Showing posts with label Jingle Dress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jingle Dress. Show all posts

Friday, August 15, 2025

Eugene Tapahe: Standing On Ceremony

Via Pasatiempo

By Brian Sanford

August 15, 2025


cover of Pasatiempo magazine with Eugene Tapahe photography of 3 Native American women in bright Jingle Dresses standing in Utah salt flats

 


When Eugene Tapahe (Diné) photographed his daughters and two of their friends posing while wearing Ojibwe jingle dresses at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the purpose was to provide healing during a tumultuous time, not to create art.

It was June 2020, and the world was reeling from the new realities of the pandemic’s social distancing, widespread masking, and living with the pre-vaccine terror that a friendly interpersonal encounter could be deadly. An aunt of Tapahe’s died from COVID-19; amid that emotional trauma, he dreamed he was sitting in a grass field at Yellowstone National Park, gazing at a herd of bison on the horizon. He detected a distinctive sound, then realized it was coming from jingle dress dancers who’d begun dancing with the bison. A sensation rose within Tapahe that most people don’t associate with 2020: hope.

The healing Ojibwe jingle dress dance is thought to have originated during the 1918 influenza pandemic, so its powers resonated especially strong during a remarkably similar calamity about a century later. What began with a 150-mile drive from the Tapahe family’s Provo, Utah, home to the salt flats grew into a nationwide healing journey to national parks and even New York City. Some of the results of that ongoing voyage are featured in Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project, an exhibition at Monroe Gallery of Photography coinciding with Santa Fe Indian Market, where Tapahe is also bringing his work.

Tapahe traveled with his wife, Sharon; twentysomething daughters Erin and Dion; and the daughters’ friends Sunni and JoAnni Begay. The latter four posed in the vibrantly colored dresses while wearing matching red face masks, their arms raised in unity, at Monument Valley for Solidarity, Sisterhood; on a rock with their backs to the Pacific Ocean on the Oregon coast in Warrior Women; and at the base of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., for Forever Enshrined. Some of the images are black-and-white, while others feature only three of the women.


color photograph of 4 Native American women wrapped in colorful blankets standing on fallen tree trunk on La Push beash in Washinton
Strength and Dignity, La Push Beach, La Push, Washington,

Tapahe, a native of Window Rock, Arizona, who holds a Master of Fine Art degree in studio art from Brigham Young University in Provo, recently chatted with Pasatiempo about the spookiness of traversing what amounted to a ghost nation in 2020, combating cultural ignorance, and the pandemic’s effects on both his psyche and his bottom line. His answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Do you always have such vivid, memorable dreams?

Many artists do sketches or preliminary work, but I conceptualize a lot of my works before I start doing art. I think it was a unique situation in that, even when I woke from the dream, it was still resonating with me. It really touched me and affected me to the point where I gave it life by sharing it with my wife and my daughters. The idea [at first] wasn’t to take it to the world; I just wanted to do one dance in a sacred place, to make the dream true.

But when we went out to the Bonneville Salt Flats — which is close to us — and the girls danced, that changed our whole perspective. We were the only people on the land, and there wasn’t a dry eye the whole time. The girls said they knew they weren’t dancing alone; they could feel the spirits of the ancestors of that land dancing with them spiritually. When the dance was over, Dion said, “Dad, we’ve got to take this to the land. We can’t just do it one time.” I said, “In my dream, I was at Yellowstone National Park, so let’s go to national and state parks.” Because those lands were colonized first — taken from the Native people — if we heal those lands and ancestors, they will come and help us heal during COVID.

You mention healing, and people suffered in numerous ways during the pandemic. How were you affected?

My family and I couldn’t go home to help our people and family, so it was difficult to see from afar the pain and death. Because of this, we felt it was important to go on this healing journey so that we could bring healing and unity through art.

Had you already visited all of the places featured in Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project?

At some points, it was the first time we’d ever been there. In many places, it was really tough because we didn’t spend weeks there; I knew as a landscape photographer that early mornings and late evenings were the best times to take photos and for the girls to perform the jingle dress dance, since the natural light would be better. During the days, we traveled and the girls did their homework, because at the time everything was online.

This project began in 2020; what years does it cover?

It started in June 2020 and continues to this day. We are being invited to universities and colleges to speak and serve on panels. This has given us a great platform to [bring attention to] not just the project, but also to address Native issues, such as missing and murdered Indigenous women, Native rights, Native lands, and land acknowledgement.


black and white photograph of 3 Native American women in Jingle Dresses with right fists raised in front of the Lincoln Memorial
Photographer Eugene Tapahe’s ongoing Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project at Monroe Gallery features images taken of his daughters and their friends at state and national parks during the pandemic. The images include Forever Enshrined, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC (2021, above). 
Courtesy Monroe Gallery of Photography

How did Sunni and JoAnni get involved?

They’re good friends with Erin and Dion. We’re all Navajo, and during COVID, the Navajo Nation shut down and closed their borders, so we couldn’t go home to help or be with our family members. They were already in quarantine here in Utah with our family, and that’s how we managed to do what we did.

The world had largely shut down.

We kept to ourselves; all restaurant dining areas were closed, so we either packed our own food or ordered takeout. We only entered public spaces to get gas and use the restrooms, but we remained very cautious because none of us wanted to get sick. At that time, there were no vaccinations available. When we visited Yosemite National Park, the six of us and two rangers were the only people there. It was a deeply spiritual moment — yet also surreal and eerie. It was late June, and the rangers told us that normally, they wouldn’t have any available camping spots, and the park would usually be filled with thousands of visitors.

How did you get into the park?

At Yosemite National Park, the rangers happened to be Natives [Miwok] from that land, and they already knew who we were. So, when we reached the guard gate, they understood that our purpose was spiritual and healing, and they allowed us to enter. The girls danced at the Indian village, and afterward, the rangers wanted to give them a gift. They shared their popsicles, which were so refreshing on that hot day in June.

Did you have issues accessing other locations?

The only place we thought we might have trouble was Yosemite National Park, because there are only a couple of entrances, but we were fortunate that the rangers there knew what we were doing and understood our purpose. Most of the other parks didn’t have anyone at the entrances because of COVID.

One of your images features the since-closed Nicholas Galanin exhibition Never Forget, consisting of 45-foot letters spelling out “Indian Land” in Palm Springs, California, which was featured in Galanin’s SITE Santa Fe exhibition Interference Patterns. Did Galanin (Tlingit-Unangax) know about your visit?

The organization, Desert X, has a biennial art installation in Palm Springs. We wanted to go there to dance and do a photo session. I reached out to them to let them know we would be coming. They responded on the day of our trip and said they were working on getting Nicholas to fly out the next day to meet us. They also managed to get Congressman Raul Ruiz from Palm Springs to come, and we had an impromptu get-together with Galanin. The ceremony opened with a local Native community performance featuring a traditional Cahuilla bird song by John Preckwinkle III. It was a spiritual moment.

How much do the dresses weigh?

Between 8 and 12 pounds.

color photograph of 4 Native American women in brightly colored Jingle Dresses standing on rock outcropping with Monument Vallery in background

Nizhoni (Beautiful), Monument Valley, Arizona, 20200


You encountered ignorance about Native people during your travels. That likely wouldn’t happen in New Mexico; where did it occur?

Mostly in urban areas; it occurred a few times on the East Coast. When we talked at universities, some people said, “I didn’t know that Native Americans still existed,” or, “Do you still live in teepees?” That’s still out there. It’s still common.

That sounds infuriating. How did you respond?

Our project is both healing and educational. When I was younger, I would have gotten angry, but now I realize they’re not saying it out of racism. Especially on the East Coast, that’s all they learned. In high school, the textbooks focused on Plains Indians, and they learned that Native Americans all lived in teepees, rode horses, lost battles, and were eventually wiped out.

It sounds like this show would be even more educational if it were featured in other areas of the U.S. Do you know if it will become a traveling exhibition?

I really don’t, but that’s exactly why I documented the project: the educational purpose behind it is important. It needs to be shared; it’s healing for everyone.

What are you showing at Indian Market this year?

A few images from [Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project] will be in my booth, as well as landscapes and a lot of wildlife photography.

You’ve mentioned that the number 4 is considered sacred in Navajo culture. How did it manifest in this project?

We have four girls who represent the four worlds; in Navajo culture, we believe we’re in the fourth world. In the Four Worlds photo, there are four peaks on the Teton National Park mountains. During our photo session, the girls were facing me, and my daughter Dion set up the shot and poses. It turned out that they were almost in the same spots as the peaks on the mountains behind them. When we were ready to start printing the photos, that’s when we all saw it. It’s incredible how this project brought so much healing to us and to those who can see the images now. Art truly heals. 



details

The Jingle Dress Project

Through September 14

Monroe Gallery of Photography

112 Don Gaspar Avenue

505-992-0800; monroegallery.com

Friday, August 8, 2025

Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project, an exhibition coinciding with Santa Fe Indian Market

 Via Pasatiempo

August 8, 2025

Four Native American women in brightly colored Jingle Dresses stand in tall greet grass with snow-capped Teton mountains in background

Dress Dream

The inspiration for Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project, an exhibition coinciding with Santa Fe Indian Market that’s showing at Monroe Gallery of Photography, can be traced to a dream that artist Eugene Tapahe (Diné) experienced during the pandemic.

The dream featured the Ojibwe jingle dress dance, an Indigenous dance with roots in healing and spiritual practices — which resonated with Tapahe during a time of widespread illness and social upheaval. Tapahe since has traveled thousands of miles photographing or taking videos of family members and friends performing the dance, documenting a striking combination of brightly colored dance garb and sweeping natural backdrops at national parks and monuments.

A reception is 5-7 p.m. Thursday, August 14, and at 5:30 p.m. Tapahe will discuss the work and preview a documentary he’s developing. Originally from Window Rock, Arizona, he has won awards including best of show in 2018 at the Cherokee Indian Market in Tulsa, Oklahoma. — B.S.


Note: Tapahe talk will be available on Zoom, register here.

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Save The Date: August 14, Eugene Tapahe Artist Talk During Indian Market Weekend In Santa Fe

 



 Monroe Gallery of Photography is honored to announce a special event during the renowned Santa Fe Indian Market weekend, the world’s largest and most prestigious Indigenous art market in the world, now in its 103rd year.

An Evening with the Artist Eugene Tapahe.

Diné (Navajo) artist Eugene Tapahe will present an artist talk and preview the in-development documentary film Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project on Thursday, August 14 at 5:30. The important exhibition featuring a photography series by artist Eugene Tapahe titled Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project is on view through September 14, 2025.

Please contact the Gallery for further information.


Read In The Eye of Photography Monroe Gallery of Photography Eugene Tapahe : Art Heals, The Jingle Dress Project

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Art Daily: Monroe Gallery hosts Eugene Tapahe's healing "Jingle Dress Project" exhibit

 

ardaily.com com graphic red text on yellow backgrond
Via ArtDaily.com

July 5, 2025

Monroe Gallery hosts Eugene Tapahe's healing "Jingle Dress Project" exhibit

black and white photograph 4 Native American women in traditional Jungle Dresses with red face masks and red scarves signifying MMIW standing in tall grass in front of snow-capped Teton mountains

Eugene Tapahe

Strength In Unity, Tetons National Park, the native land of the Shoshone, Bannock, Gros Ventre, and Nez Perce People, 2021


SANTA FE, NM.- Monroe Gallery of Photography opens a very special exhibit of large format photographs by Diné (Navajo) photographer Eugene Tapahe: Art Heals, The Jingle Dress Project.

The exhibit opens July 5, 2025, with an artist’s talk at 5:30 p.m. It will continue during the renowned Santa Fe Indian Market weekend, the world’s largest Native American art market, August 16 and 17, and conclude on September 14, 2025.

Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project originated from a dream Tapahe had during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspiring him to unite the land and people through the healing power of the Ojibwe jingle dress dance during uncertain times of illness and social differences. Since then, Tapahe has traveled thousands of miles documenting family members and friends dancing the healing honor dance in National Parks and Monuments, honoring the places where their ancestors once lived. Tapahe describes the images as “incredibly powerful and spiritual. Looking at them, I still can't believe I took these photographs. I believe this project is larger than myself, and I hope that when people view them, they feel the same way – that we are all blessed to be in the presence of such beauty.”

The Jingle Dress Project has brought healing to Tapahe’s family, friends, and ancestors and garnered national and international recognition for its unifying effect on communities. The images have raised awareness of many Native American issues, such as land acknowledgment, women’s rights, and, most importantly, the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).

During the project, Tapahe discovered one overarching metaphor. “I put my hand on one of the jingles and I shook it. That one jingle didn’t make any sound,” he said. “But together, they have the power to heal. As human beings, if we are able to unite ourselves and our prayers and make a beautiful sound as the jingle dress does, we could be powerful.”

Eugene Tapahe is a contemporary artist inspired by his Diné (Navajo) traditions and modern experiences. He is originally from Window Rock, Arizona. Tapahe has loved photography since the first time he picked up a camera, and realized the special gift for telling stories through his art. He has a deep desire to continue photographing the lands his ancestors once walked.

Tapahe has received numerous awards, including the Best of Show award for his photography at the Cherokee Indian Market (2018) and the Museum of Northern Arizona (2019), making him the first photographer to achieve this honor.

Tapahe has also been honored with two International Awards of Excellence from Communication Arts magazine. His work is in the permanent collections of numerous museums, including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC), the Birmingham Museum of Art (Alabama), The Toledo Museum (Ohio), Speed Art Museum (Kentucky), the Arizona State Museum, the Minnesota History Center Museum, and the College of Wooster Art Museum (Ohio).


Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Save The Date: July 5 Artist Talk With Eugene Tapahe

 


Monroe Gallery of Photography is honored to announce an important exhibition featuring a photography series by artist Eugene Tapahe titled Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project. The exhibit opens July 5, 2025, with an artist’s talk at 5:30 p.m. Space is limited please arrive early.




The exhibit will continue during the renowned Santa Fe Indian Market weekend, the world’s largest Native American art market, August 16 and 17, and conclude on September 14, 2025. 

Eugene Tapahe is a contemporary artist inspired by his Diné (Navajo) traditions and modern experiences. He is originally from Window Rock, Arizona. Tapahe has loved photography since the first time he picked up a camera, and realized the special gift for telling stories through his art. He has a deep desire to continue photographing the lands his ancestors once walked. 

Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project originated from a dream Tapahe had during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspiring him to unite the land and people through the healing power of the Ojibwe jingle dress dance during uncertain times of illness and social differences. Since then, Tapahe has traveled thousands of miles documenting family members and friends dancing the healing honor dance in National Parks and Monuments, honoring the places where their ancestors once lived. Tapahe describes the images as “incredibly powerful and spiritual. Looking at them, I still can't believe I took these photographs. I believe this project is larger than myself, and I hope that when people view them, they feel the same way – that we are all blessed to be in the presence of such beauty.” 

The Jingle Dress Project has brought healing to Tapahe’s family, friends, and ancestors and garnered national and international recognition for its unifying effect on communities. The images have raised awareness of many Native American issues, such as land acknowledgment, women’s rights, and, most importantly, the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).  



Gallery hours are 10 to 5 daily, and admission is free. For further information, please call or e-mail the Gallery.

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Eugene Tapahe Artist's Talk At The Photography Show Friday April 25

 

Diné (Navajo) photographer Eugene Tapahe will give an Artist's talk on Friday, April 25 at 5:30 pm in Booth C8 during The Photography Show Presented by AIPAD.

Eugene Tapahe is a contemporary artist inspired by his Diné (Navajo) traditions and modern experiences. His art reflects the beauty and resilience of Native American culture. Tapahe earned his MFA in Studio Art from Brigham Young University. Through various visual mediums, he strives to create a balance between the past and present, celebrating and honoring the identity and culture of Native Americans.


black and white photograph of 4 Native American women with red masks and scarves memorializing MMIW while standing in front of snow capped Tetom mountains
©Eugene Tapahe
 Strength In Unity, Tetons National Park, the native land of the Shoshone, Bannock, Gros Ventre, and Nez Perce People, 2021

Eugene Tapahe will speak about “Art Heals: TheJingle Dress Project”. “The Jingle Dress Project” originated from Tapahe's dream inspiring him to bring global attention to Native American issues in these uncertain times of social differences through the healing power of the Ojibwe jingle dress dance. Since then, Tapahe has traveled over 25,000 miles, documenting family members dancing the healing jingle dress dance in National Parks and Monuments, honoring the places where their ancestors once lived. This project has received national and international recognition for its unifying effect on communities. Monroe Gallery is the exclusive representative for Tapahe’s “Jingle Dress” fine art prints. 


graphic with text announcing Eugene Tapahe artist talk in Monroe Gallery Booth C8 at the Photography Show in NYC, April 25 at the Park Avenue Armory at 5:30


Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Monroe Gallery At The 2025 Photography Show Presented BY AIPAD

4 Native American women in colorful jiingle dresses stand in tall green grass with snow capped Teton Mountains behind them
©Eugene Tapahe
Four Worlds, Teton National Park, Wyoming, the native land of the Shoshone, Bannock, Gros Ventre, and Nez Perce people, 2020


Monroe Gallery of Photography, Santa Fe, NM, is pleased to return to exhibit at The Photography Show presented by the Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD). The longest-running fair dedicated to photography in the world fair will take place April 23 – 27 at the Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Ave, New York, NY and showcase 67 galleries and 20 Photobook and partner exhibitors from around the world.

Monroe Gallery of Photography will be located at Booth C8 and will present a distinctly curated exhibit, with a central focus on Diné (Navajo) photographer Eugene Tapahe’s “Art Heals: TheJingle Dress Project”. “The Jingle Dress Project” originated from Tapahe's dream inspiring him to bring global attention to Native American issues in these uncertain times of social differences through the healing power of the Ojibwe jingle dress dance. Since then, Tapahe has traveled over 25,000 miles, documenting family members dancing the healing jingle dress dance in National Parks and Monuments, honoring the places where their ancestors once lived. This project has received national and international recognition for its unifying effect on communities. Monroe Gallery is the exclusive representative for Tapahe’s “Jingle Dress” fine art prints. Tapahe will give an Artist's talk on Friday, April 25 at 5:30 pm in Booth C8.


Graphic sign with text for Eugene Tapahe Artist Talk on Friday, April 25 in Monroe Gallery Booth C8 at 5:30



Also on exhibit will be a selection of important contemporary photojournalism with a focus on American politics, climate issues, and refugee migration. Three newly represented independent photojournalists will be featured: Tracy Barbutes, Ron Haviv and Bing Guan. Barbutes is a photojournalist, writer, and wildfire photographer based near Yosemite whose photograph of an upside-down American flag hanging from El Capitan near Yosemite recently went viral. Haviv has produced an unflinching record of the injustices of war covering over 25 conflicts, and his photography has had singular impact. 


color photograph of Young displaced girls from Darfur, Sudan leave a camp in a barren landscape to gather firewood for their families.
©Ron Haviv
Young displaced girls from Darfur, Sudan leave a camp to gather firewood for their families. The US government declared the war in Darfur a genocide. Darfur, Sudan 2005



Guan is a full-time freelance photographer, journalist, and artist based in New York City. He is currently an adjunct professor of photography at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

color photograph of NY Police Department using a tactical vehicle with extension ladders to enter Hamilton Hall at Columbia University

©Bing Guan
New York Police officers in riot gear enter Hamilton Hall at Columbia University, New York, May 1, 2024


Other showcased photographers at the intersectionality of art and journalism include Anna Boyiazis, Mark Peterson, and Tony Vaccaro.



Monday, April 7, 2025

Eugene Tapahe's Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project Featured on Cover of The Photograph Collector AIPAD Show Preview

screen shot of cover of The Photograph Collector newsletter with Eugene Tapahe's color photograph of 4 Native American women in brighly colored Jingle Dresses in tall grass with snow covered Teton mountains behind them

Via The Photograph Collector
April 2025 edition

"Monroe Gallery of Photography will be located at Booth C8 and will present distinctly curated exhibits, with a central focus on Diné (Navajo) photographer Eugene Tapahe’s “Art Heals: Jingle Dress Project”.

“The Jingle Dress Project” originated from Tapahe’s dream inspiring him to bring global attention to Native American issues in these uncertain times of social differences through the healing power of the Ojibwe jingle dress dance. Since then, Tapahe has traveled over 25,000 miles, documenting family members dancing the healing jingle dress dance in National Parks and Monuments, honoring the places where their ancestors once lived. This project has received national and international recognition
for its unifying effect on communities. Monroe Gallery is the exclusive representative for
Tapahe’s “Jingle Dress” fine art prints.

Also on exhibit will be a selection of important contemporary photojournalism with a focus on American politics, climate issues, and refugee migration. Three newly represented independent photojournalists will be featured: Ron Haviv, Tracy Barbutes, and Bing Guan. Haviv is an Emmy nominated filmmaker and an award-winning photojournalist. He co-founded VII Photo Agency and The VII Foundation and has produced an unflinching record of the injustices of war covering over 25 conflicts. Barbutes is a photojournalist, writer, and wildfire photographer based near Yosemite National Park whose recent photograph of an inverted American flag — historically used as a sign of distress — off the side of El Capitan, the towering rock formation in Yosemite National Park, hung to protest the Trump administration’s cuts to the National Park Service became a viral sensation. Guan is a full-time freelance photographer, journalist, and artist based in New York City. He is currently an adjunct professor of photography at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. "





The Photograph Collector is a monthly newsletter established in 1980. It is published and copyright ©2025 by The Photo Review, 340 East Maple Avenue, Suite 200, Langhorne, PA 19047, (215) 891-0214 - Fax (215) 891-9358
- Email info@photoreview.org - Editor: Stephen Perloff - ISSN 0271-0838 - An Annual Subscription is $149.95.
American Express, MasterCard, and Visa cards welcomed.

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Opening Reception | Reclaiming Red at Northlight Gallery

Via Northlight Gallery/Arizona State University



color graphic poster with text announcing "Reclaiming Red" exhibition with artists names Tedra Begay (Diné), Jaida Grey Eagle (Oglala Lakota), Tailyr Irvine (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes), Cara Romero (Chemehuevi), Eugene Tapahe (Diné), and Maya Tinhitiyas Attean, (Wabanaki, Penobscot Nation).  and location at Northlight Gallery, ASU campus in Phoenix


Colors hold symbolism and meanings already established by Western societies. However, for Native and Indigenous people, the symbolisms are diverse and hold different meanings. The color red carries great significance for Indigenous and Native communities. It is a sacred color used to describe our origin stories, sacred land, and blessings of fire for warmth, cooking, and protection. Reclaiming Red explores the colonial implications of the color red and demonstrates how Indigenous people use it for healing, peace, sacredness, unity, and Hózhó (a Diné Bizaad word for balance and harmony). 

Participating artists: Tedra Begay (Diné), Jaida Grey Eagle (Oglala Lakota), Tailyr Irvine (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes), Cara Romero (Chemehuevi), Eugene Tapahe (Diné), and Maya Tinhitiyas Attean, (Wabanaki, Penobscot Nation). 

Curated by Erin Tapahe (Diné)

Exhibition Dates: Jan. 24–Feb. 22
Reception: Friday, Feb.7, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. 
Gallery Hours: Thursday–Saturday, noon–5 p.m. and every first and third Friday 6 p.m.–9 p.m. 

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio acquires two large-format prints by photographer Eugene Tapahe from his series "Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project"

 




Santa Fe, NM - Monroe Gallery of Photography is pleased to announce that the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio has recently acquired two large-format prints by photographer Eugene Tapahe from his series "Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project." The prints are titled, “Solidarity, Sisterhood,” Monument Valley, Arizona, Diné, 2020, and “Four Worlds,” Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, Cayuse, Umatilla, Newe Sogobia, and Tséstho'e, 2020. 


Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio has recently acquired two large-format prints by photographer Eugene Tapahe from his series "Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project." in colorful "jingle dresses" on top of red rock outcrop in
"Solidarity, Sisterhood,” Monument Valley, Arizona, Diné, 2020


color photograph of 4 Native American women in colorful "jingle dresses" standing in tall green grass with snow-covered Teton mountains behind them in the Teton National Park
"Four Worlds,” Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, Cayuse, Umatilla, Newe Sogobia, and Tséstho'e, 2020


Eugene Tapahe is a Diné (Navajo) contemporary artist and fine art photographer from Window Rock, Arizona, currently living in Provo, Utah. From an early age, Tapahe learned the significance of respecting, preserving, and protecting what is sacred—the land, water, and nature. He combines his passion for nature and culture with his educational background in graphic design, journalism, fine arts, and landscape and portrait photography to create stunning imagery. Tapahe fell in love with photography the moment he picked up a camera and discovered his unique talent for storytelling through his art. He has a deep desire to continue photographing the lands his ancestors once walked.

“Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project” originated from Tapahe's dream during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspiring him to unite the land and people through the Ojibwe jingle dress dance in these uncertain times of sickness and social differences. Since then, Tapahe has traveled over 25,000 miles, documenting family members dancing the healing jingle dress dance in National Parks and Monuments, honoring the places where their ancestors once lived. This project has healed Tapahe’s family and ancestors and received national and international recognition for its unifying effect on other communities.

This month, “Kéyah: Our Home” by Eugene Tapahe will be exhibited at the BYU Museum of Art from January 24 to April 26, 2025. In the spring, selections from “Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project” will be displayed by Monroe Gallery during The Photography Show presented by AIPAD at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City from April 23 to 27, 2025.

The Toledo Museum of Art was established in 1901 to share the transformative power of art with the community. Its 37-acre campus houses more than 30,000 artworks in architecturally significant buildings. Over the past several years, the museum has been working to expand its collection of Native American works of art, both historical and contemporary.

Monroe Gallery of Photography specializes in photography at the singular intersectionality of art and journalism.



Saturday, December 21, 2024

Eugene Tapahe's Jingle Dress Project Featured: Embracing Native American Traditions This Winter Solstice

Via Cowboys and Indians Magazine 

December 21, 2024


The Gift, Eugene Tapahe, 2022, Yellowstone National Park, WY, Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project


"Earlier this fall, I had the wonderful opportunity to connect with and learn from Umatilla/Cayuse/Nez Perce jingle dress dancer Acosia Red Elk. In addition to sharing her beautiful performances, she is also a yoga instructor and a wellness advocate who has gained her wisdom by overcoming countless obstacles throughout her life, including losing her father at a young age and being burned in a fire as a child. The minute I met Acosia, I could feel that deep wisdom radiating from within her." --click for full article


The Gift, Eugene Tapahe, 2022, Yellowstone National Park, WY, Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project

Eugene Tapahe is featured in the current Gallery exhibition Frozen In Time, on view through January 19, 2025.

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Eugene Tapahe: Between the Worlds

Via Utah Policy

November 6, 2024 


Celebrated Native American art exhibit comes to UVU’s Museum of Art at Lakemount


In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the Utah Valley University Museum of Art at Lakemount is pleased to present an art exhibition by Diné (Navajo) artist Eugene Tapahe. “Eugene Tapahe: Between the Worlds” opens with a reception on Tuesday, November 12, from 5-7:30 pm. The exhibition will remain on view through February 15, 2025.

“Eugene Tapahe: Between the Worlds” explores multiple meanings, connecting the contemporary world with tradition while highlighting the relationship between people and the land. Curated by Katherine Jackson, professor of art history at UVU, the exhibition includes a combination of Tapahe’s installations, photography, and performance, engaging people and places while mapping monuments as sacred sites throughout the modern world.

“I draw inspiration from my Diné (Navajo) traditions and modern experiences. My work reflects the fragility and resilience of Native American culture. I strive to unite these two worlds in my concepts while transcending worldly uncertainties. Through various visual mediums, I intend to celebrate and honor the identity and culture of Native Americans. Ultimately, the persona of my work offers unity, hope, and healing,” said Tapahe.

Tapahe is Diné (Navajo) and originally from Window Rock, Arizona. He received his MFA in studio art from Brigham Young University. Tapahe has exhibited his work in prestigious shows at the Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Indian Fair & Market, the Cherokee Art Market, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. He has received awards for his photography from the Cherokee Art Market (2018) and the Museum of Northern Arizona (2019), and he was honored with two International Awards of Excellence from “Communication Arts” magazine.

Tapahe’s work is in the permanent collections of numerous museums, including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Arizona State Museum, the Minnesota History Center, the College of Wooster Art Museum, the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University, and more.

His art is represented by the Modern West gallery in Salt Lake City, Utah; Monroe Gallery of Photography in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Rainmaker Gallery in Bristol, England; and Four Winds Gallery in Sydney, Australia. Tapahe resides in Provo, Utah, with his wife, Sharon, and their two daughters, Erin and Dion.

“Eugene Tapahe: Between the Worlds” is one of several concurrent exhibitions at the UVU Museum of Art at Lakemount. The annual Faculty Art Exhibition highlighting the work of 41 artists teaching at UVU is on view in the upstairs galleries through November 20, in addition to several exhibits of artwork from the museum’s permanent collection.

At Utah Valley University, we believe everyone deserves the transforming benefits of high-quality education — and it needs to be affordable, accessible, and flexible. With opportunities to earn everything from certificates to master’s degrees, our students succeed by gaining real-world experience and developing career-ready skills. We continue to invite people to come as they are — and leave ready and prepared to make a difference in the world.

For more information, visit UVU’s Newsroom website for fact sheets, maps, leadership bios, history, photos, b-roll, filming policies, and a list of interview-ready faculty experts at https://www.uvu.edu/newsroom/# or scan this QR code.

Friday, August 2, 2024

Special Event: Art Heals - The Jingle Dress Project



Monroe Gallery of Photography is honored to host a special fundraising event to support The Jungle Dress Project documentary. 

Photographer Eugene Tapahe's goal is to take the healing power of the Ojibwe jingle dress to the land, to travel, to dance and capture a series of images to document the spiritual places our ancestors once walked, and to unite and give hope to the world through art, dance and culture to help us heal. This special event will feature an exclusive preview of the Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project short documentary with an opportunity to contribute towards the continuation of the film.

Fine art prints will be available with proceeds from sales supporting the project.

Friday, August 16, starting promptly at 6:30

RSVP essential by Monday, July 12; please use this link.  Seating is limited.


"Now, the project is bigger than I imagined. The support, the love, and the encouragement from all over the world is inspirational. It motivates Dion, Erin, JoAnni, Sunni and I through our difficulties while we travel on our photo expeditions. It has been beautiful, emotional, empowering and most importantly, healing. Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience the beauty and unity of our spiritual journey through compelling visuals and storytelling behind this historic endeavor" --Eugene Tapahe