Developing Artists at Community Darkrooms

By Susie Hume
Goldring Arts Journalism Student

An unassuming red brick building at the edge of the Syracuse University campus houses the nationally renowned contemporary photography gallery, Light Work, founded in 1973. But Light Work is more than a gallery, for it also welcomes photographers into its state-of-the art community access photography facility called Community Darkrooms.‘‘Simon’’ by Dale Pierce, courtesy of the artist.

The approximately 350 members of Community Darkrooms range from hobbyists to professional photographers. Memberships are available at an affordable rate to the general public and Syracuse University students, staff and faculty. Members have access to the equipment in Community Darkrooms; only printing and classes incur extra costs.

While the facility itself is undeniably impressive—Community Darkrooms offers both a color and a black and white darkroom, a digital manipulation and printing lab complete with Mac G5 computers and Epson pigment printers, a large studio room with professional lighting kits, and a variety of courses and seminars—it is the community environment that benefits members most of all.

"When we say community darkroom, the accent is on community," said Dale Pierce, a professional photographer and 15-year member. "We have a passion that we share together and we support each other so much."

Pierce uses the darkroom to create his own artwork and also teaches classes at Community Darkrooms. Since taking his first photography course at Community
Darkrooms in 1991, Pierce has exhibited his work at several well-established galleries and has published his photographs in several magazines.

Currently, Pierce is working on a new process he calls "photo montage." Pierce begins by photographing models in the studio, working only in black and white traditional photography. Each photograph is printed in two different exposures that are cut into strips about one inch wide. He weaves the strips together to create one image and re-photographs it. The final effect is a multilayered look that gives the photograph added depth. It seems to almost jump off the page at the viewer.

Tracey Gotham, 47, began taking photography courses a few years ago as a hobby, but soon realized it could become a lot more.

"It’s a passion," she said. "It’s cathartic, cleansing and therapeutic. You learn a lot about yourself."

Gotham recently won best-in-show in the annual competition "On My Own Time," a local juried arts competition cosponsored by the Cultural Resources Council of Syracuse and Onondaga County and the Everson Museum of Art, meant to demonstrate the artistic ability of employees from local businesses.

Her winning photograph, to be displayed at the Everson Museum of Art in October, is a candid shot of a 12-year-old girl in a cornfield, holding several stalks of corn in her arms. Although the girl was insecure at first about being photographed, Gotham said, "She was very proud of [the resulting photograph] when she saw it."

‘‘Young Harvest’’ by Tracey Gotham, courtesy of the artistA variety of photography classes are offered at Community Darkrooms. Anna Vaivoda, 19, a student at Johns Hopkins University and Skaneateles resident, recently took the intermediate black and white photography course.

"I am by no means an expert," she said, "but they help with the fine-tuning. It is a small class so there is lots of
one-on-one time with the professor."

In October, Community Darkrooms will offer free public seminars. There will be an introductory darkroom seminar the first Saturday of every month. On the second Saturday of each month there will be seminars in iLife—Apple software for editing photographs, video and music.

"It is a great place to start for those who are beginners," said Vernon Burnett, Community Darkrooms manager. "You can have a Web page up in two hours."
Members of Community Darkrooms also benefit from the extraordinary artist-in-residence program offered through Light Work.

Each year, the gallery invites between 12 and 15 nationally known artists to participate. The artists are provided with a stipend, an apartment in Syracuse and access to Community Darkrooms, including a private darkroom. The program has drawn many famous photographers, including Carrie Mae Weems, Peter DeLory, Cindy Sherman and most recently, Suzanne Opton.

"Even though the artists are given a private darkroom, they often interact with the members and students," said Burnett.

Pierce had the opportunity to work alongside Opton while she was in residency.

“They’re very willing to spend time with the other artists," he said of the resident artists. "They conduct mini-seminars with members and assist them. They are very accessible."

Many of the darkroom’s members credit their artistic success to the reciprocal learning effect the community environment creates.

"A lot of lasting friendships are formed here," Gotham said. "We all came here with the desire, but we didn’t have the tools to work with."