Manifesting Her Destiny (Ode to Dorothy Vaughan)

Title | MANIFESTING HER DESTINY (ODE TO DOROTHY VAUGHAN) Type | Original Gold Cyanotype
Inspiration | Dorothy Vaughan
Year | 2024

Materials | Cyanotype, handmade paper, 24-carat gold leaf 8.3in frame diameter x 1.2in frame depth

Inspiration-

This artwork is inspired by American computer programmer and mathematician Dorothy Vaughan. Making significant contributions to the early U.S. space program, she was also the first Black American supervisor at NACA. A role she would continue to hold up to and beyond its merger with NASA, spending her entire career helping America stay ahead of the curve during the space race. Dorothy Vaughan became an expert FORTRAN programmer, and she also contributed to the Scout Launch Vehicle Program.

Vaughan demonstrated outstanding talent, dedication, determination and sacrifice in advancing both computing activities and racial and gender equality, her actions and inspiration paved the way for NASA’s diverse workforce. A brilliant, dedicated, trailblazing pioneer, she represents what is possible with guts, determination and an indomitable spirit.

Series-
Women Who Changed The World
This series is a story of NASA’s African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America’s space program—and whose contributions have been unheralded, until now.

A powerful, revelatory history essential to our understanding of race, discrimination, and achievement in modern America. Interweaving the rich history of scientific achievement and technological innovation with the intimate stories of these courageous, intelligent and determined women whose work forever changed the world—and whose lives show how out of one of America’s most painful histories came one of its proudest moments.

Technique-

Manifesting Her Destiny (Ode To Dorothy Vaughan) was created by constructing a hand-cut collage using female photographic portraiture, a halo made from an illustration of mathematical apparatus and an astrolabe, photographs of the moon and overlays of FORTRAN computer punch cards.

After coating the handmade paper with light-sensitive chemistry, it is left to dry in a dark room. The large scale negative is then printed onto the paper by exposure to daylight (UV rays). The print is then

processed by thoroughly washing in water to remove any unexposed solution. It can then be hung to dry, developing to full density Prussian blue after 24 hours before hand finishing with 24-carat gold leaf.

Dimensions

Framed: 8.3in frame diameter x 1.2in frame depth

Paper

Handmade recycled cotton rag paper:
150gsm / 100% Cotton Rag / Recycled / Acid Free / Medium Rough

Mount

We use float mounting for all of our framed cyanotypes. The artwork floats above a snow-white 8001 mount board, to showcase the paper texture and deckled edging.

Framing

Framed artwork will arrive ready to hang. Each frame is handmade by our London based design team.

All frames come with gallery spec, Artglass AR70 / 3mm anti-reflective/ 79% UV protected glazing as standard.

If clients would like a bespoke frame, please let me know as I can have them made in alternative colours, gilding and glazing options.