Chip Thomas and the Painted Desert Project
Chip Thomas is an American photographer, public artist, activist, and physician living in Arizona. In 1987, he moved to the Navajo Nation, between Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon, to work as a physician. Simultaneously, he began photographing the Navajo people (Diné) and maintained a darkroom to develop his work. Soon after his arrival in Arizona, Thomas carried out a billboard “correction” on the Navajo Nation, replacing the word “Pepsi” with “Diabetes” in the phrase “Welcome to Pepsi Country,” in an effort to call out the effects of American capitalism on the landscape and the people of his new community.
Since 2009, Thomas has worked under the pseudonym jetsonorama, combining photography and traditions of street art, placing work on billboards and abandoned structures in the region as a way to celebrate the rich cultural history of the Navajo people. The exhibition includes examples of Thomas’ original, documentary-style photographs and their application as elements in public art, installation, film, and graphic media.
In 2012, Thomas developed the Painted Desert Project, a residency program in which he has invited street artists from around the world to explore and execute work in the desert landscape. More than 25 artists have participated over the past decade, enlivening the region’s public spaces with various distinct styles. A special sub-section of the exhibition includes work by a sampling of the Painted Desert artists.
Painted Desert Participants: 2501, Gaia, Icy and Sot, Kill Joy, ROA, Chris Stain, Stinkfish
Collaborator: Ken Ogawa
Related Events
Artist Tour of Chip Thomas and the Painted Desert Project
September 27, 2024
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Gallery Tour of Chip Thomas and the Painted Desert Project with Artists Chip Thomas, Flagstaff, AZ, and Ken Ogawa, Columbia, MO, and Kevin Moore, FotoFocus Artistic Director and Curator, New York, NY.
Additional Information: FotoFocus strives to create a welcoming, supportive, diverse, and inclusive environment in our workplace, in our programming, and in our partnerships with artists, curators, collaborators, and the public. Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available at the Artist Tour of Chip Thomas and the Painted Desert Project, sponsored by Ohio Humanities. For questions regarding accessibility accommodations during FotoFocus events, please email info@fotofocus.org.
Access to the entire FotoFocus Biennial Program is only one benefit of being a FotoFocus 2022 Biennial Passport holder. GET THE PASSPORT for free entry and exclusive events!
Artist Talk for Barbara Probst: Subjective Evidence & Public Reception for Subjective Evidence and Chip Thomas and the Painted Desert Project
September 27, 2024
7:00pm – 10:00pm
7pm Passport Event. Conversation with Artist Barbara Probst, New York, NY and Munich, Germany; and Kevin Moore, FotoFocus Artistic Director and Curator, New York, NY.
8pm Public Reception for Barbara Probst: Subjective Evidence and Chip Thomas and the Painted Desert Project. Reception is Free to the Public.
9pm After Party at Alice OTR. Free for Passport Holders.
Additional Information: FotoFocus strives to create a welcoming, supportive, diverse, and inclusive environment in our workplace, in our programming, and in our partnerships with artists, curators, collaborators, and the public. Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available at the Artist Talk for Barbara Probst: Subjective Evidence & Public Reception for Subjective Evidence and Chip Thomas and the Painted Desert Project, sponsored by Ohio Humanities. For questions regarding accessibility accommodations during FotoFocus events, please email info@fotofocus.org.
Access to the entire FotoFocus Biennial Program is only one benefit of being a FotoFocus 2022 Biennial Passport holder. GET THE PASSPORT for free entry and exclusive events!
Biennial Symposium
September 28, 2024
12:00pm – 5:00pm
The FotoFocus Symposium is designed to bring together Participants to discuss the backstories theme and its relationship to lens-based art and the world today. These conversations foster timely and in-depth dialogue around art in the current social and political climate.
12pm Light Bites
1pm Memory Fields Conversation
Sso-Rha Kang, Curator of Memory Fields, Curator at The Carnegie, Cincinnati, OH and Artist Jesse Ly, Dayton, OH
1:30pm Chip Thomas and the Painted Desert Project Panel
Moderated by Kevin Moore, FotoFocus Artistic Director and Curator, New York, NY; with panelists Chip Thomas, Artist, Flagstaff, AZ; Ken Ogawa, Maker/Artist, Columbia, MO; and Sunny Dooley, Diné Hozhojii Teller, Creator, and Poet, Diné Nation, NM
2:30pm Southern Democratic Spotlight with Filmmaker Michael Almereyda, New York, NY
3pm Ming Smith Conversation
Ming Smith, Artist, Harlem, NY and Daisy Desrosiers, David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation Director and Chief Curator at The Gund, Kenyon College, Mount Vernon, OH
4pm backstories Keynote Lecture
Kathy Ryan, former Director of Photography at The New York Times Magazine, New York, NY
Additional Information: FotoFocus strives to create a welcoming, supportive, diverse, and inclusive environment in our workplace, in our programming, and in our partnerships with artists, curators, collaborators, and the public. Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available at the Biennial Symposium, sponsored by Ohio Humanities. For questions regarding accessibility accommodations during FotoFocus events, please email info@fotofocus.org.
Access to the entire FotoFocus Biennial Program is only one benefit of being a FotoFocus 2022 Biennial Passport holder. GET THE PASSPORT for free entry and exclusive events!
Thursday Art Play: The Painted Desert
October 10, 2024
10:30am – 11:30am
Join us Thursday mornings for creative playtime. This family program uses art to excite our youngest visitors. Learn about the artist Chip Thomas and create artwork inspired by his work.
Additional Information: To request accessibility accommodations or learn more, please visit the CAC website.
Young Adult Lab: Wheat Paste Workshop Inspired by Chip Thomas
October 10, 2024
4:00pm – 6:00pm
This weekly program, organized by and created for young adults, focuses on Chip Thomas and explores wheat pasting, a popular form of street art.
Additional Information: To request accessibility accommodations or learn more, please visit the CAC website.
Educator Workshop + Brunch: Art X Activism featuring Terra Futura & The Painted Desert Project
November 2, 2024
10:00am – 1:00pm
Learn how activism can be a powerful teaching tool through exploring two CAC exhibitions. This educator workshop will include an artist-led tour, Q&A session and brunch with mimosas.
Additional Information: Registration required. Reserve your spot by emailing tours@cincycac.org. To request accessibility accommodations or learn more, please visit the CAC website.
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Chip Thomas, Lehigh on the Tire Swing, 2013. Courtesy of the artist
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Chip Thomas, Rayshaun at Cow Springs 1, 2013. Courtesy of the artist
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Chip Thomas, Step During the Day, 2017. Courtesy of the artist
Venue Details
Contemporary Arts Center
44 E Sixth St
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 345-8400
Thur & Fri 10am–7pm, Sat & Sun 10am–4pm
Free to the Public
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