The Sears Art Museum at Utah Tech University is inviting the community to experience a unique visual journey spanning thousands of miles. The current exhibition, titled From Red Rocks to Glaciers: Southern Utah and Alaska Through the Lens, explores the connections between two of the most monumental landscapes on the continent. Running through August 14, 2026, the show offers a rare opportunity to see how artists respond to the raw power of nature in vastly different climates.
At the heart of the exhibition is an evocative suite of Alaskan wilderness photographs by Tisa Zito. These images were born from Zito’s transformative solo journey through remote northern landscapes, documenting fleeting impressions of solitude, awe, and renewal. Her reflections on the physical endurance and silence required for such a journey inform the emotional core of the entire gallery.
This Alaskan suite acts as a catalyst for a larger conversation with prominent regional photographers, including Deborah Bice, Ilene Bandringa, George Kalantzes, Mike Shedlock, and Shirley Smith. These local artists offer their own perspectives on the Southwest, creating what museum curator James Peck describes as a “call and response.” By placing images of red sandstone cliffs alongside glacial ice, the exhibition reveals unexpected parallels in scale, geological drama, and the deeply personal experiences tied to the wilderness.
Peck noted that the result is a dialogue about place, memory, and the ways wilderness shapes us emotionally and psychologically. The photographers respond to Alaska’s rivers and mountains with images of canyon walls, desert light, and open expanses familiar to audiences throughout the American Southwest.
Among the regional contributors is Mike “Mish” Shedlock, an award-winning fine art photographer whose work is celebrated for capturing the joy of discovery. Shedlock specializes in museum-quality images designed to evoke emotion and storytelling. His work has appeared in prestigious venues like the Sears Art Museum and has graced the covers of 80 different publications.
The Sears Art Museum is open on the Utah Tech University campus. Those who have not yet had a chance to see this compelling dialogue have until August 14 to visit.Correction: A June print edition article about the Sears Art Museum exhibition at Utah Tech University contained information that did not accurately reflect the materials provided for publication. The online version of the article has been corrected. We regret the error and apologize to Utah Tech University, the participating artists, and our readers.
