UCROSS ART GALLERY ANNOUNCES NEW EXHIBITION FEATURING NATIVE AMERICAN FELLOWS

(Top image) "Wind Cuts Through It,” Steven J. Yazzie, 2023 (Bottom image) "Tall Blades," by Jeremy Dennis, 2024

The Ucross Art Gallery announces the opening of The Language of the Land, an exhibition featuring the artwork of the 2024 recipients of the Ucross Fellowship for Native American Artists, including multidisciplinary artist Steven J. Yazzie (Diné/Pueblo of Laguna/European ancestry) of Denver, Colorado; fine art photographer Jeremy Dennis (Shinnecock Indian Nation) of Southampton, New York; and poet and writer Danielle Shandiin Emerson (Diné) of Shiprock, New Mexico.

Curated by Sean Chandler (Aaniiih), a former Ucross artist-in-residence and the president of Aaniiih Nakoda College on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana, The Language of the Land explores the profound connection between land, identity, and storytelling through photography, mixed media, and poetry.

“The land holds our identity, our stories, and our truth about ourselves,” Chandler said. “Steven, Jeremy, and Danielle have each interpreted their own connection to the land, creating works that are deeply personal and universally resonant. Their art speaks to the strength, resilience, and spiritual connection that Indigenous peoples have with their environment.”

Steven J. Yazzie, a multidisciplinary artist of Diné, Pueblo of Laguna, and European ancestry, explores themes of identity, memory, and the perception of space and place. Through photography, he blends observation with imagination, using postproduction techniques to create layered narratives that challenge viewers to reconsider the natural world and its sacredness. One of his featured works, Canyon, is a composite of drone footage juxtaposing shadowy slot canyons with a starry expanse, offering a striking visual dialogue between earth and cosmos.

Jeremy Dennis, a contemporary fine art photographer and member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, examines Indigenous identity, assimilation, and cultural preservation. His work blends humor and truth to address issues such as treaty rights and historical misrepresentation. His piece The Present Day humorously critiques non-Native perspectives while reclaiming Indigenous narratives. Beyond his photography, Dennis is the founder of Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting artistic expression among underrepresented communities.

Danielle Shandiin Emerson, a fiction writer, poet, and playwright of Diné heritage, uses her creative practice to process trauma, celebrate her culture, and explore intergenerational connections. Her poetry and mixed-media works featured in the exhibition delve into themes of resilience, kinship, and healing. Deeply personal yet widely resonant, her art is rooted in family storytelling and a profound relationship with the land, offering an emotional and reflective journey for viewers.

Established in 2018, the Ucross Fellowship for Native American Artists supports contemporary Indigenous visual artists, writers, and, soon, performers. The fellowship offers a four-week residency, which includes private studio space, living accommodations, staff support, and meals prepared by a professional chef—all within the inspiring landscape of the majestic High Plains of Wyoming.

Ucross Native American Fellows are also provided with a $2,000 award and the opportunity to showcase their work publicly in art exhibitions such as The Language of the Land, as well as readings and performances. Yazzie, who was an artist-in-residence in spring 2024, reflected on the impact of the fellowship, saying, “Ucross is a place where creativity is unbounded, and the mind is free to roam. The residency captures the essence of artistic freedom, set against the vast and expansive landscape.”

The Language of the Land will be on view at the Ucross Art Gallery through May 10. The public is invited to meet the curator and artists during two special events on April 18: an 11 a.m. artist talk in Kinnison Hall at Sheridan College and a 6 p.m. reception at the Ucross Art Gallery.

The exhibition is supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, a program of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. Additional exhibition support is provided by the Wyoming Arts Council, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Wyoming Legislature.