Nora Zale talks to Brent Smith & Helen Jones

I recently sat down with Brent Smith and Helen Jones, long-time friends of each other and of In-Sight, to discuss their involvement with the program and with photography… Helen is currently studying Photography at Mass Art where she will receive her BA in May 2006. Brent Smith NZ: Tell me what your first interaction with In-Sight was... BS: Well, I first took classes back in the winter of 2000 (Helen: No-o – we met in 2000, and we met before).. Yes, 2000 because I remember because I dropped my camera in the snow (Helen: No! We met in 2000, and we met before you started In-Sight!) ..oh. It was 2001. I started in an Incentive class - there was no one signing up for the class and so they were allowing people who seemed committed - and I’d been working at labs for awhile. NZ: And how are you currently involved? BS: I’m currently employed by In-Sight. I maintain the digital lab and am working towards the growth of the digital initiative within In-Sight’s own objectives. NZ: Elaborate… BS: It means that at this early stage in the lab’s development at In-Sight, I’m helping to assimilate and integrate the digital lab into In-Sight’s programming, without necessarily making it something that conflicts with In-Sight’s original mission. I would like to find a way to utilize the digital lab and the new opportunities as a way to expand the possibilities here at In-Sight, not take away from them.

Photo by Brent Smith

NZ: What kept you coming back to In-Sight?
BS: The people kept me coming back... and since I was past the age range for taking classes, the fact that I could still be involved with In-Sight by volunteering to do labs and going on Exposures trips.

NZ: Complete this sentence: if it wasn’t for In-Sight I...
BS: …wouldn’t have met so many awesome people, experienced South Dakota, and probably would not have had the opportunity to use traditional darkrooms.

NZ: Why photography?
BS: Because to me it bridges two worlds that have difficulty coinciding in my life: art and science.

Helen Jones

NZ: Your first interaction with In-Sight was?
HJ: I took an intro class - (a smile at Brent) I followed the regular pattern like I was supposed to - when I was 16. I had fun and I wanted to come back. I think I took it at the same time as taking photo at school and it was more fun at In-Sight.

NZ: And how are you currently (or recently) involved?
HJ: I recently taught an intro class at In-Sight. It was a day camp sort of a class; it was every day for 2 weeks. We went over the basics of cameras and black and white darkrooms. We used Polaroids a lot, went to the fair. At the end of the class I asked the kids if they would come back, and they all said they’d be interested in taking more classes - and that made me happy. (Brent looking at Helen’s tipping chair: Helen, you’re scaring me! Helen: Why? Brent: Because I don’t want you to hurt yourself. Look at your fragile little feet -that’s all that’s holding you up! Helen: They’re not that fragile, they hold me up every day.)

Photo by Helen Jones

NZ: Okay you two, I’m writing this all down.. So Helen, what kept you coming back?
HJ: The people. (Brent: I said that! Helen: I can’t help it!) Um, and the fact that I could use the darkroom even if I wasn’t in a class that session.

NZ: Complete this sentence: if it wasn’t for In-Sight I...
HJ: …would never have gone to art school.

NZ: Why photography?
HJ: Because it was available. Because I could be here and do it. (Brent: Why originally?) Well, to get a Girl Scout badge. But I like the idea of being able to show someone a different way to look at the world.

NZ: Anything else?
BS: I love In-Sight. It has gone through many changes. Many, many changes of space, programming, directors, funding… I think it’s great that it can still operate and do what it does through all of that change.