"The Throne of Gods" a wet plate collaboration took place at the State Library in Bismarck on July 20th, 2019.  Over 45 collaborators came together for the day to recreated Zeus on his throne with his gods.  Shane Balkowitsch, Ambrotypist from Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio in Bismarck was the resident photographer for the shoot.  

The Throne of Gods - A Wet Plate CollaborationThe Throne of Gods by Shane Balkowitsch at Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio

"Those Who Covet the Throne""Those Who Covet the Throne" a second work from "The Throne of the Gods"

Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods"Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods" Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods"Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods" Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods"Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods" Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods"Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods" Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods"Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods" Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods"Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods" Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods"Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods" Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods"Behind the Scenes of "The Throne of Gods"

THE THRONE OF GODS

A Wet Plate Collaboration

July 20th, 2019

Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio

at the North Dakota State Library, Capitol Grounds

Bismarck, North Dakota

Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio, Shane Balkowitsch, Ambrotypist

LIST OF COLLABORATORS

Cast:

Derek Harper (Zeus)

Steve Schirber (Poseidon)

Greyson Balkowitsch (Mercury)

Ben Pace (Pan)

Amber Sams (Medusa)

Pat Toepke (Cronos)

Bonnie Balkowitsch (Metis)

Abby Balkowitsch (Calliope)

Michele Oster Renner

Sharon Balkowitsch

Gregory Schmidt

Mahliya Balkowitsch (Cherub)

Alyvia Balkowitsch (Cherub)

Alex Nelson (Eileithyia)

Tricia Romanyshyn

John LaLonde

Winona Clarice (Artemis)

Emily Brandt

Support Staff:

Marek Dojs, Director

Michele Oster Renner, Wardrobe

Tom Wirtz, Assistant w/ Camera

Ivy Brown Jacobson, Hair

Jason Lueder, Master Carpenter

Mike LaLonde, Photography

Moira McNichols, Make-up

Chad Nodland, Head Photographer

Paul Noot, Painter & Art Direction

Dustin White, Writer & Poet

Laine Pope, Medusa Headdress

Kimberly Reuer, Assistant

Rissa Williams, Cloud Design

Andrea Fagerstrom, Art Consultant

Laura Barker, Tent and Assistant Marcus Johnson, Photography

Troy Balzer, Photography

Melanie Kuntz Malsam, Make-up

Phillip Litton, Videographer

Lance Loken, Set Assistant

Chelsy Ciavarella, Videographer

Greg DeSaye, Videographer

Michael Stevenson, Harp & Costumes

Steve Schirber, Blacksmith

Carl Zeiss Tessar 300mm lens, f11, 2.5 seconds of exposure, 8x10” black glass ambrotype in the historic wet plate collodion process of pure silver on glass, Alessandro Gibellini camera called “Red Molly”.

Congresswoman Deb Haaland Captured in Wet Plate by Shane Balkowitsch of Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate StudioDebra A. Haaland, U.S. Congresswoman for New Mexico’s 1st District, Laguna Pueblo

Congresswoman Debra Haaland, “Crushed Turquoise”, Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico’s 1st District, captured in the historic wet plate collodion process of pure silver on glass. This was one of the most important honors of my photographic journey. She traveled very far to be part of “Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective”. She arrived as a stranger and left as a friend.

This plate will be indefinitely archived at the North Dakota Historical Society here in Bismarck. A second plate will go to New Mexico’s Historical Society as well.

8x10” black glass ambrotype, Carl Zeiss Tessar 300mm lens, f4.5, 9 seconds of exposure, natural light through Norther facing windows and skylight. Thank you Margaret Gonzalez-Yellowbird for being by my side and assisting with this historic series of plates.

Congresswoman Deb Haaland in Wet Plate Collodion by Shane BalkowitschDebra A. Haaland, U.S. Congresswoman for New Mexico’s 1st District, Laguna Pueblo Congresswoman Deb Haaland in Wet Plate Collodion by Shane BalkowitschDebra A. Haaland, U.S. Congresswoman for New Mexico’s 1st District, Laguna Pueblo

A quote by the Congresswoman in the front of the "Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective":

“Shane’s work shines on its artistic merit and for its collaborative
nature. It is genuine and enthusiastic on a human level. For the folks
of many different Indian tribes who sit for his portraits, and who often
become his life-long friends, Shane builds lasting rapport. It is this
rapport, and the importance of honest collaboration between people
of different cultures, that is so vital for our country and is at the heart of
moving forward as a nation. I strive to emulate the rapport that Shane
has achieved in his art in the work I’m doing in Congress. Shane’s
photographs are not only beautiful, they convey the best example
of good people working together to achieve something great.”
March 21st, 2019, Congresswoman Debra A. Haaland

Deb Haaland Behind the Scenes of Her Wet PlateCongresswoman Deb Haaland Deb Haaland Behind the Scenes of Her Wet PlateCongresswoman Deb Haaland Deb Haaland Behind the Scenes of Her Wet PlateCongresswoman Deb Haaland Deb Haaland Behind the Scenes of Her Wet PlateCongresswoman Deb Haaland Deb Haaland Behind the Scenes of Her Wet PlateCongresswoman Deb Haaland Deb Haaland Behind the Scenes of Her Wet PlateCongresswoman Deb Haaland Deb Haaland Behind the Scenes of Her Wet PlateCongresswoman Deb Haaland   Congresswoman Deb HaalandNorthern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective Book Signing, June 23rd, 2019 Congresswoman Deb HaalandNorthern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective Book Signing, June 23rd, 2019

After some reflection, I have determined that this plate, plate #3194 which is plate #319 for my series "Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective" will go to the State Historical Society of North Dakota permanently. It has always been my goal to give my best work to our state archive. I also received confirmation from Congresswoman Deb Haaland that this was also her favorite plate of the day. Cementing for me this important decision.

As I stated in my speech on Sunday: "I can make all the work in the world but without their expertise and commitment to curation, this series would be scattered to the wind by time."

I still have to determine which plate to donate to the Congresswoman's Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections in New Mexico. Providing an original plate to her Historical Society is a promise I made to her months ago.

I will then gift a plate to our lady and will keep one for my wall to share with visitors to my natural light studio. It will be displayed with pride and serve as a reminder of our time together. All four plates will be shared and accounted for.

Thank you Chad Nodland  and Chris Hagen (High Plains Reader) for capturing these behind the scene images.  

Congresswoman Deb Haaland on Cover of High Plains Reader, Fargo, North Dakota by Chris HagenHigh Plains Reader, June 27th, 2019

https://www.vox.com/21572229/native-american-secretary-interior-biden-cabinet?fbclid=IwAR3pP2fodUD-rPEuYY9UGkpihYlpiBQGVbY9z2bF7d8Yr_Z7S2b5t6st278

Ernie LaPointe “Crow Foot”, Lakota, the Great Grandson of Sitting Bull, captured in the historic wet plate collodion process of silver on glass.

Orlando Scott Goff captured Sitting Bull on July 31st, 1881 in Bismarck, then the Dakota Territory in the same historic process. I have now done that again for Ernie 138 years later in the same city.  This is the third time Ernie has traveled to my studio for portraits.  

His original plate was plate #1 for “Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective” and that portrait “Eternal Field” appears on the cover of Volume 1.

Ernie is in town to speak at my books signing tomorrow at the State Historical Society of North Dakota, 2pm at the Heritage Center in Bismarck. Please join us.  Me and my dear friend Ernie Lapointe, we have been laughing together since the moment I met him in 2014.

This is what it is about for me, trust, friendship and moments of time preserved. How will we be remembered?

Ernie LaPointe - Great Grandson of Sitting Bull Captured in Wet Plate CollodionErnie LaPointe by Shane Balkowitsch   Ernie LaPointe the Great Grandson of Sitting Bull in Wet Plate CollodionErnie LaPointe by Shane Balkowitsch

Ernie LaPointeErnie LaPointe with Shane Balkowitsch Ernie LaPointeErnie LaPointe with Shane Balkowitsch Ernie LaPointeErnie LaPointe with Shane Balkowitsch Ernie LaPointeErnie LaPointe with Shane Balkowitsch Ernie LaPointeErnie LaPointe with Shane Balkowitsch