In Dialogue: Land & Legacy with Sarah Sockbeson & James Prosek

Explore the intersections of landscape, material, and meaning in this conversation inspired by Canvas to Clay: Georgia O’Keeffe & Maria Martinez to Mata Ortiz & Tonalá. Sarah Sockbeson, a Penobscot basketmaker, and James Prosek, a writer, naturalist, and painter/sculptor, are deeply inspired by the natural world in their own practice and as collaborative partners. They will discuss creating art that is both about the land through subject and meaning, and of the land through materials and processes. Together, they will reflect on the relationship between tradition and innovation, challenging assumptions that traditional artforms are static or that innovation diminishes authenticity.

Sarah Sockbeson is an award-winning Indigenous Artist, culture bearer, and member of the Penobscot tribe, creating traditional yet contemporary brown ash and sweetgrass baskets. Her innovative work honors traditional knowledge while embracing sustainable practices and new materials, inspiring future generations of Native American artists.

James Prosek is an artist, writer, and naturalist whose work pays homage to the history of art and natural sciences while addressing contemporary environmental concerns. He has published over a dozen books and exhibited his art globally from the Yale University Art Gallery and the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, the Royal Academy of Arts in London and Nouveau Musée National de Monaco.