Ashes to Ashes on Display at UW Gallery 234

“Ashes to Ashes,” a photography exhibition by Lisa Kinney, is on display through Thursday, Nov. 17, in the University of Wyoming Gallery 234, located in the lower level of the Wyoming Union.

Kinney has been working with one of UW’s retirement providers for the past 15 years. As part of her work, she travels throughout Wyoming. In her travels, she has encountered innumerable animals that have been hit by vehicles, and she has taken more than 1,000 photos of them.

Kinney’s brother, Bob Kinney, often travels with her around the state and originally suggested that they take photographs of “roadkill.” He is a co-photographer of the exhibition.

“Each set of photographs tells a story about the impact -- the skid marks (or lack thereof); the blood splatter; the broken animal bodies caused by the car; and the amazing beauty of Wyoming behind the dead animal,” Lisa Kinney says.

As a practical matter, states treat animals that are killed by vehicles in different ways. Wyoming introduced a bill in 2013 to allow people to take home any animal killed, with the permission of the state. That bill failed.

“Many Wyoming drivers have hit an animal, given the great number of wildlife in Wyoming,” Lisa Kinney says.

“These photos force us to pause. We ponder both the loss and the carnage, but also, perhaps, the haunting images, which show not only tragedy, but also the beauty of Wyoming and its animals,” she says. “Different cultures and people may reflect on the spirits, which have passed on, and their gifts to all other animals, including humans.”

For more information about Gallery 234 events, visit www.uwyo.edu/gallery234, like the Wyoming Union on Facebook, or follow the Campus Activities Center @UWYOCAC on Twitter and Instagram.

Individuals needing assistance to attend events should call the Campus Activities Center at (307) 766-6340.