DU's School of Art & Art History Looks Forward to Future Darkroom Remodel

The School of Art and Art History (SAAH) at the University of Denver, part of the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, is committed to preparing students for the evolving creative landscape by embracing emerging technologies alongside traditional artistic practice. Additionally, the popularity of analog film photography, darkroom printing, and alternative photographic processes is growing in our modern age, with DU students wanting to explore alternatives to digital and cell phone photography as part of their own creative processes. 

As part of this commitment, SAAH completed its first phase of renovating the on-campus photo darkroom in 2020, transforming the space and how it's used for black-and-white film developing. This initial phase of renovation also led to the creation of the Davis Gallery exhibition space and the Davis Community Art Lab (DCAL), which aims to encourage interdisciplinary community engagement and related art practices.

The second phase of renovating the School's photo darkroom will commence this summer, including the addition of a state-of-the-art, 16-enlarger station, which is a specialized projector used to expose light-sensitive photographic paper to a film negative, as well as ADA-compliant modifications to the darkroom's entrances and functionality. Additionally, the DCAL space will be transformed to support black-and-white film developing and to accommodate alternative photographic processes, such as Cyanotype, Tintype, and many others. This will also serve as an opportunity to transition to a more sustainable darkroom approach that emphasizes reusing materials and reducing darkroom waste via lower-toxicity, biodegradable photochemistry. 

"Traditionally, the darkroom at DU has served the needs of SAAH students only; however, since photography is the most widely used visual medium across nearly every field, this innovative update to the space will help promote interdisciplinary collaboration," said photography professor Roddy MacInnes.

For example, because sustainable darkroom techniques involve plant-based materials, DU students in biology, environmental studies, and chemistry, among others, can explore the limitless intersections of art and science using this renovated photography space. Looking ahead, the School's photo darkroom, once renovated, will function as a dedicated location for photographic practice and experimentation, serve as an interdisciplinary hub that uses photography to encourage dialogue and exploration, and foster creative connections between art and science. 

Be on the lookout for news regarding the upcoming remodel on the SAAH News & Events page.