Evanita W. Montalvo - Wildlife and Nature Photography

New Year!

January 3rd, 2008

It's going to be such an exciting new year! There are a lot of new things in store this year in my life. The main highlight of the year will be finishing up my BA in Studio Art with a concentration in Photography and minor in Art History. With the new year I also have been finishing up the new version of my website. By the time you see this journal my new website will be up and running and I hope that you all enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed working on it. In addition to my website I have also have been working on putting the finishing touches on my Senior Project the Butterfly Flower Series which will be displayed in the Student Show early spring of this year.

Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful New Year!

EWM

Earth Hour

March 3rd, 2008

As an individual it can be hard to think positively and try to make a difference in the world. Many often think "I'm only one person how can I have an affect on the world … I am only one person..just one person out of many millions". If everyone thinks this, then yes how can you have an affect, but if you take matters into your own hands and try your best to have a good influence and spread the word your affect on the world can make a huge impact. We can make a difference, but only if we choose to do so.

Last year on March 30th an estimated 2.2+ million people decided to join efforts for one hour and their joint efforts made a huge difference. This one hour was dubbed Earth Hour and started in Sydney. On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2,100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. This massive collective effort reduced Sydney's energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour, which is the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year. A poll conducted by AMR Interactive estimates that 57% of Sydney's population participated.

If half of one city's population can make that much of a difference can you imagine if half (or even more) of the whole world population decided to do this? How much of an impact it may have on our energy consumption. I can only imagine that it would have a huge impact. On March 29th of this year we will find out how we can impact our environment by a global movement to turn off our lights(and other electrical appliances) for an hour at 8 pm local time(this means everywhere at their local 8pm time). I know this doesn't sound like much, but in order to make a difference we have to start somewhere, so please take one hour out of your day on March 29th at 8 pm your time to participate in this global movement!

Please visit EarthHour.org and sign up to show your commitment to turn off your lights on March 29th. For more information check out Earth Hour US and About Earth Hour

Student Art Exhibition and New Website!

March 31st, 2008

For anyone who has been here previously I'm sure you have noticed quite a change. I finally switched over to the new version of website I created through my web design class last semester.

This coming Saturday will be my Senior Exhibition. I'm really anxious and excited. I will be showcasing my Butterfly Flower project as well as Reaching, Galaxy Scales, and this website. The opening is April 5th 6-9 pm so if you happen to be around Fort Wayne Indiana you are more than welcome to come see the show. If you need directions please let me know. Along with the artwork, there will also be free food and the University's Jazz Ensemble will be performing in the North Campus Auditorium.

32nd Annual University of Saint Francis Student Art Exhibition
& School of Creative Arts Student Awards Ceremony

Exhibition Open: April 5 - April 27
Opening: April 5, 6-9pm, Weatherhead and Lupke Galleries
Awards Ceremony, 7:30pm in the North Campus Auditorium

This exhibition displays artwork and features musical performances by students studying in the School of Creative Arts. More than 1,000 pieces are exhibited throughout the Rolland Art Center and the University galleries, specifically the Weatherhead and Lupke Galleries. Performances by the University Jazz Ensemble will take place in the North Campus Auditorium. The SOCA Student Awards Ceremony honors artists, musicians, and scholars for high achievement in the arts and those students who have the best representation in the exhibition. Scholarships are awarded.

EWM

Silk Fusion Prints and Great Lakes Fiber Festival

May 18th, 2008

Over the past few months I have been working on a project to combine my love for photography and fiber arts. While browsing around for fiber art related stuff I came across a process called Silk Fusion which allows you to make paper from processed silk fiber. I have previously worked with photography processes that require hand coating paper. I wondered if it was at all possible to combine photography with the silk paper. After researching Cyanotypes and Vandyke Browns with silk I found a few artists who worked with Cyanotypes on silk fabric and also worked with the silk fusion process. However, I was unable to find anyone who worked with both processes together.

After researching the Silk Fusion process and sending a few emails out to artists it didn't seem like the process was going to work. Those I had received responses from thought the paper would most likely fall apart due to the excessive rinsing that both photo processes required. I was quite disheartened, but I had the supplies and wanted to give it a try anyways. Luckily, all the hard work of researching, learning how to make the paper, and trial and error paid off. The following three prints are my first attempts at working with this process and I hope to continue making more. The Cyanotype Stargazer is on silk and the other two are on bamboo.Click on the image to view a larger version.

Next weekend I will be heading to Wooster Ohio with a few friends to go to the Great Lakes Fiber Festival. We're going to camp there for the weekend and from everything I've heard about the festival it should be a ton of fun. :)

EWM