Campus Connection

Kitchen mixture helps brew up unique photographs

A UW-La Crosse photography class has turned coffee grounds into the groundwork for art.   [caption id="attachment_48890" align="alignleft" width="279"] UWL student Yiming Xu from the Photography and Imaging I class mixes up a film developer of coffee, vitamin C and washing soda. The students developed their images of anything dealing with coffee, resulting in “soft, warm tone prints with fine grain and extended tonal ranges,” according to Associate Professor of Art Linda Levinson.[/caption] The “Photography and Imaging I” class used common kitchen products to develop their film instead of conventional, toxic photographic solution. Associate Professor of Art Linda Levinson assigned the class to take pictures of anything related to coffee. She then carried that theme into the darkroom. [caption id="attachment_48888" align="alignright" width="300"] “Coffee Plant” by UWL student Michelle Ballweg is one of the images on display through June 7 at Cool Beans Coffee Shop in La Crosse.[/caption] Instead of conventional developer, the students were instructed to use simple grocery store products: coffee, vitamin C and washing soda. Levinson learned the process more than 15 years ago while teaching with Scott Williams, a professor at Rochester Institute of Technology. Williams introduced the concept of experimenting with the alternative and environmentally friendly solution. [caption id="attachment_48887" align="alignright" width="300"] An image from film developed by a process using common kitchen products is one of the images being shown in the special display at Cool Beans Coffee Shop in La Crosse.[/caption] Levinson says the outcome is extraordinary, resulting in “soft, warm tone prints with fine grain and extended tonal ranges.” The students are exhibiting their work at Cool Beans Coffee Shop, 1221 La Crosse St., through Wednesday, June 7. [caption id="attachment_48889" align="alignright" width="300"] One of the specially developed photographs on display by UWL student Liz Jenner at Cool Beans Coffee Shop.[/caption] Students who worked on the project included: Jessica Botz Emma Anderson Kayla Laufenberg Hunter Hulley Tristen Hayes Liz Jenner Alexa Laurino Jordan Schmidt Jess Nelson Tevin Trinh Yiming Xu The exhibit is free, but students are selling their images for $20 with proceeds going to the New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers in La Crosse.       If you go— Who: UWL’s Photography and Imaging I class          What: Exhibit of specially produced photographs When: Through Wednesday, June 7 Where: Cool Beans Coffee Shop, 1221 La Crosse St.          Admission: Free; but, students are selling the prints for $20 with proceeds going to New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers in La Crosse