Heard Museum, Phoenix’s internationally-recognized museum dedicated to the advancement and interpretation of American Indian art, has partnered with luxury hotel Amangiri to collaborate on the resort’s first-ever pop-up exhibition, Substance of Stars: Meditations and Explorations, that will celebrate the work of acclaimed Diné (Navajo) artist and filmmaker, Steven J. Yazzie.
The Amangiri pop-up exhibition is a companion to the Heard Museum’s major recent exhibition, Substance of Stars, which presents historic and contemporary works focused on the creation stories and sky knowledge of four Indigenous communities, including the Diné, whose homeland, Dinétah, is located adjacent to Amangiri and extends across the states of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.
“This is the first time since Amangiri’s opening that we welcome a pop-up exhibition on property, and we could not think of a better partner than the Heard Museum to curate a unique selection of artworks from local artist Steven J. Yazzie,” says Amangiri General Manager Audrey Huttert in a statement. “We are delighted to add the Heard Museum’s world-renowned expertise in Native American arts to our cultural programming as we are committed to share the rich traditions of our local community with our guests.”
To continue to honor and celebrate the magic and mystery of the region’s natural beauty and spirit, the Amangiri exhibition will highlight the work of local Diné artist Steven J. Yazzie, who grew up in the neighboring town of Page, Ariz. Yazzie’s artwork draws upon the themes of earth and sky to explore his ancestral landscapes through visually stunning, stimulating and calming videos and photographs.
“I hope the new photography work encourages viewers to reflect on the layers of history and culture embedded in the landscape, and contemplate their own place within it,” says Yazzie in a statement.
From now until May 31, guests have exclusive access to view the artworks of hand-picked stills from Yazzie’s video contribution to Substance of Stars’ immersive Sky-Dome movie theater that capture his passion for the landscape that surrounds Amangiri.
Pieces include Throwing Stars Over Monsters, a night image of Shiprock, New Mexico inspired by a story of Coyote creating the Milky Way; Canyon, a composite image that contrasts dark canyon shadows with the lightness of the land; and Painted, a compressed landscape photograph that invokes the question of perception.
“We are honored to partner with Amangiri to amplify these voices far beyond the walls of the Heard Museum,” says Heard Museum CEO David M. Roche in a statement. “The stars aligned for us to co-create this unique companion exhibition with Yazzie and Amangiri, and we hope that, not only will Amangiri’s visitors be inspired by the work, but that this will also invite more visitors from around the world to come to Phoenix to experience the Heard Museum and Substance of Stars in person.”
To learn more about the ongoing Substance of Stars exhibition at the Heard Museum, as well as its pop-up exhibition at Amangiri, click here.
