Jeron Joseph, Cotton, 2024
Jeron Joseph: Sacred Ground
On view March 6 - October 4, 2026
First Floor, Family Galleries South Hallway
Jeron Joseph’s photographs emerge from years of careful observation of the coastal landscapes of Western Alaska. Documenting changes in the seasons, light, and cycles of plant life around him, the work communicates the power and circularity of the Yup’ik concept of ellarpak, a word that translates loosely as “world.” Joseph explains that the Yup’ik and Cup’ik symbol of a dot within a circle represents this idea, encompassing the movement between the mortal and the spiritual, and the alignment of all things.
In 2025, in the wake of devastating flooding caused by Typhoon Halong, Joseph was forced to evacuate his home in Kwigillingok (Kuigilnguq), along with his family, friends, and neighbors. Those in Kipnuk (Qipneq) and various other communities across Western and Southwestern Alaska were also affected. He sees these photographs as a way to honor, remember, and showcase the beauty of Alaska. He is currently based in Anchorage.
Acknowledgements
The artist offers thanks to the Northern Journal newsletter, EarthJustice, the Red Cross, the US National Guard, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Anchorage Museum, and many others who assisted those displaced by Typhoon Halong. He also gratefully acknowledges his family, friends, and his dog.