The Antrim Grange Hall is one of the oldest buildings in Antrim. It was built in 1785 atop Meetinghouse Hill as the town’s first public building. It was moved to its current site at the base of the hill in 1832 and eventually purchased by the Grange in 1894 when the current Town Hall was built in the south village.
The building is old and in need of restoration. To contribute to this effort, I am offering salted-paper prints of three of my photographs, all made in Antrim Center, for sale.
This is a limited time offer and all monies generated go to the Grange restoration fund.
The Photos
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The images of the Grange and the Church were made by photographing the ground glass of a camera obscura with a digital camera. The image of the tree was made directly with a ‘regular’ digital camera. The digital files were converted to negatives and printed on transparent material. These negatives are then contact printed onto salted-paper (see below).
The prints are offered in two sizes and are signed on the verso (back). The paper used is Hahnemuhle Platinum Rag.
Large prints are approximately 6.5″ square (Grange or Church) or 6″ x 7.5″ (Tree) on 8″ x 10″ paper. These prints are presented in a white mat that is 11″ x 14″ overall and have a 6.25″ square or a 5.75″ x 7″ window.
Small prints are approximately 4.5″ square (Grange or Church) or 4″ x 5″ (Tree) on 5″ x 7″ paper. These prints are presented in a white mat that is 8″ x 10″ overall and have a 4.25″ square or a 3.75″ x 4.75″ window.
Physical copies of these prints (as they will be delivered) are on display at the Tuttle Library.
About Salted-Paper Prints
Salted-paper prints are handmade using a process invented in the 1830s. The process is deceptively simple; one begins by soaking paper in salt water. After the paper is dry, one makes it light sensitive by coating the salted paper with a solution of silver nitrate.
When the sensitized paper is dry one exposes the paper to ultraviolet (UV) light through a negative. Traditionally the sun is used as a light source. More practically, a ‘black light’ source is used. Upon exposure to the UV light, an image ‘magically’ appears on the paper, fully formed.
One then processes the paper through a number of solutions to remove the unreacted silver, thereby making the print stable to further exposure to light, and dries the paper a final time.
Purchasing Information
Large prints cost $75.00 each. Small prints are $30.00 each.
Three or more prints in any combination (ordered at the same time) are $65.00 each for the large size and $25.00 for the small size.
To purchase prints, please print out an order form, fill out the form and mail it with a check (payable to “The Antrim Grange”) to Beth Merrill, Secretary of the Antrim Grange,107 West Street, Antrim, NH 03440.
Orders must be received by Saturday, 24 July 2021.
Delivery
Prints will be available to be picked up from the Antrim Grange at their “Penny Sale” on Saturday, 4 September 2021 or at the Grange Hall from 10 AM to 2 PM on the 11th or 12th of September 2021. Other arrangements for picking up of prints can be made by contacting the Grange Master.
Finally, as a last resort, shipping is available. The cost for packaging for up to three prints is $25.00, this is in addition to the actual cost of postage. Please contact the artist about this prior to ordering.
Questions?
Please contact either Renee Mercier-Gerritsen, Master of the Grange, at renee_mercier@yahoo.com or 603-547-5144 (call or text) or Frank Gorga, the artist, at frank@frg-photo.com (preferred) or 603-588-2569.