2025 Cyanotype Workshops
I will be leading various cyanotype workshops in 2025 including:
Sanborn Mills, Loudon, NH
5 Day Cyanotype Intensive
May 28 – June 1
On site lodging is limited and the venue can also help coordinate lodging
(including onsite camping)
Link for details and to enroll:
https://sanbornmills.org/workshops/cyanotype-intensive/
Hudson Valley/Chestnut Hill Farm, Saugerties, NY
2 or 3 Day Cyanotype Intensive
July 12 & 13 (optional July 14)
Limited on site lodging is available
Link for details and to enroll:
https://www.juliawhitneybarnes.com/cyanotype-workshops/july12-14
Herb Society of America/Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, Katonah, NY
Intro to Cyanotype
Saturday, September 20 (with a rain date of Sunday, September 21)
Details to be announced this summer
"Brighton Botanical" at PS253 - permanent installation
Julia Whitney Barnes
Brighton Botanical
2024
laminated glass with digitally printer interlayer, PS 253 Addition, Brooklyn
Brighton Botanical is a site-specific artwork created by Julia Whitney Barnes for the lobby of the new P.S. 253 Addition, Brooklyn. The immersive glass installation depicts an array of colorful flowers blossoming across the vestibule windows, measuring over 24 feet wide and 14 feet high. To create the artwork, Whitney Barnes researched plant species from around the world, selecting only those that thrive in Brooklyn. Fifty-three different varieties are included, serving as a metaphor for the diverse student community at P.S. 253. Pollinators, including a hummingbird and several species of butterflies interact with the plants throughout the design. The symbolism of each flower played an important role in the artist’s selection process. Several flowers, such as echinacea, have important medicinal properties; others, like the lotus, are significant in literature; and the sunflower, an essential food source for both humans and animals, symbolizes strength, resilience, happiness and positivity.
Whitney Barnes collaged together an assortment of materials including paintings, prints and photographs to form a beautiful and idyllic field of flowers with varying textures, colors and degrees of transparency. When the design was transferred to glass, the natural effects of light further enhanced the contrasts and harmony among the various blooms. The bright floral hues change throughout the day as the colorful petals and vibrant stalks catch the shifting sunlight. Visible from the street, inside the school’s main lobby, and at eye level from the second floor, Brighton Botanical welcomes visitors and encourages students to examine the carefully rendered flowers from multiple viewpoints and invites them to seek aesthetic, scientific and literary inspiration in the natural beauty that surrounds them.
PS 253 Addition, Brooklyn
Collection of the NYC Department of Education, Public Art for Public Schools
Commissioned by the NYC Department of Education, NYC School Construction Authority Public Art for Public Schools program, in collaboration with NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art program
Photography by Sean Hemmerle
Herb Society of America - 73rd Annual Herb Fair - Sept 14 10am–4pm
I am honored to be a presenter at the 73rd Annual Herb Fair on September 14th (rain date Sept 15) at Caramoor in Katonah, NY.
I will be giving a talk about my work and the cyanotype process as well as a participatory workshop from 10–11:30 am. Spaces are limited and preregistration is required through this link.
I will be on site until 4pm at the historic Rosen House signing books and offering limited edition prints as well as showing a few original “Planting Utopia” framed works.
For 73 years, the Herb Fair has celebrated the many ways that herbs enrich our lives and promoted the knowledge and use of herbs through educational programs, research, and community engagement. This one-day event will feature an extraordinary roster of makers and artisans as well as an extensive program of demonstrations, talks, and workshops from leading herb experts. We hope you will join us in celebrating 73 years of the Herb Fair’s legacy, uniting herb enthusiasts, artisans, and families in a shared appreciation for nature’s gifts on September 14, 10:00am – 4:00pm. Rain Date: Sunday, September 15
Glass Commission installed at PS253 Brooklyn/Public Art for Public Schools
I am overjoyed to share that my glass commission through Public Art for Publis Schools has just been installed at PS253 in Brighton Beach/Brooklyn, NY. I have been working on this project since 2021 and seeing everything come to life after years of work was incredibly satisfying.
Look out for my favorite moment when a pigeon flew in right as the hummingbird panel was being installed!
This piece is part of a collection that date back to the 1800s all across NYC and I am honored to now be a part of it.
PS 253 Addition, Brooklyn
Collection of the NYC Department of Education, Public Art for Public Schools
Commissioned by the NYC Department of Education, NYC School Construction Authority Public Art for Public Schools program, in collaboration with NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art program
"The Botanist's Mural" completed at Vassar College
“The Botanist’s Mural”
2024
Acrylic, graphite, and varnish on gypsum board
Collection of Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
“The Botanist’s Mural” draws inspiration from Vassar College's herbarium, which dates back to the school's founding in 1865. I incorporated 63 plants from the extensive collection of 15,000 specimens, including vascular plants, bryophytes, and algae housed in the Herbarium. I painted each plan to simultaneously resemble a hybrid of the pressed specimen and what the plan would have looked like while still growing in nature. All the painted flora has the illusion of specimen mounting adhesive strips as well as shadows to make them appear to be three-dimensional and taped directly to the wall. One of the artworks I admire whenever I visit The Loeb Museum is “The Botanist," painted by Alfred Ronner in 1875, which Vassar acquired a few years later in 1880 when it was still considered contemporary. I displayed a print of this piece in my studio while I worked on studies for my painting and pressed plants, as well as during my work on the mural. One of the most challenging aspects of the creation process was narrowing down my choices, knowing I could only include a limited selection. Each featured plant is based on one or more pressed specimens. For instance, since there were numerous varieties of Columbines cataloged, I chose several to include in the painting, including one from 1865. My selections aimed to showcase a diverse array of wild and cultivated plants found both locally and globally, highlighting how the collection at Vassar has grown over the years. A few of the plants depicted are ones I pressed myself so I could also be “The Botanist,” and I selected a specimen from the landscaping right outside this building to represent a plant from the summer of 2024, when the building and the mural were completed. I incorporated some of my favorite plants that had an impact on my early love of plants including the Lady Slipper Orchid, Poppies, and an abundance of ferns. Additionally, I subtly referenced Matthew Vassar’s background as a brewery owner by including a hops plant that I preserved from the Shaker Heritage Society garden, creating a connection between the mural and my “Planting Utopia” series and the herbarium of 150 medicinal plants I created as part of that project.
Many thanks to Mark Schlessman, Professor of Biology Emeritus who collected thousands of specimens in the herbarium over his decades at Vassar and who was a constant wealth of knowledge about all things herbarium, even after retirement. Thank you Mary-Kay Lombino, Deputy Director and Curator at The Loeb for bringing me on board with the project back in the early days of days of envisioning the building and providing feedback during the process. Special thanks to Bella Rose Wild and Carly Andrews for assisting in the hundreds of hours of executing this mural and Sean Hemmerle Photography for documenting the process and final mural.
Photography by Sean Hemmerle
"Planting Utopia" at Hancock Shaker Village Museum
A dozen “Planting Utopia” works on paper and stretched canvases are installed across two shows that open to the public this weekend at Hancock Shaker Village Museum in the Berkshires. One show is of contemporary artists inspired by the Shakers in a humble brick structure that overlooks the impressive round stone barn. This time of year the barn is filled with adorable baby animals (and their mamas) so go see the show soon if you’d like to say hello while they’re still small.
The second exhibition features the 19th-century Shaker Gift Drawings that I obsessed over while making “Planting Utopia” and am thrilled to have my creations viewed side by side with these historic works.
The opening reception is on Saturday, May 18 from 4-6pm and if you would like to attend the artist’s reception, Please RSVP here for complimentary tickets by May 15th. The reception will include wine and Hors d’oeuvres.
https://hancockshakervillage.org/calendar/artists-reception-may-18/
I will also be giving a book talk/signing on Thursday, July 11th from 4-5:30 pm during the High Tea. Refreshments will be served and I will also have a selection of prints available.
Instruments of Inspiration / Chace Gallery / April 13 - August 31
During the 1840s and 1850s—an era known as “The Era of Manifestations” – these visions were often depicted in visual forms known as gift drawings. This exhibit showcases a selection of gift drawings in the Hancock Shaker collection alongside drawings of contemporary artists Julia Whitney Barnes, Alyssa Sakina Mumtaz, and Sue Muskat.
Inspired / Poultry House / April 13 - October 31
The Shaker legacy continues in this exhibition of Shaker-inspired works by women artists Julia Whitney Barnes, Kathy Greenwood, Kate Hamilton, Elana Herzog, Wendy Jensen, Becca Van K, Caitlin McBride, and Phoebe Rotter. The exhibit’s breadth of form, style, and function demonstrates the continuing legacy of Shaker Sisters.
"Tangled Up In Blue" at Carrie Haddad Gallery, March 1–April 21, 2024
I’m happy to share that my third show at Carrie Haddad Gallery in Hudson, NY opens this week, including selections from the Picturesque Botany and Nocturnal Nature series. You can preview the dozen included works here along with additional available works. Many thanks to Kurian & Cofor doing a splendid job crafting each frame.
Carrie Haddad Gallery, 622 Warren Street, Hudson, NY
Tangled Up in Blue
Artists' Reception: Saturday, March 2, 5-7 p.m.
March 1, 2024, through April 21, 2024
Carrie Haddad Gallery is pleased to present Tangled Up in Blue, an exhibition with an emphasis on the botanical. It features mixed-media works by Julia Whitney Barnes, Linda Newman Boughton, and Donise English; porcelain sculptures by Owen Mann; and paintings by James O’Shea. The exhibit opens on March 1 and will remain on view through April 21. All are welcome to attend the artists’ reception on March 2 from 5-7 p.m.
Using various paint mediums and cyanotype — a printing process that yields a blue image when a chemistry-coated surface is exposed to sunlight — the artist Julia Whitney Barnes conjures Edenic vignettes. Rooted in the work of women artists and scientists like Maria Sibylla Merian, Whitney Barnes’ compositions exalt plant life. “I approach each growing thing with equal importance, regardless of whether it is a weed, rare species, wildflower, or cultivated flower,” said Whitney Barnes in an interview with Create Magazine. She earned an MFA from Hunter College and has been widely exhibited, including a site-specific installation at the Shaker Heritage Site and Albany International Airport on view through Fall 2024.
"Planting Utopia" Book Talk at Kenise Barnes Fine Art (Kent, CT) on Saturday, October 14 at 11am
I am honored that Kenise Barnes Fine Art is hosting a book signing at the gallery on Saturday, October 14 starting at 11 AM (at 7 Fulling Lane, Kent, CT). I will also have “Planting Utopia” prints with me so this will be a rare opportunity to select prints in person.
I have been working intensely on the 136-page hardcover book for over a year and am delighted that it is now available. You can preview/order a signed copy of the book here: http://www.juliawhitneybarnes.com/planting-utopia-book-preorder
There is also an extra special version of the book that was produced in an edition of 50 and each one will be hand numbered and signed. The A4 size hardcover book contains citrine color endpaper inside the front and back cover, a yellow/green pattern head & tail band, Smyth sewn binding, along with 100 lb satin paper throughout the book. These books are a wonderful way to lend extra support to the project and have your own unique version.
You can also see my available work with the gallery here: https://www.kbfa.com/artists/122-julia-whitney-barnes/works/
"Planting Utopia" book available for preorder
This artist's book has been in the works for the past 18 months and I’m thrilled that it is now available for preorder. The 132 page hardcover book has been in the works for over a year and I’m honored to have included essays by Kathy Greenwood of Albany Airport Art & Culture, Johanna Batman and Lorraine Weiss of Shaker Heritage Society as well as an essay by Sarah Margolis-Pineo who is a wealth of knowledge about the Shakers and gift drawings.
The book includes images of my process, the herbarium I made from the 150 medicinal plants at the Shaker site, installation views, individual works, historic gift drawings, and has been a consuming labor of love.
Each pre-ordered book will be signed by me and be shipped this fall.
6 page feature in German Magazine "Herzstück" July/August 2023
Many thanks to “Herzstück” for featuring my work in their summer issue including selections from “Planting Utopia” and my recent solo exhibition in Cologne at Galerie Julian Sander.
Here is a rough/google translate version of the article:
The treasury of blossom souls
Artist Julia Whitney Barnes creates enchanted plant worlds
The flower arrangements reminiscent of historical Herbaria as we see them in Natural History Museums – only these ones radiate a lot more aesthetics, mystery and magic off. Which stories they have to tell? And are they actually made from dried plants like a classic herbarium?
If we look at Julia Whitney Barnes' pictures, we embark on a mystical journey around the world. They are reminiscent of historical herbaria on which dried flowers were pasted, collected and identified. At first glance, however, it is difficult to say: are Julia's flowers actually real or painted?!
Behind the pictures is a long creative process that requires patience and attention to detail. The 44-year-old collects herbs and flowers in her home in the Hudson Valley (New York State), which she drapes and presses beautifully.
From the dried flower arrangements, she makes so-called "cyanotypes" on cotton paper. It is an old photographic fine printing process that is based on iron (and not on silver as in normal photographs). This is how blue negatives come to life on the cotton paper. Since sunlight would start the complex exposure process, she withdraws to the attic studio of her house at night. Next, she applies layers of watercolor, gouache, and ink—even preferably at night, when her husband and two children are asleep: “On a clear night, filtered through my reflection in a skylight, I can see the full moon surrounded by thousands of sparkling ones Stars. My skylights become portals to heavenly space that inspire my nocturnal activities,” says Julia – which also reminds us of her multi-layered paintings! "I work in solitude while everyone else in the family is sound asleep, but I never feel alone. I am surrounded by the night sky, music that stirs my soul and a colourful, vibrant watercolor and gouache palette.”
Her special "nightshade plants" often appear as if they consist of three-dimensional pressed flowers - an illusion. "When my work is viewed in person, it is more obvious that the work only contains layers of pigment," she says. If you are interested, you can admire some of her works of art in the Julian Sander gallery in Cologne (see www.galeriejuliansander.de). "I want each painting to be familiar and yet be a little out of time," the artist describes it. We think she succeeds. Her pictures resemble a glimpse into the treasury of mysteriously enchanted flower souls. Which one do you like best?