- This event has passed.
Artist Sarah Ortegon
August 15, 2023 @ 9:00 am - 3:30 pm MDT
Artist-in-Residence Sarah Ortegon
Plains Indian Museum
August 14–18, 2023
9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho artist, actress, and dancer Sarah Ortegon, demonstrates in our Plains Indian Museum August 14–18. In addition, Sarah presents a Blacklight Jingle Showcase the evening of August 15 (see below for details).
Born in Denver, Colorado, Sarah graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2013 with a bachelor of arts degree in Fine Art. Her piece Home is Where the Heart Is is in the Denver Art Museum’s collection. She was crowned Miss Native American, USA in 2013, after which she toured with the Native Pride Dancers as a jingle dress dancer in the U.S., Moldova, and Guatemala. Sarah is featured in the 2019 PBS film, The Art of Home, and is pursuing an acting career.
Sarah says, “I have a major passion that drives me to use my creative abilities. I give all credit to my parents and to the Native community that supports me. Every opportunity thus far has helped me grow into the individual that I am today.”
Blacklight Jingle Showcase
August 15, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West Coe Auditorium
Free – Open to the Public with a Reception to Follow
Join us in the Coe Auditorium to view the short film, “Wyoming Women to Watch,” which features Sarah, and then watch as she demonstrates jingle dress dancing under black lights for an amazing visual effect. Then enjoy a public reception hosted by Sue Simpson Gallagher and Ann Simpson.
She says, “The black light performance was something that I had initially envisioned as an entire powwow. The black light illuminates the figure that holds the soul, which in turn shows the light that comes from within when we dance. I see it as another way to share our way of life, from a different point of view.”
