The Art Box - Episode 474 - Listening to the Landscape: Dr. Chris Merritt on Art, Archaeology & Community

In Episode 474, Dr. Chris Merritt, Utah State Historic Preservation Officer, joins Steve for a conversation about archaeology, preservation, art, and the stories hidden in the landscapes around us. Steve and Chris have worked together on several archaeological projects exploring the lives of Chinese workers in the American West during the 1880s, giving their conversation a personal connection built through time spent together in the field. Chris shares his love of art and painting and how his creative work intersects with his archaeological work across Utah. They also explore the importance of collaboration—bringing together archaeologists, universities, local communities, and organizations such as the Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association to better understand, preserve, and share these often-overlooked stories. It’s a conversation about archaeology, art, collaboration, discovery, and the importance of noticing what others might simply walk past. Notes: Pictured is Chris with Deidre M. Henderson Lt. Governor of Utah at the Terrace Excavation. Find out more about the Utah Cultural Site Steward Program: https://ushpo.utah.gov/publicarchaeology/ucss/