Submitted Photo This artwork,titled, “Moeraki Boulders II” by Claire Van Vliet, 1995, is among works in the traveling Rural Arts Initiative exhibition, currently showing at the International Peace Garden.

DUNSEITH – The North Dakota Museum of Art is bringing its new Rural Arts Initiative exhibition, “Crossroads: An Exploration of Place and Identity, to the International Peace Garden in Dunseith. This traveling exhibition, drawn from the museum’s permanent collection, features a diverse group of artists who explore the intersections of place, identity and narrative through a variety of media.

Artists featured in Crossroads include Stuart Klipper, Rena Effendi, Christopher W. Benson, David Opdyke, Barton Lidice Benes and others. These artists examine the complex relationships between landscapes, personal stories, and human experience, inviting reflection on the connection between place and identity.

At the heart of Crossroads is the exploration of place — both physical and metaphorical. Klipper’s photography captures stark and remote landscapes, highlighting the profound connection between the land and its people. Benson’s paintings delve into how the physical environment shapes our memories and sense of self.

Effendi’s photography documents communities in post-Soviet states, capturing the resilience and survival of individuals in the face of political and environmental challenges. Lidice Benes and Opdyke, through their innovative works, challenge societal norms and explore themes of personal and national identity.

Crossroads invites visitors to reflect on their own journeys, the people they’ve encountered, and the places that have shaped them. The exhibition explores contrasts — rural meets urban, harsh meets serene — offering a dynamic connection between artist and land, and encouraging reflection on the impressions we leave behind, according to information from the North Dakota Museum of Art.

The exhibition is showing at the International Peace Garden through July 1.