Celebrate the Arts Finale at Ucross

The finale of Celebrate the Arts will be on Sunday, August 28, at 4 p.m. at The Park at Ucross, the festivities will celebrate three Ucross artist-alumni.

The event will feature Jalan Crossland, the famed Wyoming musician who spent many summers performing on the lawn outside of the Ranch House and has experienced two residencies at Ucross Today, he is nationally acclaimed by audiences, critics, and his musical peers as being a premier acoustic guitarist, banjo player, singer-songwriter, and engaging showman.

Brandon Hobson, Ucross Alumni, and author of the novel, The Removed, published in 2021 and winner of the Western Heritage Award will give a reading during the event. His book, Where The Dead Sit Talking, was a finalist for the National Book Award, among other distinctions. His short stories have won a Pushcart Prize and have appeared in The Best American Short Stories, McSweeney’s, Conjunctions, Noon, and elsewhere. He teaches creative writing at New Mexico State University and at the Institute of American Indian Arts.

All attendees will receive complimentary prints of a painting by acclaimed visual artist Savannah LeCornu (Tsimshian [Wolf Clan], Haida, Athabascan, Nez Perce, and First Nations Nisga’a). Brandon and Savannah were both recipients of Ucross Native American Fellowships.

In addition to a performance by Crossland —who has experienced two artist residencies at Ucross — the festival will feature a reading by novelist Brandon Hobson of Las Cruces, New Mexico (Cherokee Nation), a recipient of the Ucross Fellowship for Native American Writers. Hobson’s latest novel, “The Removed,” was published to great critical acclaim in 2021 and won the Western Heritage Award. His first book, “Where The Dead Sit Talking,” was a finalist for the National Book Award, among other distinctions. His short stories have won a Pushcart Prize and have appeared in the best American Short Stories, McSweeney’s, Conjunctions, Noon, and elsewhere. He teaches creative writing at New Mexico State University and at the Institute of American Indian Arts.

Ucross Arts Festival attendees will also receive a complimentary print of a commissioned painting by Savannah LeCornu of Bellingham, Washington (Tsimshian [Wolf Clan], Haida, Athabascan, Nez Perce, and First Nations Nisga’a), a recipient of the Ucross Fellowship for Native American Visual Artists.

“The Ucross Arts Festival gives us the opportunity to share the work of our respected artist residency program’s alumni with our friends and neighbors in northeastern Wyoming,” said Ucross President William Belcher. “We are thrilled to present Jalan Crossland, a former artist-in-residence who spent many summers performing on the lawn outside of the Ranch House during our past Fourth of July gatherings. And we look forward to introducing Brandon Hobson and Savannah LeCornu to the community in what will be a wonderful celebration of the arts.”

Local food trucks will sell food and drink throughout the Ucross Arts Festival, including Bonafide, Stoked Pizza and Papa Bino’s.

There will be a VIP Reception for VIP ticket holders at 2:30 p.m., which will include an artist meet-and-greet, refreshments, and an exclusive reading with Brandon Hobson. VIPs will also enjoy reserved lawn seating during the festival.

The Park at Ucross is located before the intersection of Highways 14 and 16 East in Ucross or at the address 2753 US-14. at Ucross. The event, which is free and open to the community, will conclude Sheridan County’s Celebrate the Arts weekend. Tickets are free and available here or at ucross.org; however, only a limited number will be released.

Carpooling is encouraged, as parking is limited. Attendees should bring their own lawn chairs and blankets.