{"id":14801,"date":"2025-12-08T22:09:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T22:09:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/?p=14801"},"modified":"2025-12-08T23:03:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T23:03:32","slug":"community-darkroom-midwest-wi-il","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/stories\/community-darkroom-midwest-wi-il\/","title":{"rendered":"Slow Art, Real Connection: Film Lives\u00a0On\u00a0in the Midwest\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cI was just somebody who really liked film,\u201d Rosondunnii Marshall says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was three years ago. The Chicagoan still \u2018really likes\u2019 film, but now she\u2019s got a brick-and-mortar community darkroom to share the medium with others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marshall is the founder and owner of The Darkroom Chicago<\/a> where people can learn about 35mm film photography and development. It started at her dining room table, some friends, and some cameras\u2014and has grown into an all-are-welcome, all-inclusive space for nerding out about film. Community darkrooms are public spaces to learn about and develop film photography. Together. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \"People\n\n
\n
\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: The Darkroom Chicago<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n Photographers connect over film at an event at The Darkroom Chicago.\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n \n \n <\/figure>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

The full darkroom\u2014replete with open lab hours, a light table, and a gallery\u2014is inside the Tuley Cultural Center<\/a> where camera clubs regularly met decades ago. Much of that equipment sat there until Marshall reclaimed it for her community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cI think folks are yearning for connection, and I think folks are yearning for space,\u201d Marshall says. \u201cSometimes art is very head down, to yourself, cold.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of that, she noticed how few spaces there were for adults to socialize without heading to a bar.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut [with] actual connection that\u2019s facilitated,\u201d she says, \u201cwe could build humanity.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

\n \n
<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n

\u201cI love the permanency of [film]. I love the fact that I have this here, and no matter what anyone says, I know that this existed, that this was real. That\u2019s very powerful right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Rosondunnii\u00a0Marshall, The Darkroom Chicago<\/cite>\n <\/blockquote>\n\n