madelyngowler@yahoo.ca, Artist at Artists In Schools

Madelyn Gowler

Details:

Craft, Media arts, Visual arts

Grade Level: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Language: english

Regions: Westman, Capital Region

Contact:

Phone Email Website

Biography

Madelyn Gowler has their BFA (hon.) from the University of Manitoba. Since graduating Gowler has grown a passionate for teaching alternative photography, leaning into the materiality that camera-less photography has to offer. They have taught workshops for an array of ages and knowledge levels at Ace Art inc. (2025), Kids Art Camp at St. Norberts Arts Center (2024), Platform Centre for FLASH Photo Festival (2023), University of Manitoba (2022 + 2024), Wasagaming Community Arts Centre (2023), and Culture Days (2022). The workshops span from cyanotypes (+toning), lumens, phytograms, van dykes, eco-film developing, and colour film developing. They also have previously taught Artists in Schools; a 5-week grade 9 Super 8 class (2023) with a final screening, and an Alternative Photography class (2024) at Henry G. Izatt. They most recently taught a grade 10-12 Alternative Photography class (2025) where at the end the students had an exhibition off site at Adelaide Gallery.

Media

Project Samples

Alternative Photography Class

This alternative photo class will be an introduction to prints made with the sun, including cyanotypes and lumens. I will be showing what a photogram is, which is placing objects or negatives directly onto the print to expose. These prints create interesting abstract silhouettes, allowing a fun hands on exploration of light and shadow. Outdoor materials are typically used to place onto the prints, but anything that is semi-transparent or interestingly shaped could do the trick. Lumens are made using silver gelatin photographic paper and would be temporary prints unless fixed with photo chemistry. Where lumens can vary in colour depending on the type, age, and texture of paper, cyanotype is known for the deep blue colour it creates. Cyanotype is a chemical that is coated onto any porous surface like paper, wood, fabric, etc. There is an option to have a final exhibition at the end of this course!

Super 8 Filmmaking

This Super 8 Filmmaking class will consist of storyboarding, digital test shots, light-metering, and how to use a super 8 camera. The students can be in groups of 3-5, giving rotating roles of actor, director, set designer, costumes, and cameraperson. They will then film the 3mins of footage in one take, relying on in-camera editing. There can be an option to extend the course by recording audio, digitalizing/video editing, and/or developing the film themselves if the school has a darkroom.

35mm Film Photography

This 35mm Film Photography course would cover exposure, lighting, composition, how to load film, and developing. I would also show how to develop film using coffee or plants to avoid the typical harsh darkroom chemicals. Then the students will be shown how to scan and edit their images to be printed.