Moving through Land is Jeremy Dennis’ first solo exhibition at Gallery North. The exhibition will feature a selection of photographs that highlight the artist’s use of cinematic imagery and examine indigenous identity within the artist’s community, the Shinnecock Indian Nation in Southampton, New York. Moving through Land will consist of photographs from three of Dennis’ recent series – Rise, Nothing Happened Here, On This Site and the Shinnecock Portrait Project. Together, the imagery of these four series explore and unsettle post-colonial narratives at play in film and media, unambiguously targeting damaging stereotypes such as the ‘noble savage.’ The artist writes, “as racial divisions and tensions reach a nationwide fever pitch, it’s more important to me than ever to offer a complex and compelling representation of indigenous people. I like making use of the cinema’s tools, the same ones directors have always turned against us…, to create conversations about uncomfortable aspects of post-colonialism.” In Moving through Land, Dennis represents complex indigenous identities to demonstrate his community’s resilience, the importance of their environment, and the ongoing struggle to maintain autonomy among the Shinnecock Indian Nation.
A tribal member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, Dennis was born in Southampton, New York, and grew up on Long Island. He holds an MFA from Pennsylvania State University, State College, and a BA in Studio Art from Stony Brook University, and his artwork is in the collections of the Parrish Art Museum and the New York State Museum. He has published three books on his photography, exhibited both nationally and internationally, and received a Dreamstarter Grant from the non-profit organization, Running Strong for American Indian Youth. He lives and works in Southampton, New York, and is currently at work creating Ma’s House, a multi-use space that will include a residency program for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), along with an art studio, library, and exhibition space, providing opportunities for art- and history- based programs for tribal members and the broader local community.
This exhibition is generously sponsored by Nancy Goroff, Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning, and DIME Bank.
