Photographers Work To Reopen ‘Depot Darkroom’

Facility Has Been Idle Since The 1980s

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Two Northland photographers are planning a resurrection of a one-of-a-kind darkroom.

The darkroom is hidden inside the Duluth Depot.

It hasn’t been touched since the 1980s.

But now, there are serious plans to get the facility thriving again with photographers – both in film and digital.

“It’s an amazing facility. And it was built to house quite a few people to work here at once,” said John Sager, manager of the Depot Darkroom.

Sager and photographer Brett Grandson are behind the effort to revive the facility that’s been sitting idle in the Depot for decades.

“I feel like once people know what’s here and what’s available and we open it up to let them come see it, maybe they will be inspired to try it themselves, because it’s fun. It’s just really fun,” Grandson said.

The two agree the rise in digital photography has virtually wiped out darkrooms across the country.

“Since digital took over in the mid-90s, facilities like this have disappeared — and there are not many left,” Sager explained.

But they also agree there’s a new interest building among passionate photographers to get back to the art of print making, whether that’s from true file or digital files.

“Film still exists. You can buy it. It’s out there,” Sager said with a smile.

“Anyone with a digital camera can make a negative and make a traditional print with processes dating back to the 1800s,” Grandson said.

It’s a way Grandson and Sager believe history can stay alive in Duluth’s arts community while connecting today’s digital age.

“Once you start getting into print making, it becomes a lot more personal because you’ve spending hours of your own time and putting your own work and hands into the process,” Grandson said.

“My ultimate goal is to see beautiful photography come out of this facility again,” Sager said.

The guys at the Darkroom are looking for photographers interested in re-designing the facility and getting it up and running for the public.

Just contact them through the Duluth Art Institute.