Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23, 2026, 1–4 pm The Lab @ Silver Eye, 5228 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 $135.00
Workshop
Flawed Gems: A Visceral Approach to Self-Portraiture through Polaroid and Collage
How do we balance control and surrender and embrace imperfection in our art practices?
Flawed Gems with artist Lisa Toboz invites participants to explore self-portraiture through Polaroid photography and collage. Instant film can be unpredictable, with the final image not representing the reality that we see.
In session one, participants will shoot a self-portrait using Polaroid film, considering light, space, and props that are meaningful to the photographer. In session two, participants will apply mixed-media techniques such as collage or embellishments using personal or found objects and ephemera to create a tactile art piece. We will spend some time discussing the works we make.
By taking creative risks, we extend time beyond the confines of the instant square frame, learn to see mistakes as opportunities for expanding our art practice, and harness the unknown with confidence.
You're encouraged to bring your own instant film and camera if you have one. If you don't have an instant camera or film, Silver Eye is happy to provide them for a $15 materials fee. Please indicate your needs for materials by contacting sobia@silvereye.org
Image credit: Sacred Geometry, 2025, Saint medal on expired Polaroid 600 film, Courtesy of the artist
Skill/Experience Level
Adults and young adults 16+ with basic photography knowledge and an interest in experimental image-making.
Schedule
Saturday, August 22, 2026, 1–4pm, The Lab @ Silver Eye
Sunday, August 23 2026, 1–4pm, The Lab @ Silver Eye
Register
The two-day workshop registration and materials fee is $135.00. Register below by 5pm on Sunday, August 16!
If you would like to take this workshop and need financial assistance please contact sobia@silvereye.org. A limited number of bursary seats are available.
Participating Artist
Lisa Toboz is a self-taught, lens-based artist with an MFA in Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She combines photography and collage using family archives and found objects to explore autobiography, mortality, and storytelling. Her photo books include Dwell and The Long Way Home. She has exhibited internationally, and shown work in Silver Eye Center for Photography’s Radial Survey biennial. Her photography can be found in various publications including Lenscratch, Reed magazine, Fisheye magazine, Uppercase, Shots magazine, and Polaroid Now (Chronicle Books), as well as in the permanent collection of the University of San Diego Humanities Center. She is the self-portrait category winner in the Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, a Photolucida Critical Mass finalist, an Analog Sparks Best Conceptual award winner, and was a Distillery artist-in-residence at Brew House Arts.