Upcoming Shows

Hello everyone!

Just letting everyone know of a solo show I will be having at t, an urban teahouse in OKC.
I will be exhibiting 11 pieces from my Polaroid Collection.
The opening reception is Thursday, November 12th from 7-9pm.
There will be many different teas and cocktails.
The reason for having the flier present is because of the alcohol being served.
Don't worry though, there will be plenty of fliers available at the venue if you don't have one.
Everyone is invited to attend so don't be bashful.

The other show is IAO's Red Dot, an annual exhibition and silent auction benefiting artists and IAO.
I will have one piece, "Tzucacab Cemetery" photograph, 30x20, 1/10.
This will be held on Friday, November 20th from 7-11pm at IAO's new gallery 706 W.Sheridan OKC.
You can purchase tickets at IAO's website: http://www.iaogallery.org/ or by phone 405-232-6060 and also
at Blue 7 (7518 N.May Ave OKC) or Full Circle Bookstore (1900 NW Expressway OKC)
Tickets are $20 advance or $25 at the door

So, hope to see everyone make it out.
Enjoy the beautiful weather!

How To Make A Polaroid Emulsion Lift

So, as promised, here are some step - by - step instructions on making an emulsion lift.

First, you will need a Polaroid 669 photograph. I used an image I shot of The Price Tower

in Bartlesville, OK designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (one of my fave architects.) Once developed,

it's best to let it sit for 24 hours before making it into an emulsion lift. This allows the emulsion to

settle and fully develop.

Second, you will need very hot water ( I use a coffee pot), tongs, cold water, paper or board or other surface to place emulsion lift on, a container for the hot and cold water (I use an old casserole dish I found

at a flea market. Since chemicals will be floating around it's best not to use something that's "nice" or that

you will ever eat out of.)

When you have your Polaroid, it's time to get the hot water ready. Using a coffee pot

is quick and easy. Pour into your hot water container. Place the 669 Polaroid in the water.

Let it sit for about 4 minutes. Using the tongs, transport photo from hot water into the cold

water.

While image is in cold water, start scraping the emulsion off from the backing. I just use my finger nail. It

shouldn't take too much effort to get the emulsion off. Be sure to be careful not to get holes or rips which

happens quite often. The emulsion will float in the water once it's completely off backing.

Note: there will be clear slimy stuff, try to get this off as much as possible

Now, here comes the tricky part, getting the emulsion onto the paper ( or in this case the Crescent board.)

Using fingers, spread emulsion out flat as much as possible. This will probably take several attempts. Place it carefully on the board. You will be able to move the emulsion around to a certain degree. Once you are

satisfied with it, let it sit to dry.

Voila! Your very own emulsion lift. With this particular piece, I will be adding old, antique cut nails (like the

ones in Old Mill '66.) I just have to find them now which is no easy task.

Note: this is not the only way to make emulsion lifts, this is how I do it.

you can search on the internet for other ways

I will explain how to do a Polaroid Transfer in my next step - by - step blog. One difference is using the negative to create the image.

My Polaroid Cameras

Here are my Polaroid cameras I use for my work.

The SX-70 uses the Time - Zero film. The Color Pack II

uses the 669 (emulsion lifts and transfers). The Sun uses, surprise,

the 600 film. Notice the handle on the Color Pack II. I use this

when I'm ready to pull the film out. If I'm going to do an emulsion

lift I will pull it out immediately so I'm able to take another photo.

If I decide to do a transfer, I will wait til I have all my supplies ready

to create one. Once you pull the film out it starts developing so when

doing a transfer you need another receptor, I use Arches watercolor

paper, for it to develop onto.

I am going to take photos of my creative process with the

emulsion lifts and transfers and write a blog.

Polaroid's website once had step-by-step info and photos of these

particular techniques, as well as others,

but they are no longer there. I'm assuming this because

they discontinued their film. I will be posting a blog soon

about this sad and disheartening news. How it came

about, what others are doing to save it and my own

personal feelings.

Is Polaroid becoming a dying art form?

If so, what am I doing while it is still around?

Answers to come in future blogs...read on

Polaroids from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico Pt.3

So now we have reached what they call the Riveria Maya. Lots of towns and crazy tourist parks along this stretch of the coast. The water was absolutely gorgeous, just like the Corona commercials.

We visited the Tulum ruins which were pretty cool. They were right by the ocean so you got to go take a dip in the water while you were there. It was fairly crowded here but not too bad. It was really hard to not get people in my photos. Sometimes I like to have people there for scale purposes and other times I get annoyed, especially when someone sees what you are trying to do and they just stand there anyway. Polaroids of Tulum:

Transfer:





I would like to mention at this point that Polaroids and humidity do not like each other. Of course this didn't occur to me until I was already down there but yeah, that kind of makes sense really. Also, my SX-70 camera did not like Mexico either. I had made several attempts to try it again from the first encounter and it would not cooperate.

Our next stop was a small town called Akumul(Ah-coo-mall). We pretty much just chilled here and did nothing. A good place to do this at. Found a lot of cool seashells on the rocky beach. Wasn't the best beach to go swimming but I could see that snorkeling would have been really cool.

Then we were off to Playa del Carmen. This place was kind of a miniature version of Cancun but not as expensive. I didn't take any Polaroids here. We did stay in a nice condo right by the beach. Since there were four of us the cost wasn't too bad.
Here's a shot from the Dirty Martini Lounge we went to. They were shots of Mezcal.


We end up back in Cancun. By the end of my journey I was pretty worn out and ready to be back home. I was gone for two and half weeks. We were fortunate that we didn't get pulled over or in any car accidents. That would have been nightmarish. I was ready to see my baby girl too. Though the break was nice, I do not want to be away from her for that long again.

I have added some nice additions from Mexico to the collection I am creating. Even though I had some major trials and tribulations, felt like I was in combat at times, I did end up with some nice Polaroids.

And...of course, when I got home and I was unpacking my bags, I came across that old SX-70 and thought well, I'll give you another try. I pull it open and aim at this lamp on my nightstand which I have always loved and yes, it had worked. It decided that it would behave itself, after my trip. I was frustrated and ecstatic at the same time. At least it is working again.

Polaroids from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico Pt.2

This was shot in a small town on the way to Merida in a cemetary

Hola!
Continuing my journey of the Yucatan, when we left Merida it had taken us an hour to get out of the town to find the right highway. Anyone who has driven in Mexico knows that it's a pain to turn around to go the other direction. You have to drive at least five miles before you spot a turn-around.

Our next destination was to the ruins of Uxmul. It was an amazing place and way less people then at Chichen Itza. We showed up an hour before they closed so we had to go through it on super-fast mode. Didn't get to see everything either which was disappointing because out of the three ruins we visited I liked Uxmul the best.
Some Polaroids of Uxmul:


Transfer:

I will create an emulsion lift from Uxmul as well.


On our way traveling back along Hwy 184 to hit the coast we drove through several small towns. They were all very interesting. More cool doors to be noticed along with churches. We had reached a town, I forget the name, and got lost yet again. They didn't exactly make it very clear which way to go to continue on the main highway (we had to go around the square,no signs) I did get to shoot this door though because of our mishap.



After that long day of driving we finally decided to stop in the small town of Tzucacab. The hotel we stayed at actually wasn't too bad. It was very blue inside. The next morning sucked though because there was some very loud hammering and construction work going on before 8am! We ate some killer tacos here. On our way leaving town I noticed the huge cemetary they had and had to stop. I could have spent half the day there but everyone else didn't the feel the same, which is understandable. Here's some shots of that great cemetary:


Transfer


After a fairly long drive we finally reached our destination of Tulum. We ended up staying in a cabana right by the beach. The view was awesome and it was nice to be around water again.

Polaroids and photos of the Tulum ruins will be in the next blog as well as the end of the journey, part 3.

Polaroids from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico Pt.1

My travels in Mexico were quite exciting. Got to see lots of sights. Visited many towns both large and small. Had some difficulty with some of my Polaroids from film going bad to a camera not working but was still able to get some shots.

My first stop was Cancun which I didn't really care for. Too many people and way too americanized. The beaches there were great though.

Then we were off to a town called Valladolid (vay-ahh-doe-leed). We stayed at the San Clemente Hotel which was right by the Cathedral of San Gervasio in the main square. It was comfortable with air conditioning and a nice pool. I liked this town a lot. The people I encountered were really nice. The food was good and very affordable. There was also a really cool cenote (say-NOH-tay)as well called "Cenote Zaci". The water was very cold which felt good because it was crazy hot the entire time I was down there. Here's a Polaroid of Cenote Zaci:

I took a Polaroid of the church as well. My first attempt at this was unsuccessful. The film I had in my camera was expired 600. I think it was three or four years old. A friend had given it to me. When I went to take a photo it spat out an ugly brown photo. I had to run back to the hotel to retreive another pack of film. Thank goodness that worked.

Next stop was Chichen Itza, mayan ruins. This place was crazy busy. It felt a little like Disneyland which was unfortunate and there were a ton of vendors selling stuff to people which became annoying very fast. So, after walking down the long path to reach the major ruin I bust out my SX-70 camera loaded with the Time Zero film I bought off Ebay, which was not cheap. I open my camera, get the image in focus and press the shutter button and....nothing! Just a horrible "click" and no image. I kept pressing it franticly and nothing. I was so horribly disappointed words could not describe my anguish. I did not bring my 600 film camera since I took the Sx-70 and I had my digital camera bag, which is quite heavy, and my land camera which shoots the 669 film. There went my shot of holding the Polaroid up in front of Chichen Itza with my digital camera. I did get some 669 shots which will be turned into emulsion lifts and I got some digital images as well.

Then it was off to Merida, the capital of the Yucatan. Driving in this town was crazy. Lots of one way streets "calles" and lots of people. We ended up staying at the Dolores Alba Hotel which wasn't too far from the main square. Did a lot of shopping here. There were a lot of really cool doors and windows here, actually everywhere I went in Mexico had awesome old buildings with cool faded, chipped paint doors. I was really intrigued by them. Here's one that particularly caught my fancy. It was shot with my digital Canon.

Here's a transfer I did in a government building on the square.

The journey continues on.............in my next blog.

Polaroids from Chicago

So, after a small hiatus I am back. I have just moved from one house to another in Norman. Only a mile apart but had very little help with the whole process. It seemed to take forever. Since my husband is currently away in Mexico for school purposes, I pretty much had to do it all on my own. Thank you to my parents for watching Olivia and to Brooke, Blake and Shane for moving the BIG stuff and using their trucks. Couldn't have done it w/o any of you.

Chicago was great! I loved every minute. The PJ Harvey concert was incredible. So glad I finally got to see her live. Almost got her autograph...but unfortunately didn't. Boo!

Took some Polaroids of Navy Pier, Millennium Park and from the SkyDeck in Sears Tower.

Navy Pier:

expired 600 films,digital photographs

Sears Tower:
expired 600 film; 669transfer

Millennium Park:

expired 600films,digital photographs

I will be traveling to Mexico very soon and will be taking many Polaroids of my travels of the Yucatan Peninsula. When I return I will post about my travels and more photographs. I will also be working on creating new mixed media pieces incorporating Polaroid photos and found objects in vintage frames. Please visit www.angelacastro.com to view more of my Polaroid work and work from my series titled East of Main.

First post

"No More Good Times", Polaroid Transfer


shot in Tomales Bay,CA 2007




Hello everyone!




Starting this blog to have a place to post random thoughts and ideas and to converse with other artists or people interested in art. I've been having to stay at home a lot to raise my 1 1/2 year old daughter so I don't get to socialize as much as I want to. I figured by creating this I can at least stay up to date in cyber world.




After some recent rejections into a couple of shows, ah that old familiar feeling rejection how I missed you - not really, I've decided that I'm not doing juried shows for a good while. I really need to focus on creating a strong body of work. I will be concentrating on my Polaroid work. I have been collecting various Polaroids I've taken for the last three years. I'm going to sort through those and figure out which ones are usable. I'm also going to be taking new shots of my upcoming travels.



This summer I am traveling to Chicago to see PJ Harvey in concert and also to Mexico in the Yucatan area. I believe this will help with some inspiration I've been lacking and give a fresh perspective I've needed. Doing the same ol' thing and seeing the same ol' stuff tends to hinder my creativity. I've been trying to embrace the monotanity in my life but it really hasn't been working out. Big surprise there.




Anyway, I hope this will serve as a good outlet. I'm going to try to post at least once a week. This month is going to be crazy busy. In addition to my traveling, I am also moving into a new house in Norman. At least Mexico isn't until July, after Chicago and moving, so there will be some breathing room.



Adios!