Woods Wheatcroft photography exhibit focuses on protecting public lands

By Zach Hagadone
Reader Staff

The recent — and ongoing — debate about whether to open public lands for expanded resource extraction and/or development has raised awareness among many for how special and valuable those places are to the people who actually own them: that is, all of us, regardless of geography or political ideology.

Longtime local photographer Woods Wheatcroft has curated a selection of images depicting local landscapes that, if some legislative proposals come to pass, could be taken from the public and converted to private use. In partnership with Kaniksu Land Trust, he will host a photo art opening Tuesday, July 29 from 5-7 p.m. at Evans Brothers Coffee (524 Church St., in Sandpoint), where attendees can see what could be at stake. 

“They are special places. Preserved in memory. Anchored in the effort and the deep desire to experience them,” Wheatcroft wrote in his artist’s statement, shared with the Reader. “These places are also public. No property lines crossed. Some are popular, familiar. Others are off the beaten path. In any case, need I repeat, they are public.”

Referencing a map of potentially vulnerable local areas provided by the Wilderness Society, KLT wrote, “These are not distant places — they are right here in our backyard.” 

“While Kaniksu Land Trust focuses on the permanent protection of private lands, our mission is rooted in the same values — connection to place, community well-being and long-term stewardship,” the organization added. “Woods’ work speaks directly to this. His images honor both the wildness of our region and the deep care people have for the land.”

According to Wheatcroft, the Public Lands Public Hands exhibit stemmed from a request from his longtime friend and photo editor Jane Sievert at Patagonia, for which he has worked as a contract photographer for years. She asked him to provide images of public lands in danger being sold off — both here and across the West. He provided more than 200 such pieces, then narrowed them down to focus specifically on the region surrounding Sandpoint, resulting in the selections featured in his upcoming show.

“This exhibit reminds us that whether it’s public or private, land holds meaning — and with care, creativity and community, it can be protected for generations to come,” KLT stated, noting that local action — not legislation — has resulted in the permanent protection of places like Pine Street Woods, The Sled Hill and Cabinet View Nature Area. 

According to KLT, “These conserved lands remain open to the public, immune to political shifts, and are a testament to what’s possible when people come together to protect what they love.” 

As for Wheatcroft, he stated that he hopes to “spread the message through a visual medium and dissolve differences to realize we all use and love and want to continue to create memories in our backyard. 

“Our backyard is a very special place,” he added. “Let’s come together on this one.”

To see more of Wheatcroft’s work, visit woodswheatcroft.com. To learn more about the Kaniksu Land Trust, go to kaniksu.org.