I struggled with this too for a while. Try this line instead of yours:
var lcdProvider = new Shifter74Hc595LcdTransferProvider(SPI_Devices.SPI1, Pins.GPIO_PIN_D10, Shifter74Hc595LcdTransferProvider.BitOrder.LSBFirst);
The only difference is the 3rd parameter. I don't have my code in front of me, but I'm pretty sure I had to change the bit order.
Hope this helps.
Mike
I really appreciate your help, and I feel like a moron admitting this, but the existing code was actually fine. I just had the contrast cranked up too high on the LCD. I bumped the pot and I could suddenly see my text!