[Placeholder: Swallowtail] Exploring Land, Culture, and Community Through Art

From November 22 through December 8, the State Indian Museum and Verge Center for the Arts will host Swallowtail, a powerful exhibit created by Sacramento State photography students. This unique collaboration brought together students, local artists, Traditional Ecological Knowledge practitioners, and State Parks staff to investigate the layered histories and relationships tied to the land encompassing the State Indian Museum and Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park (SHP).

The exhibit emerges from months of immersive study and creative exploration. Students delved into the cultural narratives preserved at the State Indian Museum and the complex history of European colonial settlement interpreted at Sutter’s Fort SHP. Guided by State Parks staff, they explored the archives, studied historic and contemporary contexts, and learned from Native artists and knowledge holders about the deep relationships between land and community. Activities ranged from scanning native plant cuttings to listening to the land through sound exercises and creating art inspired by these experiences.

The collaboration with State Parks offered students an invaluable opportunity to engage with timely, real-world issues, as well as a space to forge a new relationship to the land on which they live. Student Mark Henke explains, “Since the start of the semester, I feel like I see the land differently. It’s more than just space or scenery; it’s full of history, stories, and connections to people who have lived here long before us. Learning from Indigenous perspectives has shown me how much respect and responsibility we should have for the land.”

By fostering creative and thoughtful engagement, the exhibit invites visitors to reflect on their own connections to the land and its histories, while highlighting the importance of inclusive storytelling.

Community members are encouraged to visit Swallowtail to experience this meaningful art firsthand. The exhibit is free and open to the public during regular hours at both venues.

Whether you are inspired by the students’ artwork or the stories behind it, this exhibit is a chance to connect with the land and the community that shapes it. Don’t miss this vibrant collaboration!

This collaborative project is supported by the Arts in California Parks initiative, a partnership between California State Parks, Parks California, the California Arts Council, by the donors of the Photography Special Projects Fund at Sacramento State, and by the California Indian Heritage Center Foundation. Learn more on their website. 

Portrait of professors Amy Elkins and Eliza Gregory, photograph by student Imani Jack.