FRONT & CENTER
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aniela Naomi Molnar is a Portland artist, poet, writer, teacher, mentor, climate activist and a grandchild of Holocaust survivors. She began her creative journey as soon as she was old enough to hold a paintbrush. Her educational background is a unique blend of science and art; she received an undergraduate degree in environmental studies and a graduate degree in scientific illustration and worked with Scientific American Magazine for many years. Several years ago, Daniela’s interest in scientific research and her art converged as she found herself drawn to the origins of colors. She often uses natural pigments in her work, and she became interested in the geology, biology, or botany backgrounds of specific colors. When she started a residency in New Mexico in October 2020, she began creating paintings using the cyanotype process. “I was in the mountains of Northern New Mexico, and I was just completely smitten by the 60
Artist
Daniela Molnar’s
work exposes a color with a dark history By Mala Blomquist
light,” says Daniela. “All I wanted to do was work with the light.” Daniela uses a mixture of chemicals during the cyanotype process, which, when exposed to sunlight and washed in water, oxidize to create images. “You can combine them and paint with them
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | OREGON JEWISH LIFE
under fluorescent light, and nothing will happen,” explains Daniela. “I’m painting the chemicals onto paper, and then I’m placing objects that I find on walks in the forest, the city, or sometimes objects that I’ve inherited from my grandparents onto the paper. Then I put the
New Earth 6 (Peru) Natural pigments and rainwater on paper 22 x 22” 2018
whole assemblage into the sun, and anywhere that the object is blocking (the light) is going to be white.” She can also manipulate
