The works of North Dakota photographer Shane Balkowitsch will be featured in an open exhibition at the Memorial Union Gallery at NDSU. “Souls of Silver: Wet Plate Photography by Shane Balkowitsch” is scheduled to run Aug. 5 to Sept. 11.
The interactive exhibition explores wet plate collodion photography and considers the evolution of photographic processes. It explores issues such as what was gained or lost as photography moved into film and digital mediums.
Based in Bismarck, North Dakota, Balkowitsch employs wet plate collodion photography, one of the earliest forms of the art form, to create poignant and symbolic portraits. Using chemicals and hand-cut pieces of glass, Balkowitsch’s portraits bring the historic process “back to life.” To see images of his work, visit http://nostalgicglasswetplatestudio.zenfolio.com/.
The exhibition is sponsored by the North Dakota Art Gallery Association with support from the North Dakota Council on the Arts.
A cyanotype workshop led by Su Legatt, lecturer of visual arts, is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 28, from 3-5 p.m. at the Memorial Union Gallery. In addition, Balkowitsch is set to hold an outdoor wet plate demonstration Thursday, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m. near the south entrance of the Memorial Union, and a closing reception is scheduled for Sept. 11 from 5-7 p.m., with an artist talk at 5:30 p.m.
The gallery is located on the second floor of the NDSU Memorial Union, located at 1401 Administrative Ave. Gallery summer hours are Tuesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. The gallery will switch to fall semester hours on Aug. 26.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.