Connecting with nature can provide incomparable peace, and that notion is captured in the work of Melanie Yazzie, a printmaker, painter, sculptor and mixed-media artist, as well as a professor of arts practices and head of printmaking at the University of Colorado Boulder. Through her multi-layered work, which has been exhibited across the U.S. and internationally, she portrays the intrinsic symbolism of our natural world. Her latest exhibition, Peace Walking, follows that earthy through line, exploring the profound relationship between human beings and the environment at the Denver Botanic Gardens Freyer Newman Center, from Sunday, January 29, through May 29.Drawing deeply from her Diné (Navajo) lineage, Yazzie examines the many facets and complexities found in Indigenous cultures, traditions and lived experiences, and she has traveled extensively to share her art practices and teachings with Indigenous peoples worldwide. Melanie A. Yazzie, a Navajo (Diné), artist, works in a wide range of media that include printmaking, painting, sculpting, and ceramics, as well as installation art. Her art is accessible to the public on many levels and the main focus is on connecting with and educating people about the contemporary status of one indigenous woman and hoping that people can learn from her experience. Her subject matter is significant because the serious undertones reference native post-colonial dilemmas. Her work often brings images of women from many indigenous cultures to the forefront. Thus her work references matrilineal systems and points to the possibility of female leadership. There are many layers to the works and within the story layers, many discover that our history is varied and deep. It is made clear that there are many indigenous peoples in the world and we all have different stories and it sometimes has a sad connection to mainstream society. Often misunderstood and overlooked are the ways in which we can all learn from each other and make a better world. She has been represented by Glenn Green Galleries since 1995 Learn more about Melanie's Story Melanie A. Yazzie's most recent exhibit of printmaking, sculptures and paintings on view at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Read about the artist and the exhibit in Denver's WestWord.https://www.westword.com/arts/melanie-yazzie-botanic-gardens-nature-16001845