“Hidden Valley” is finished and pending delivery. It is a piece of similar style and theme to my 2020 work, “Procession,” as requested by the board of the Alice Merrill Horne Art Collection. It has been an honor to create this work for the state of Utah.
Petroglyph and pictograph panels by Utah’s ancient Indigenous peoples were officially named the state works of art by legislative decree in 2017. This was an encouraging gesture that underscores the value that our state places on its rich and complex history. Now we need to take strong and material action to address the threat of defacement these works of art and the land they inhabit face. I hope that this piece helps generate and further important conversations about cultural sites and lands that are becoming increasingly vulnerable as the tourism industry thrives in our state. This project is my endeavor to show why that conversation is imperative, raise awareness, and inspire people to take action to preserve and protect irreplaceable cultural and natural resources.
Cody Rex Chamberlain 