Desert Humanities Initiative
Desert spaces have long nourished artistic and humanistic work, but also distinctive possibilities for the flourishing of life in the past, present, and future. The Desert Humanities Initiative fosters both of these dimensions by (1.) Supporting work that analyzes, critiques, and transforms our relationships to deserts and is in service to the communities who inhabit them, and (2.) Providing opportunities to immerse in urban and rural desert sites in order to engage their textured histories, diverse ecologies, and possible futures. Working across disciplines with other ASU faculty, Desert Humanities has created partnerships with external artists and writers to realize projects that immerse participants in the landscape and invite reflection on place.
Ways to Engage
Initiative Directors
Jason Bruner
A professor in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Jason Bruner is an ethnographer, writer, and historian studying Christians and Christianity. He is interested in lived religion, health, violence and globalization. His work incorporates photography and creative nonfiction. He recently published a multi-modal creative and documentary project on the metro-Phoenix area titled "Life in the Valley" (is Press, 2024).
Erika Lynne Hanson
A Program Director and Associate Professor in the School of Art, Erika Lynne Hanson is an interdisciplinary artist, researcher, and educator whose work is rooted in textile practices that engage with various sites and their inhabitants. Her work has been exhibited at Form + Concept in Santa Fe, Field Projects in NYC and the Tucson Museum of Art. Hanson has participated in residency programs across the US and Scandinavia.