John Banasiak retires after 46 years at USD

After more than four decades, the University of South Dakota is saying goodbye to one photography professor. For 46 years, John Banasiak has helped shape generations of students at USD.

Banasiak grew up on the south side of Chicago and attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Chicago.

While attending school, he worked at George Brown’s Bar, a working-class tavern in Chicago. There, Banasiak photographed people in the bar.

At age 22, his photos were published in Time-Life’s Photography Year 1973, where he was featured among a group of photographers highlighted as “New Discoveries.”

Throughout the 1970s, Banasiak traveled around the world, from Poland to New Zealand. After returning to Chicago, he learned of an open photography professor position at USD from a contact at the Art Institute of Chicago.

“She said it was a lot like New Zealand because she knew I went to New Zealand and liked it,” Banasiak said. “It did look like New Zealand, the South Island in the middle of it where they do a lot of farming, but that’s about it.”

Banasiak said he grew to like Vermillion and what began as a short-term plan, turned into a lifelong career.

“One year led into another,” Banasiak said. “Now this is the end of my 46 years, it’s been fun.” 

Lauren Freese, USD Chair and Associate Professor of Art, said the department is grateful for all that Banasiak has done for the program, the university and the state.

“I don’t know how you put that legacy into words,” Freese said. “I think it’s really going to live on through his students, but also, I hope through that sense of willingness to play.” 

While his work has earned numerous accolades, students and faculty say his impact goes far beyond awards.

“I never thought of myself really as a teacher,” Banasiak said. “I knew a lot about technical things in photo, drawing and painting. I thought I contributed a lot on a technical level, but as far as artwork and nurturing creative ideas, I felt more like a collaborator.”

Since 1980, Banasiak has taught students mechanical and technical processes that many consider a lost art including gum dichromate, mordancage and hand-coloring photo prints.

“I try to get people to use photo in whatever their majors might be,” Banasiak said. “I really enjoy working with people. One of the sad things is seeing people go. After a few semesters, you have a lot of fun, and then they’re gone into their lives.”

Aside from the physical techniques, he’s passionate about helping students find meaning and purpose within their work. 

“His generosity with students, his creative generosity with others is something that is kind of intangible,” Freese said. “I think people wind up paying that forward.”

A retirement banquet was held at the Eagles Club on Monday, May 4, attended by faculty, community members, along with both former and current students.

The banquet featured a book by Sarah A. Hanson-Pareek, program director of the digital imaging lab, digital library and photographs, “The Magic of John Banasiak.” An exhibition of the same name will be on display in the John A. Day Gallery from May 7-27.

The exhibit features photos of Banasiak’s eclectic office and workspace. Many of the photographed items were also sold in mystery bags at the banquet, with proceeds going toward a scholarship in Banasiak’s name for the College of Fine Arts’ Photography Department. 

“I don’t want to be remembered at all. I mean, I try to help people here, and I don’t want to be any kind of inspirational added baggage,” Banasiak said. “I want them to take credit for it, that they’ve done it. It wasn’t because of anybody else. They made all the choices in the end.”

His legacy isn’t defined by awards or recognition, but by the impact in the lives he has made to all that have met him.

Photo Credit: Nathan DeGreef