Permeable

 

Holly Downing

  1948 - PRESENT (biography)

2016  

mezzotint 

3 1/2 x 4 15/16" platemark 

pencil, lower right 

3 of 20  

pencil dated after signature, titled lower center 

 

antique-white Rives BFK 

published 

artist 

HD208 

$400.00 

Printmaker Holly Downing uses the softness produced by mezzotint to depict the erroded geological formations found throughout California's coastline. Forming in siliceous rock formations such as granite and sandstone, these small, round pockets are called "tafoni" and can be found along coastlines throughout the world but also in India's Thar desert; Petra, Jordan; and even in parts of the North and South poles. They occur naturally, due primarily to salt weathering, though it is now thought that their erosion is expedited by climate change.