The exhibition runs through March 20. The gallery, which is open during regular library hours, is located at 40 S. Portage St. in Westfield. See www.pattersonlib.org for more information.

“Close to Home” is a collection of cyanotypes created using plants gathered from the woods, fields, and gardens surrounding the artist’s home in Arkwright.

Cyanotype, a photographic process dating to the mid-1800s, is known for its distinctive Prussian blue tones. In this exhibition, Booth reinterprets this historic process through a modern lens, creating works that bridge alternative photography, painting, and textile art. The results range from delicate botanical impressions on paper to larger scale works on fabric.

The exhibition highlights the versatility of the process, including both traditional cyanotypes and more experimental work using multiple exposures and color manipulation.

Arkwright-based artist Elizabeth Booth uses a photographic technique called cyanotype to create unique prints on paper and textiles. Her exhibition “Close to Home” opens at the Octagon Gallery in Westfield on Friday, Feb. 20.

“What I enjoy about the cyanotype process is that it invites a balance between control and chance,” says Booth. “The process is slow and tactile, requires no darkroom, uses relatively safe chemistry, and can be developed with sunlight and water.”

“I chose to create these place-focused works as a way to reinterpret the natural landscape of my home. I find that cyanotype is an excellent way to help me reflect on my relationship with the place I live.”

Booth has been creating cyanotypes since 2019, and has had her work included in multiple juried exhibitions, including the Southern Tier Biennial in 2025 and Artscape in Jamestown in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Last year, one of her cyanotypes was selected for an exhibition by the Griffin Museum of Photography in Massachusetts honoring Anna Atkins, who is credited with being the originator of botanical cyanotypes. She has also exhibited her work at Hallwalls, the Tri-County Arts Association, and the North Shore Arts Alliance member shows.