these processes in the development of modern printing and photography. Taught by Elizabeth Goins, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Cultural Materials Sciences and Fine Arts in the College of Liberal Arts, the course offers a lecture and studio-lab combination which allows students to use materials, tools, and techniques in order to support the creation of art on paper and other organic art materials.  The class offers students the chance to study and attempt to recreate early photographic processes and experiments including: physautotype, heliochromy, calotypes, salted paper prints, and albumen.

Having taken this class, I really enjoyed the ability to freely experiment with early techniques to find the best mix of chemicals and substrate to produce a rendered image. In this class I was able to sit through a lecture about a process, put that lecture in to process in the lab, and then go outside to expose all sensitized papers in the sun. It was interesting to learn the base history of a technology I am constantly involved with everyday within the School of Print Media. While sometimes it may feel like your schedule is set in rigid requirements, remember there is always a chance to take a class that is truly interesting and worth your time. I would recommend this class to anyone.

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