Tintype Time Capsule: Marshall. After the Flood

Tintype Time Capsule: Marshall. After the Flood
Sarah Jones Decker
October 1–30
Reception: October 3, 5–8 p.m.
Ms. Decker, a former photography instructor at MHU, documented the destruction and rebuilding of the town of Marshall after the floods of Helene.

Weizenblatt Gallery at Mars Hill University is proud to present “Tintype Time Capsule: Marshall. After the Flood,” a powerful solo exhibition of experimental photography by North Carolina-based artist Sarah Jones Decker, on view from October 1 to 31, 2025. The public is invited to a free opening reception on Friday, October 3, from 5 to 8 PM.

In this evocative new body of work, Decker uses 19th-century wet plate collodion tintype photography to capture intimate, haunting portraits of the people of Marshall, NC, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene—a disaster that devastated the town and left lasting scars on the Appalachian landscape and community.

“Out of context, our town could be mistaken for a war zone,” Decker shares. “But our people are still here. This series is my way of saying: we are still here.”

Popularized during the Civil War, tintypes are produced by pouring collodion directly on a thin sheet of blackened metal, which is then immersed in silver nitrate to make it light sensitive and able to produce an image. The entire process needs to be completed before the plate dries out. To make the process work on the road, Decker built a mobile darkroom in the back of her Subaru and headed downtown.

Combining historical process with contemporary storytelling, Decker’s tintypes document the resilience, pride, and creativity of Marshall’s residents—from new business owners to multi-generational locals, artists, musicians, makers, and workers. The images are created with Decker’s mobile darkroom project born out of necessity, vision, and love for her town.

“This work is a time capsule,” says Decker. “It honors not just the destruction, but the quiet, powerful persistence of the people who live and rebuild here.”

This mixed media show will feature original tintypes and large reproductions of some of her favorites. Most images are on sale and there will be raffle opportunities benefiting the Madison County Arts Council.

About the Artist
Sarah Jones Decker is a photographer, writer, and organic farmer based in Marshall. She holds an M.F.A. in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a B.A. in journalism with a minor in creative writing from Virginia Tech. Her work has been featured in national publications, and she is the author of multiple books. A passionate outdoorswoman, she is also a certified sawyer and trail maintainer with the Carolina Mountain Club. Her artistic practice is deeply rooted in place, community, and storytelling.

Sarah taught photography at Mars Hill University from 2016–2020. She is honored to host her show in Madison County at the Weizenblatt Gallery.