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Jo Gane

Visual Arts, Birmingham City University

Thesis title:

Revealing George Shaw: a practice-based study into photography in Birmingham c.1839-1865

This thesis analyses disparate collections of early photographs by George Shaw, held within several archives.

The photographs by and of George Shaw show an experimental and progressive use of early photography and contribute to knowledge about the development of photographic thinking, materials and techniques. 

Tacit and procedural knowledge is gained through re-photographic activities using similar historic materials and techniques in order to generate new understanding of the purposes and thinking behind Shaw’s image making.

The role of Shaw’s extensive network is key to understanding the development of photography and the intrinsically collaborative nature of Photography is investigated through his many collaborations in multiple roles as an artist, scientist, patent agent and proto-photographer.

Research Area

  • Photography History, Theory and Practice
  • Visual Arts

Publications

2020

The RPS / Centre for Fine Print Research UWE 2020: 'Don't Press Print: de/Re-constructing the collodion process'

'Contemporary Practice with Wet Plate Collodion: Time-travel and public engagement through the performance of processes'

ISBN 0-978-0-904495-22-5

Conferences

1-2 October 2020: Don't Press Print. De/Re-constructing the collodion process. CFPR/UWE and the RPS

Public Engagement & Impact

August 2021 : Cyanotype workshops with Meriden Adventure Playground and the B37 project, engaging the publkic with photo-history along the River Cole.

July 2021 : Talk on George Shaw for the Jewellery Quarter Cemetaries Project

July 2021 : Public workshops in the cyanotype process for the Jewellery Quarter Cemetaries project

2016 - present : Director of CIC Developed in Birmingham

Other Research Interests

Art Practice

Contemporary Photography

Victorian History