X̱á7elcha (Lynn Creek) Watergrams, 2021
by Sidney Gordon
bachelor of fine arts, film and screen arts
Fourth Year
The light-sensitive surface is a canvas for direct material collaboration. My work X̱á7elcha (Lynn Creek) Watergrams uses this method to give authorship to the X̱á7elcha river, as we work in alliance with each other.
By submerging photographic paper in the water and capturing prints of its refractions, together we render what the human eye and traditional photographic practices are otherwise unable to see.
This type of intervention calls for a holistic approach, assuring that my own and each material’s interaction with the water is as respectful as possible. For this process, I use location-specific materials, including developer made from surrounding blossoms and river water as a stop bath. The distinct interplay between these photochemical alternatives and the natural forces and matter captured in the prints is what produces the final images.
I consider this river my kin, and through this practice I acknowledge my position on this land as both a maker and a marker. X̱á7elcha has a long history of enduring settler development. This work aims to bring forward a symbiotic relation to create dialogue around this body of water, beyond what’s portrayed at surface level, and to challenge viewers to investigate the footprints they leave through their daily habits.
