Brinton Reception for Women in Wyoming Exhibit

There was standing room only on Friday, March 7, with 80 people attending the opening reception at the Brinton Museum for the exhibition Women in Wyoming: Portraits & Interviews of Women Who Shape the West, curated by artist and fifth generation Wyoming woman Lindsay Linton Buk of Linton Productions in Jackson.

She talked about how the exhibit came about, saying that she grew up in Powell, but left Wyoming after high school for a number of years. When she returned to Wyoming, she attended the photography program at Northwest Community College in Powell.

She added that each five stories would inform the next five stories. The first chapter was called, “Breaking Boundaries,” and featured women were first in their field or who overcame personal odds and obstacles. These women usually came from the cultural hubs or the larger cities in Wyoming.

“You can explore all the stories in depth on the website, Women in Wyoming,” Buk said.

This exhibit has been touring since 2019. “It takes on new life with every exhibit opening,” she added. She is also working on a book with the photos and stories of the Wyoming women.

The show features 27 large-scale portraits of Wyoming Women along with insightful interviews about courage, strength, and perseverance speak to an audience beyond the geographic borders of Wyoming.

One of the reception speakers was Rosie Berger, of Big Horn, who is featured in the exhibit.

Another woman featured in the exhibit is Two-time World Champion Hoop Dancer and educator Jasmine Pickner Bell “Good Road Woman” (Crow Creek Dakota Sioux Tribe) from the Wind River Indian Reservation. She presented the hoop dance for the audience.

Kendra Heimbuck, executive director of the Brinton, introduced Bell,

Bell welcomed the audience and introduced her husband, Luke Bell, saying their love story started at the Cheyenne Frontier Days.

She said when she and Lindsay first met it was amazing there was a connection, like a spark, where we both had that dream of empowering women, and how important it was for us as women to be given that place and that role.

She talked about the tradition of hoop dancing.

She added that she not only had a dream to compete in the World Championships Hoop Dance Contest. “I’m proud to say being one of the only females to beat all the men, I did it in a dress.”

The Hoop Dance is performed to Native American drumming and chanting.

After the dance, the audience was invited to stand and hold hands and participate in a Native American Circle Dance

Featured women in the exhibit are: Neltje, Marilyn Kite, Affie Ellis, Nimi & Nina McConigley, Clarence Law, Lynette St. Clair, Dr. Diane Noton, Rev. Bernadine Craft, Lori Materi, Megan Grassell, Mickey Thoman, Rita Watson, Aura Newlin, Commander Lauren Gurney, Rosie Berger, Hillary Walrath, Elizabeth Fernandez, Ann Simpson, Jessie Allen Gottwald, Jasmine Pickner Bell, Marnie Peterson, Sara Wood, Wyoming Latina Youth Conference, and Climb Wyoming.

The exhibit will be on display at the Brinton Museum until July 13 and admission is free.