PORT TOWNSEND – “Once upon a time, a long time ago, I went to art school,” says Fruma Markowitz, now en route to the peninsula from her home in Connecticut.
That was several decades ago, the school was the Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design in Jerusalem, and Markowitz was one of only a few Americans there. She used her time to research many things, including the cyanotype process.
After graduating, she became a photojournalist, book cover designer, portrait and fashion photographer and taught courses in Israel.
In 2003, Markowitz moved back to the United States, where she began a new life, exhibiting her work in galleries across the country and teaching.
Markowitz will host one of her favorite activities on Aug. 30 from 1 to 4 p.m.: Cyanotype Family Funday, an afternoon of making prints on paper using sunlight and a sun-sensitive solution. She plans to do it all — what she calls “blue alchemy” — at the Northwind Art School in Fort Worden State Park.
For information and to register for the class, which participants can join any time during the afternoon, visit “Take a Class” at https://northwindart.org. This is an all-ages workshop. The fee is $45 and is for up to two adults and up to four children.
Why does this artist from the East Coast come to Port Townsend? It’s simple. This other American, the guy who became her best friend in art school, lives here. His name is Brian Goodman and he’s also a photographer and teaches art at the nonprofit Northwind Art School.
Markowitz is allowed to visit Goodman and his family and teach her beloved cyanotype class.
Even after all these years, she still enjoys this art. For one thing, “you get to be outside. You’re not locked in a room,” and when you create her sun prints, “you never know what’s going to come out… when the image appears in the water, it’s like, ‘Oh, my God,'” she said.
The blue is like the sky, the white like the clouds – and yet there are always surprises when the prints appear.
Markowitz emphasizes that the cyanotype solution is non-toxic and safe for people of all ages to use. She provides all the materials for the class; the sun provides the light and “it’s the easiest, the simplest thing; it’s really magical.”
Leila Block, staff and art teacher at Northwind Art School, is excited to see what families create together.
“Cyanotype is so much fun. You could probably make a boring cyanotype, but I don’t think so,” Block said.
For more information about the activities of Northwind Art, which the Fort Worden school operates in conjunction with the Jeanette Best Gallery at 701 Water St. in downtown Port Townsend, visit www.north windart.org.
Cyanotypes, made from sunlight and a non-toxic UV-sensitive solution, are unique works of art, says art educator Fruma Markowitz. (Fruma Markowitz)
