Cara Romero’s Panûpünüwügai (Living Light) Illuminates the Hood Museum of Art
The Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College is currently hosting a groundbreaking exhibition titled Panûpünüwügai (Living light) by Cara romero, a celebrated Chemehuevi photographer. This exhibition, which runs from january 18 to August 10, 2025, marks Romero’s first major solo museum showcase, offering a profound exploration of Indigenous experiences through her lens.
The title, Panûpünüwügai, is a Chemehuevi word that translates to “living light.” It carries multiple meanings: the spirit of light, the interaction of light with people, and the way both light and people are enlivened through these connections. Romero’s work embodies this concept, as she masterfully “paints with light” in her photography while illuminating the stories of Native American and Indigenous communities.
Romero’s artistry is a fusion of traditional photography training, darkroom techniques, and cutting-edge digital technologies. Her vibrant and provocative images challenge dominant narratives of indigenous decline and erasure, disrupting preconceived notions about what it means to be Native American. While her work often addresses the injustices of colonialism, it also centers the humanity, vitality, and resilience of her subjects.
“Romero’s photographs celebrate the multiplicity, beauty, and resilience of Native American and Indigenous experiences, both historically and today,” says Jami C. Powell (Osage), Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs and Curator of Indigenous Art at the Hood Museum.The exhibition invites all audiences to engage with critical themes such as appropriation,reclamation,environmental racism,rematriation,and Indigenous futurisms. While the work is deeply personal and created by and for Indigenous peoples, the conversations it sparks are global. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy, ponder, and ask questions about the images they encounter.
Organized by the Hood Museum of Art, the exhibition is generously supported by leadership gifts from Claire Foerster and Daniel S.Bernstein ’87, Thomas A. Russo ’77 and Georgina T. Russo ’77, as well as contributions from the Terra Foundation for American Art, the Charles Gilman Family Endowment, and a gift from Karen Miller Nearburg and Charles Nearburg ’72.
| Exhibition Details |
|————————|
| Title | Cara Romero: Panûpünüwügai (Living Light) |
| Dates | January 18–August 10, 2025 |
| Location | Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth |
| Address | 6 E Wheelock St, Hanover, NH 03755 |
| Website | Hood Museum of Art |
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the transformative power of Cara romero’s photography. Visit the Hood Museum of Art to immerse yourself in the living light of her work and join the conversation about Indigenous resilience and creativity.
