Stephanie Alton
Stephanie Alton was born in St. Paul, MN, but for a number of years has resided in Montana. Over the years, she has lived a life of extreme diversity, working in New York City as well as teaching and living in an Athabaskan Indian village in Alaska. She thrives on learning about the diversities in all walks of life, and it is in this realm of cultural differences that she finds the inspiration for her art. Her work addresses retelling narratives anew to enhance and broaden understanding among communities and cultures.
Alton received her MFA from Pratt Institute, studying photography under Philip Perkis and Arthur Freed. She also studied film at New York University. Her documentary short, Yupiit: Eye of Both Worlds, is award winning nationally and internationally. Alton's photo collages have been published at the Center on Contemporary Art in Seattle. She is in the Alaska Permanent Collection. Alton's documentary, "Ridin' for the Brand", is distributed by Dark Hollow Films and has been shown on Montana PBS.
Resume
Resume
Education
Post Graduate Film Certificate New York University, Film School, New York, NY 1994.
M.F.A. Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY. Photography 1992.
B.F.A. Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA. Photography 1989.
Grants, Funding, & Scholarships
2024- Post-Production ethnographic/experimental art/documentary, Director.
2012- Kickstarter recipient of $20,000 post -production for "Ridin' for the Brand"
2000-Alaska Council on the Arts, artist grant
1994- Memorial Sloan Kettering, Scholarship to New York University, Film School
2021- Yupiit: Eye of Both Worlds ethnographic/art/documentary short-Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Researcher, Editor, Soundperson.
2014 Ridin’ for the Brand documentary- Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Researcher, Editor, Soundperson
Educational Distributor
Dark Hollow Films Distributing films around to the Nation's Universities and Colleges and high schools 2012- Present.
Collections: “Ridin’ for the Brand” documentary
2015-2016
PBS Montana
Hamilton Library Hamilton, MT
Stevens Library Stevens, MT
2014
Williams College, MA
University of Michigan MI
University of Windsor, Canada
Boise State, ID
Arizona State
Middle Tennessee State University
University of Las Vegas
Hudson Valley Community College
University of Oregon Law
University of Lethbridge, Canada
Eastern Washington University
McGill University
Longmont
Texas A&M University
UC Davis
Southern Utah University
Sandals Community College
University Nebraska Lincoln
Stratford Thompson Public Library
2013
Keene State College, NH
University of Wyoming
Northland Pioneer, AZ
Texas State San Marcos, TX
University Texas San Antonio
Miles Community College, MT
College of Wooster, OH
University of Montana
Busch New York
Austin Community College
University College of North, Canada
University of Tennessee
Virginia Tech
South Dakota State
Western State, Colorado
Purdue University
University of New England
Action Library: CA
University of Texas
Freelance
Film and Video
2014 - Director of Photography, Editor: "Laundry for Strangers "Kickstarter campaign.
2014 - Director, Director of Photography, & Editor: Dink Inc. Spot.
2008 - Sound Person, Butte Project, documentary/Producer Patrick Markey, digital video.
2001 - Director of Photography: "Dancing on the Moon", independent feature film, digital video.
2000 - Director, Producer, Director of Photography: "Raven's Flight", short film, 16mm.
1996 - Director, Producer, Director of Photography: "Image Myths", 16mm short.
1995 - Director, Producer, Director of Photography: " A Fleeting Pulse", 16mm short,.
1991 - Director, Producer, Director of Photography: "Until the End," video short.
1994 - Director of Photography: "Set It Up", 4-2-1, 16mm music video.
2001 - Camera Operator: Eskimo Indian Olympics, broadcast.
2000 - Camera Operator: Qayaqs and Canoes, Discovery Channel and Alaska Heritage Center.
2000 - Camera Operator: Subsistence Camps of the Alutiiq, Chugach Muit Foundation.
2000 - Camera Operator: We the People March, live broadcast.
2000 - Camera Operator: Ride for Aids, documentary.
2001 - First Assistant Cameraman: Special Olympics in Alaska, 16mm.
2001 - First Assistant Cameraman: Commercial, Sprockett Heads, 16mm.
2000 – First Assistant Cameraman: scenics for Discovery Channel, 16mm.
1996 – First Assistant Cameraman: La Belle Vie commercial, 35mm.
1996 – Camera and Electric: "Victor" Independent film. D.P. Kramer Morganthau.
1995 – First Assistant Cameraman: Casio OV, Young Rubican commercial, 16mm.
1994 – Second Assistant Cameraman: "Search and Destroy": second unit, Producer Martin Scorsese, 16mm.
1999 - First Assistant Cameraman: Alaska State Fair Commercial, Director Shawn Morris, 16mm.
1997 - First Assistant Cameraman: SHOA, Video taped interviews, Producer Stephen Spielberg.
1997 – Loader: "Rosala", music video, D.P. Mike Spiller 35mm.
2000 - Sound Person: "Pamyua" documentary for Kids Discovery Program.
2000 - Sound Person: Discovery Wings Channel, documentary.
2000 - Sound Person: "Winter Warriors", A&E History Channel.
2000 - Sound Person: Alaskan Pipeline, documentary for Discovery.
1999 - Sound Person: Extra "Whittier, Alaska" T.V. program.
1999 - Sound Person: Yukon Watershed Program, documentary.
Artist, Photographer & Designer
2023 – Web Designer stephaniealton.com website.
2022 – Web Designer yupiit.com website.
2018-19-Photographaer for the Montana Ballet Company.
2016 - Web Designer Kayak Baja website.
2015 – Web Designer Turn it up Technologies website.
2015 – Web Designer Broadus Montana website.
2015 – Web Designer ridinforthebrandthemovie.com website.
2014 - Photo Assistant: Cindy Goeddel, Bozeman, MT (wildlife-
photography) www.goeddelphotography.com.
1999-2000 - Photo Assistant: Greg Martin Fairbanks, AK (commercial and advertising.
1999-2000 Photo Assistant: Randy Brandon Girdwood, AK (commercial and advertising photography).
1997-1998 - Photo Assistant: Ian Tong New York, (fashion photographer) www.iantong.com.
1995-1996 - Photo Assistant: Douglas Faulkner (underwater photographer) New York, NY www.daumanpictures.com/gallery/faulkner/.
1991-1993 - Photo Assistant: Dennis Chalkin (illustrative and food photography) New York, NY www.chalkinstudio.com.
1991-1995 - Photo Assistant: David McNamara (commercial, fashion, illustrative photography) New York, NY www.davidmcnamaraphotography.com.
1991-1995 – Photo Assistant: Brad Guice (fashion and editorial photography) New York, NY.
1991-1995 – Photo Assistant: Alan Kaplan (fashion photography) New York, NY.
1991-1995 – Photo Assistant: Eric Jacabson (food photography) New York, NY.
1990 - Photo Assistant: Michael Watson (still life, architectural photography) New York, NY.
Academic Positions
Artist in Residence: Video Production Class through BBRCTE, Alaska 2023
Artist in Residence: Video Editing through BBRCTE, Alaska 2023
Adjunct Professor: Basics of Videography at Univ. Fairbanks, AK 2002.
Artist in Residence: Black and White Photography at Minto Public School, AK 2001-02.
Artist in Residence: Pinhole photography at Minto Public School, AK 2001.
Guest Lecturer
Cambridge University, UK lecture about the making of "Yupiit: Eye of Both Worlds 2022.
Montana Heritage Center lecture about the making of “Ridin’ for the Brand” 2021.
Centre for Learning and Teaching of the Vocational Training in Hong Kong, Pre-Production and Post Production for Directors and Producers. October 9, 6 hr. class 2019.
Pacific Lutheran University for B&W Photography, Color Photography and Digital Photography February 18-19 2015 - Oct.11 2016.
Film Juror
Anchorage International Film Festival 2023.
Filmography
“Yupiit: Eye of Both Worlds” short documentary 2021
Best Short Doc- Santa Fe Film Festival, Santa Fe, NM, Feb.2022.
Best Native American Film- IndiFest Film Awards, La Jolla, CA, Dec. 2021.
Best Traditional Film-Bozeman International Film Festival 2023
Best Indigenous Film- Dreamz Catcher International Film Festival, Finalist West Bengal, India. Mar. 2022.
Best Original Music- Western Canadian International Film Festival Jan. 2022.
Honorable MentionVideo Art and Experimental Film Festival, NY, Nov. 2021
Native Spirit Film Festival, Cambridge Univ. Cambridge, UK 2022
Sarasota Native Film Festival, Sarasota, FL 2022
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, Minneapolis, MN 2022
American Documentary and Animation Film fest AM docs, Palm Springs, CA Apr. 2022.
Red Dirt Film Festival, Stillwater, OK, Short Doc Apr. 2022.
Anchorage International Film Festival, Anchorage, AK, Dec.2021.
American Indian Film Festival, San Francisco , CA, Nov. 2021.
“Ridin’ for the Brand” documentary
PBS Montana 2014-present.
Phillips Exeter Academy New Hampshire 2014.
PBS Montana 2014-16.
Livingston Film Festival Shane Center Livingston, MT 2014.
Myrna Loy Theater Helena, MT Oct. 2013 and May 2014
Emerson Theater Bozeman, MT 2014.
Elko Cowboy Poetry Gathering Elko, NV 2014.
Choteau Community Center, Choteau, MT 2014.
Big Timber Theater, Big Timber, MT 2013.
“Raven’s Flight” short film
Culture Unplugged www.cultureunplugged Maharashtra, India, Menlo Park, CA, Auckland, New Zealand 2001.
Woodstock Film Festival, 2001.
Anchorage Film Festival, 2001.
Denver International Film Festival, 2001.
Festival Arcipelago, Rome, Italy 2001.
Tresses En Vues "Land Insights", Quebec, Canada 2001.
Martha's Vineyard Film Festival, MA 2001.
Earth Day Celebration, San Fran., Vancouver, Mexico, City, Los Angeles, Madrid 2001.
Florida Seminole Film Festival, 2000.
Santa Fe Film Festival, 2000.
New York Native American Film Festival, 2000.
Global Visions Film Festival, 2000.
Art Exhibitions
Dana Gallery Group showing mixed media, Missoula, MT 2021
Center of Contemporary Art Group showing digital photography, Seattle, WA 2018.
Hamilton Library Hamilton, MT “Ridin’ for the Brand” documentary 2016
Phillips Exeter Academy New Hampshire "Ridin' for the Brand" documentary 2014.
Filipino Photo Relief Fund Bell Town Tavern, Seattle 2014
Planet Bronze Gallery Group Showing mixed media, Bozeman, MT 2013.
Planet Bronze Group Showing mixed media, Bozeman, MT 2013
Head West group showing mixed media, Bozeman, MT 2011.
Livingston Bar and Grille One Person Exhibition photographic collages, Livingston Bar and Grille Livingston, MT 2011.
Northwest Women group show, photography, Wiseman Gallery Seattle, WA 2002.
State of Alaska, photo collage, Permanent Collection, 2001.
Alaska Positive 2000, photography group show, traveling show 2000.
Dia de los Muertos, group show, photographic collages, Bunell Street Gallery Homer, AK 2001.
Ptarmigan Arts Gallery One Person Exhibition, photographic collages, Homer, AK 2001.
MFA show One Person Exhibition, color photography, Pratt Institute May 1992.
BFA show One Person Exhibition, photographic collages, Pacific Lutheran Univ. May 1989.
Publications & Reviews
New York Times Up Front photo published in the magazine May 5, 2023
Center of Contemporary Art photo collages have published in a book. 2018
American Cowboy Magazine "Western Documentaries" Feb./Mar. 2014
Honorable Mention in Best of College Photography Nationally 1989.
Traveler Magazine essay on Cortez, CO. Spring 1997
Various Medical Journals and books for Cytology and Pathology through Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer 1992-1995.