As the digital photography world grew and eventually supplanted film photography, the alternative or antique processes returned to prominence. Wet Plate Collodion is one of the most instantly recognizable processes, and next to Daguerreotypes, perhaps one of the most demanding. Interest in this beautiful process has seen significant growth around the world over the past few years. In our state of 650,000+ residents, there are only a handful artists who actively create work through this process. Our initial work included Kevin Klein of Valley City, Shane Balkowitsch of Bismarck, Kary Janousek of Fargo, and Ryan Stander of Minot.
In the spring of 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, an idea for a collaborative project was hatched by Kary Janousek to stimulate creative work during that dark time. Since then, the group has moved toward monthly prompts for artists to respond to. This page stands as a record of our work together.
Spring 2020: Beginnings
Our first project together used an object as a prompt sent from the previous artist. Kary sent Kevin an antique lock, who then sent Shane an antique silver nitrate bottle. Shane then sent Ryan a censor and Ryan sent Kary a hand carved wooden toy he had found in an abandoned house. You can read more about our first project here.
Our first project together used an object as a prompt sent from the previous artist. Kary sent Kevin an antique lock, who then sent Shane an antique silver nitrate bottle. Shane then sent Ryan a censor and Ryan sent Kary a hand carved wooden toy he had found in an abandoned house. You can read more about our first project here.
June 2020: She Who Imagines
