Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento
presents

Steven Cranston

Tlingit

Tribal Visions

Ted Scott-Femenella

Afro-Indigenous

Exhibit dates: November 3 to December 13, 2026

Tues.–Fri. 9–5, Sun. 11:30–2:30

Artist reception: Thursday, Nov. 19, 5:30 to 7:30 pm

UUSS Main Hall, 2425 Sierra Boulevard, Sacramento, California
For more information call Kim at 916-213-9969 or art@uuss.org

Ted Scott-Femenella, Afro-Indigenous artist, is an Award-Winning, Sacramento-based Fine Art Photographer. He is also a Retired Lecturer Emeritus from CSUS in Social Work, a published Author, Clinical Therapist, Community Activist, and an Advocate for Social/Environmental Justice.

I’ve been fascinated by cameras and photographic images for nearly 60 years. I strongly believe that my artistic vision has allowed me to ‘see’ the world around me…in all of its glorious spectrums. I am particularly drawn to celebrating the beauty of the natural world and the majesty of Indigenous images.

About 20 years ago, I began exploring my photographic images in a new way that allowed me to go beyond the original composition. I ‘partialized’ my image, deconstructed it, and then re-‘painted’ it in the digital darkroom. This blended these surrealist aspects with the original in a new vision.

I began exhibiting my work in 2010. When I first entered photographs that featured this blend in exhibits, there was not yet a category that fit my work. People often ask if it is a painting and are surprised when I explain my process as a photographer. Since then, I have engaged with different styles that generate emotion and move beyond boundaries. My photography ranges from traditional to impressionistic.

I am excited about sharing my work with my Beloved UUSS Family.

Recent exhibits: Sacramento Fine Arts Center, Carmichael; Marjorie Evans Gallery, Carmel; and Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento

Steven Cranston is an enrolled member of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska. Based in Sacramento, California, he creates art, teaches screen printing, and continues exploring life through his creative practice.

Steven’s father was born in Klukwan, Alaska, and is an artist in his own right. Most of Steven’s Native family is from Haines, Alaska, and his sister and father currently reside in Ketchikan, where Steven and his family visit as often as possible.

Cranston’s work is primarily centered in Alaska Native Formline design, employing the bold black lines that define Northwest Coast Formline. He creates acrylic paintings, screen-printed serigraphs, and carved wood panels distinguished by saturated color, crisp edges, and layered depth that give traditional Formline compositions a contemporary presence.

With more than 20 years of screen-printing experience, Cranston brings the precision and craftsmanship of a master printer to every piece. As proprietor of NorCal Screen Print Supply, he teaches screen printing, shares his knowledge with artists and makers, and continues to champion the craft that has played a major role in his work and life.

One of his paintings was featured in the Crocker Art Museum 2026 Art Auction, and he was selected as a 2026 Resident Artist with the Sealaska Heritage Institute, where he continues to deepen his connection to Native art, culture, and community.

Through his work, Cranston honors the visual language of his ancestors while demonstrating that Formline is a living tradition—one that continues to evolve through contemporary practice. He hopes his art inspires other Native artists to continue the work of their ancestors and keep these traditions alive for future generations.