Black Hills State University's Contemporary Issues in Photography senior photography showcase "Identity" will include portraits of Sanford Lab employees by Nick Hubbard, as part of his independant project.
From images of newly outfitted drifts on the 4100 Level to jaw-dropping footage of LUX-ZEPLIN’s move underground, Nick Hubbard has been capturing the unfolding science at Sanford Underground Research Facility (Sanford Lab) since his internship began in May 2019. While in this forward-facing laboratory, his creative interest was also captivated by the facility’s rich history.
“While working at Sanford Lab, I’ve met some fascinating people whose history with this place runs deep, and I wanted to preserve some of that history in a creative way,” said Hubbard. Since September, Hubbard has been working on a personal project, photographing individuals who were employed by the former Homestake Mining Company, some of whom he met on the job at Sanford Lab.
Some of these portraits will be featured in a photography showcase at Black Hills State University (BHSU), where Hubbard is finishing his bachelor’s degree in photography and communications.
The “Identity” showcase will feature images from BHSU senior photography students as the culmination of their capstone course. Images will be on display in the Lower Photographer’s Gallery at BHSU through next semester, with a public reception held Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 4-6 p.m.
“This exhibition is the result of a semester’s work from some of our most creative and talented photography students. Contemporary Issues in Photography is a capstone course that is intended to push students to step outside of their comfort zone and exceed their personal expectations by creating a portfolio of 20 images on a single subject or theme,” said Steve Babbitt, professor of photography at BHSU.
Hubbard’s portion of the showcase will include eight framed portraits and a book with twelve additional photographs, shot entirely on medium format film.
“This semester, Nick Hubbard choose to focus on an ongoing project of portraits of individuals that have a strong history or connection with Homestake Mine,” said Babbitt. “His work is not only technically exquisite but also deeply personal and revealing. This is especially evident when the portraits are viewed together.”
Hubbard and Erin Broberg, his partner on the project, describe this project as both an interview and portrait series, capturing the stories and faces of people who worked for Homestake Mining Company, which was once the deepest, most productive gold mine in the Northern Hemisphere. They have been meeting with people in their homes, listening to their stories around their kitchen tables, capturing their portraits in their living rooms.
This collection is a precursor to a larger body of work, entitled The Price of Gold, by Nick Hubbard and Erin Broberg. The work will combine photography and storytelling in a book-length mosaic of personal histories, and will detail the rugged, joyous, tragic and nostalgic stories of the those who built their lives above and below the city of Lead.