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Weber State University’s Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery is exploring Indigenous identity, history and connections to the Great Basin through its exhibition, Of This Place: Great Basin Neighbors. Recently featured in 15 Bytes, the exhibition brings together works by Indigenous artists from different nations and generations, including Pyramid Lake Paiute artist Gregg Deal. Known for blending punk influences, pop culture and political commentary, Deal uses his artwork to challenge stereotypes and examine the history of Indigenous communities. His contributions include a striking installation referencing Native American boarding schools and their lasting impact on Indigenous cultures. Alongside Deal’s work, the exhibition features basketry, paintings, photography and mixed-media pieces that explore cultural traditions, environmental concerns and contemporary Indigenous experiences. Together, these works encourage visitors to consider the diverse perspectives and stories that shape the Great Basin and its communities.

Weber State University faculty are helping visitors explore the unique ecosystem of Antelope Island through art, research and education. The newly expanded Antelope Island State Park Visitor Center, which celebrated its grand opening Oct. 2, features artwork by Kellie Bornhoft, assistant professor of art in the Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities. Bornhoft created 96 detailed illustrations of the island’s plants and animals, with 50 featured in an interactive mosaic highlighting the relationships between species within the ecosystem. Her illustrations are also available in the public domain and have been used in educational settings ranging from high school classrooms to research conferences. Bornhoft’s work highlights how art can deepen public understanding of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem and encourage visitors to connect with the natural world around them.

As conversations surrounding book bans continue across Utah, Weber State University faculty are contributing their expertise to discussions about literature, education and access to books. Megan Van Deventer, associate professor of English in the Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities, was recently featured in a KUER interview examining Utah's growing list of 44 books banned from public K-12 schools. With women representing nearly two-thirds of the authors on the list, Van Deventer raised questions about which stories are being restricted and why. Drawing from her experience teaching a course on banned young adult literature, she discussed how books addressing difficult topics can help young readers better understand their own experiences and develop empathy for others. Van Deventer also emphasized the importance of allowing families to make individual reading decisions without limiting access for everyone. Her perspective highlights the role of educators in encouraging critical thinking and thoughtful conversations about literature and the experiences it represents.

From poetry inspired by the Great Salt Lake to interactive public sculpture, faculty in Weber State University’s Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities are using their creative work to strengthen communities and bring people together. Ogden Poet Laureate and English instructor Sunni Wilkinson explores the significance of everyday experiences through her writing and recently partnered with visual artist Kellie Bornhoft on a course connecting art, poetry and the Great Salt Lake. Bornhoft, a Utah Artist Fellowship recipient, also collaborated with music faculty Carey Campbell on This Was Water, an installation examining environmental loss through visual art and music. Other faculty are expanding that impact through public art and international partnerships, including Jason Manley’s interactive Key Changes sculpture and Tamara Goldbogen’s selection to the Fulbright Specialist Roster. Together, their work demonstrates how the arts can encourage connection, deepen understanding and give students opportunities to engage with issues extending far beyond the classroom.

A restored vintage cigarette vending machine became the centerpiece of Curio Theatre, a one-night event that brought visual art and live performance together in an interactive experience. Created by art history associate professor María del Mar González-González and theatre associate professor Cully Long, the event invited attendees to select from nine original objects, ranging from small sculptures to stained glass, before attending a 20-minute performance inspired by their chosen piece. Curio Theatre brought together Weber State faculty, students, alumni and community supporters, along with the Concept Center in the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology, which helped restore the vintage machine. By pairing tangible works of art with performances that existed only in the moment, the event offered audiences a new way to experience the arts while highlighting the collaborative work happening across disciplines at Weber State. Proceeds from the event also supported scholarships for students in theatre and the Department of Visual Art & Design.

For Weber State University student and Army veteran Tawni Jae Sherlock, returning to art became an unexpected part of healing and reconnecting with herself. Sherlock rediscovered her love of creating through Weber State’s Venture Course in the Humanities, a free evening program that introduces students to college-level learning through courses taught by university faculty. The experience inspired her to begin painting again, including hosting paint nights with her family and participating in a workshop at Ogden Contemporary Arts. There, Sherlock created Betsy, a surreal piece inspired by the Great Salt Lake that combines a buffalo with human and desert elements. Her artwork was later selected to appear on Ogden public transit buses, giving her work a larger audience than she ever expected. As Sherlock continues her education, she credits the Venture Course and its instructors with helping her recognize new possibilities for herself while demonstrating how education and the arts can create opportunities for connection, growth and healing.

A group of Weber State University performing arts students gained firsthand experience in the professional film industry through Pencils Down, a dark workplace comedy that premiered at the Palm Springs International ShortFest and is now screening at film festivals across the country. Filmed over three days in New York City, the production gave five students the opportunity to work alongside professional actors and filmmakers in roles ranging from art department and costumes to production support. Through Weber State's longstanding partnership with the New York City theater company Adjusted Realists, students applied the skills they developed in the classroom while building industry connections and gaining valuable on-set experience. For students like theatre arts major Mei Flint, the experience helped shape future career goals, reinforcing Weber State's commitment to providing real-world learning opportunities that prepare students to succeed in the creative industries.

Weber State University student Olivia Favero is representing the Western lifestyle on a national stage as Miss Rodeo America 2026, traveling across the country to promote the heritage of ranching, agriculture, and the sport of rodeo while serving as the official ambassador for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Raised on her family's farm in Taylor, Utah, Favero has balanced her passion for rodeo with her education, earning two associate degrees at Weber State and working toward a bachelor's degree in communication. Throughout her yearlong reign, she has applied the communication, social media, and leadership skills she developed at Weber State while connecting with communities nationwide, reaffirming her plans to pursue a career in public relations after graduation. Supported by more than $23,500 in scholarships, Favero plans to return to Weber State to complete her degree, demonstrating how the university empowers students to turn their passions into meaningful careers while making an impact far beyond campus.

Weber State University student Tawni Jae Sherlock discovered renewed confidence in her artistic journey through the university’s free Venture Course in the Humanities, leading to her artwork being selected for display on public transit buses as part of a partnership with Ogden Contemporary Arts. A Pacific Islander, Army veteran, and multidisciplinary artist, Sherlock enrolled in the evening humanities program while returning to college, where faculty mentorship and hands-on creative experiences helped her reconnect with her passion for art and envision a new career centered on healing and community engagement. Seeing her work displayed throughout Ogden reinforced her belief in the power of creativity to inspire change, both personally and professionally, as she continues exploring ways to combine art, education, and therapeutic practice. Through stories like Sherlock’s, the Venture Course empowers learners from all backgrounds to rediscover their potential, build meaningful community connections, and pursue new educational and career opportunities.