Ann Holsberry: New Navigation

“We need instruments for a new navigation.” -Morris Graves

Ann Holsberry is a painter who works in a variety of media. Her experience growing up on the Gulf Coast of Florida and journeys since then have been central to her work. She finds inspiration in the mystery of the natural world, and is fascinated by the movement of humans and animals across the globe. Cosmology also fascinates her as the movements of planets and stars complement these earthbound migrations. The transit of bodies across distances large and small, in conjunction with her love of found maps and scientific papers from bygone eras, is the inspiration for this New Navigation Installation.

Holsberry currently works with cyanotype, an archaic photographic process that starts with a spontaneous application of chemicals onto paper or canvas in the darkroom. She then develops the work in outdoor sunlight, often using elements from nearby surroundings in the exposure. Due to the iron-based chemistry involved, a deep Prussian Blue predominates. These works are then brought into the realm of painting by the application of pigments, as well as wax, ink, and embroidery. Throughout the process, she often reverts to the simple goal of letting this be an exploration of blue.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.