Threads of Culture, Woven by Design
July 31 @ 5:00 pm - October 16 @ 5:00 pm

The Natural History Institute Art Gallery Presents
Threads of Culture, Woven by Design
Navajo Weaving Collected and Exhibited by Steve Munsell
July 24 – October 9, 2026
Natural History Institute Gallery
Open Tuesday–Friday, Noon–4 PM
Free and open to the public
Threads of Culture, Woven by Design explores the artistry, history, and cultural significance of Navajo weaving through a curated collection of textiles spanning the years with added interpretation. Collector and exhibitor Steve Munsell shares the culture, values, and history woven into each piece, inviting visitors to look closely at the remarkable craftsmanship of Navajo weavers.
Steve Munsell is a retired Emeritus Faculty at Prescott College after serving 30 years in the Adventure Education Program. His other career in science support has taken him to the Polar regions of both ends of the earth. He has spent winter seasons in the Antarctic and at the summit of the Greenland ice sheet. He has over a dozen deployments across many years supporting research in a variety of topics, from freezing avoidance of cold water fishes, to atmospheric carbon dioxide and firn aquifer hydrology on the melting ice sheet of Greenland.
Family influence kindled his passion for Navajo weaving. His stepfather gave him several weavings from the family collection. While traveling the reservation and investigating these family weavings, he was captivated by the world and work of the weavers. Years later, he has assembled a body of work worthy of exhibition and is happy to share his collection with the public. Previous exhibits have been hosted by Prescott College at the Sam Hill Gallery, the Moab Museum, and a semi-permanent exhibit at the Canyon Country Discovery Center in Monticello, Utah. This is the first exhibit that offers significant sales opportunities to the public.