Connecting Through Cyanotypes

Join Empact and Detroit-based artist Ali Lapetina for a summertime gathering with guided cyanotype printmaking and nourishing conversation around connection to self and connection to place. We hope this time together as a community leaves us with a sense of belonging and rootedness.

What is this event?

🦋 This is an Empact Community Circle, which is a time to connect and have meaningful dialogue about inner healing and social justice as a community. We do this by moving through a series of curated, guided discussion prompts together.

🦋 The themes of this event are connection to self and connection to place.

🦋 Event cover is a sliding scale of $10-30. If you have any questions – such as requesting ticket coverage, or wanting to sponsor someone’s spot – feel free to send us a DM or email! Thank you for keeping our events sustainable 🫶🏽

🦋 Tickets include snacks, bevys, and cyanotype materials.

🦋 Feel free to invite a friend or share with anyone who may be interested — all are welcome!

What is cyanotype printmaking?

💙 Cyanotype is a camera-less photographic printing process that creates a cyan-blue print using light-sensitive chemicals and a little sunshine to record an image.

💙 While we will provide the materials for this craft, you are welcome to forage Belle Isle or bring any flora or memorabilia that holds meaning for you for your print.

💙 No prior knowledge or experience necessary!

Our flow will roughly look like:

☁️ Welcome & Settle In (4-4:15 pm): Help yourself to food and a beverage

☁️ Nature Walk (4:15-4:45 pm): Experience a guided nature walk through Belle Isle, gathering flora and fauna along the way

☁️ Guided Printing Workshop (4:45-5:45 pm): Learn about the processes involved in cyanotype printmaking and develop your own prints

☁️ Discussion (5:45-6:45 pm): As our prints dry, we’ll flow into group discussion with facilitated questions

☁️ Wind Down (6:45 pm onwards): Unstructured time to mingle as you please

About Ali Lapetina:

Ali Lapetina (she/they) is a mother, visual storyteller, and community organizer based in Detroit, Michigan. Her work centers on long-form visual storytelling and collaborative placemaking, exploring themes community care, belonging, and truth. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of the community arts non-profit Women of Banglatown. Ali earned her undergraduate degree from the College for Creative Studies and has called Detroit home for nearly 17 years. Her photography and stories have appeared in The New York Times, NPR, Le Monde, The Washington Post, and more.

✨ Learn more about Ali at www.alilapetina.com.

About Empact:

Empact is a community and studio practice dedicated to cultivating empathy through storytelling, arts, and community. Our work is focused at the intersection of social justice and inner healing.

✨ Learn more about Empact on our website, www.empact.community, or get in touch.