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About the Element
Hafnium was identified in Zircon in 1932 by D. Coster and G. von
Hevesey by means of X-ray spectroscope analysis. It was named in honor
of the city in which its discovery was made. Most zirconium minerals
contain 1 to 5 percent hafnium.
Hafnium is a ductile metal with a brilliant silver luster. Because the
element not only has a good absorption cross section for thermal
neutrons, but also excellent mechanical properties and is extremely
corrosion-resistant, hafnium is used for reactor control rods. Such
rods are used in nuclear submarines. It is also used in gas-filled and
incandescent lamps, and is an efficient scavenger for oxygen and
nitrogen.
About the Print
I wanted my print to
reflect the use of hafnium in nuclear reactor control rods. Therefore I
produced a monoprint with a matrix mimicking the lattice these rods
would occupy. The monoprint plate was made by letting modeling paste
harden on a piece of vellum. Then I rolled oil paint on the plate and
ran it through my printing press, choosing black BFK Rives paper. I
collaged the symbol Hf on the print in lustrous silver, illustrating
the metal's finish. The collage of the number 72 shows a view of the
rods from the top looking down (part of another monoprint). I included
the insect because I remembered hearing that the only survivor of a
nuclear holocaust would be an insect.
About the Printmaker
The project
fascinated me because I majored in chemistry at college, graduating
from Boston University in 1968 summa cum laude, phi beta kappa. My true
love, however, was making art and in recent years this has evolved from
oil painting to printmaking and collage.
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