The Artist
Marie Marchand is a photographer and yoga teacher living in Chelmsford, MA. She's been working with alternative processes since 1992. Most of her work is created using the Polaroid image and emulsion transfer and SX-70 manipulation techniques. These unusual processes give her photographs a painterly look and provide a greater range of artistic possibilities than traditional photography. She serves on the Board of the Chelmsford Art Society and is a member of the Concord Art Association , the Arts League of Lowell, the Whistler House Museum of Art and the Brush Gallery.
April 1996– Pleiades Arts North Juried Exhibit-Namo Gallery, Beverly, MA
April 1997-Plaiedes Arts North Juried Exhibit-The Whistler House Gallery, Lowell, MA
November 2001-Chelmsford Art Society Member’s Exhibit—Adams Library, Chelmsford, MA
March 2002-Chelmsford Art Society Member’s Exhibit, The Parish Center for the Arts, Westford, MA
February 2003-Concord Art Association-Member’s Juried II Exhibit, Concord, MA
February 2004-New Light: Photographs of Northern New Mexico, individual exhibit, The Parish Center for the Arts, Westford, MA
July 2004-Arts League of Lowell Members Exhibit, Lowell, MA
September 2004-Francis N. Roddy Juried Exhibit, Concord Art Association, Concord, MA
April 2005-Stebbins Gallery Annual Juried Photography Exhibit, Cambridge, MA
July-August 2005 - Borders Books, Nashua, NH
December 2005- Gallery 181, 181 Canal St. Lawrence, MA
January 2006- Starbucks on Bedford Rd. in Lexington, MA
January 28 - March 11, 2006 - The Java Room, 14 Littleton Rd. Chelmsford
The Processes
The Polaroid Image Transfer
These painterly and unique photographs are created by exposing an image from a 35mm slide onto Polaroid peel-apart film. The negative portion of the film is removed before the picture develops and is transferred onto watercolor paper, wood, silk or some other surface. The image then develops on the receptor surface often with softened lines and muted tones. When the negative is peeled away, it leaves uneven, rough edges that are the trademark of the image transfer.
The Polaroid Emulsion Lifts
Emulsion lifts are created using the same film and slide printer as the image transfer. The photograph is allowed to develop fully and is then placed in a series of hot and then cool water baths. The emulsion is then lifted off the photographic paper, and the thin, gel -like photo emulsion is then transferred to watercolor paper, wood, glass or some other receptor surface. The image created is more crisp than the transfers and the thin emulsion can be stretched, ripped and wrinkled to create a number of different effects.
The SX-70 Manipulation
Sx-70 Manipulations are created using Polaroid SX-70/Time Zero film. This is the square Polaroid film that you can watch develop. The photo emulsion remains fluid for up to 20 minutes as the photo develops. Various wooden and metal tools are used to manipulate the emulsion creating a painted look. Because you only have a few minutes to create the photograph this process has a zen-like in the moment quality. It's also a great process to take on the road.