Shadow and Light Exhibition at Brinton Museum

On September 11, Jochen Wierich, Curatorial Director, announced that The Brinton Museum is proud to present Shadow & Light: Native American Printmakers from the Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts, a landmark exhibition showcasing 46 exceptional works of contemporary Native American printmaking. The exhibit will be open beginning September 18.

The exhibition features renowned artists such as Rick Bartow, Edgar Heap of Birds, James Luna, Wendy Red Star, Kay WalkingStick, and Marie Watt—highlighting the dynamic and diverse voices shaping Indigenous art today.

Drawing from the archives of the Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts in eastern Oregon, Shadow & Light brings together a wide range of visual expressions—from Bartow’s emotive animals and Red Star’s incisive collages to Heap of Birds’ powerful abstractions and WalkingStick’s meditative landscapes. Each work offers a unique perspective shaped by Indigenous identity, experience, and imagination.

Founded in 1992 by artists James Lavadour (Walla Walla) and Phillip Cash Cash (Cayuse and Nez Perce), Crow’s Shadow was created to support Indigenous artists through access to world-class printmaking facilities and collaborative residencies. Located on the ancestral lands of the Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Cayuse peoples, the Institute has grown into a nationally recognized hub for contemporary Indigenous art. The Crow’s Shadow collection—now comprised of over 200 works by more than 60 artists—is a testament to the creative energy and innovation of Native printmakers.

Many of these works have never before been exhibited in Wyoming, making this a rare opportunity for visitors to experience the artistic excellence and cultural depth of this important collection. As stated by Crow’s Shadow: “Our vision is to inspire a world enriched and elevated by Indigenous creativity.” This exhibition invites you to witness that vision in vivid, printed form.

Fall Into Art Events – In conjunction with Shadow & Light, The Brinton Museum will host two Fall into Art events celebrating the creative process and Indigenous voices in the arts.

Printmaking Demonstration with Brittney Denham Whisonant – to be held on Saturday, September 20 from 10 a.m. until Noon at Whitney Center for the Arts, Sheridan College.

Fall Into Art with Michael Holloman Artistic Agency – The Vision and Legacy of Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts Monday, September 22, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Brinton Museum

Both events are free and open to the public. This 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 support by Wyoming Arts Council, Tucker Foundation and Edwin T. Meredith Foundation. The Fall into Art series is supported by the Nickerson Family Foundation.

About The Brinton Museum – The Brinton Museum, located on the historic Quarter Circle A Ranch in the foothills of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains, presents 19th, 20th, and 21st century Western and American Indian Art in an authentic historic setting. Founded in 1960 and housed in the award-winning Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Building, the museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of the American West. Free general admission is made possible by Ramaco Carbon, LLC. The Brinton is a participating member of the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM)

For more information go to www.thebrintonmuseum.org