Season of the Niche

Salt is traditionally used to preserve food items. But photographer Claire A. Warden uses salt to crystallize plants -- her manipulation of botanical preservation -- photographs them, and, utilizing a 19th century development process that involves brushing platinum and palladium onto photo paper, generates her images. The result is plants...

By Glenn BurnSilver

February 16, 2012

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Salt is traditionally used to preserve food items. But photographer Claire A. Warden uses salt to crystallize plants -- her manipulation of botanical preservation -- photographs them, and, utilizing a 19th century development process that involves brushing platinum and palladium onto photo paper, generates her images. The result is plants that seem to come from an ancient world as viewed through a slightly streaky time portal.

Warden’s art was inspired by botanists’ attempt to preserve natural objects. “I am trying to depress the urge to order nature, and ultimately change this natural object,” she explains. “SALT: Studies in preservation and manipulation” opens Friday.

Fri., Feb. 17, 6 p.m.; Thursdays-Sundays. Starts: Feb. 17. Continues through March 10, 2012

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