Joe Pachak

Artist and Archaeologist

Bluff, UT

October 9th - October 14th, 2025

Joe Pachak is as soft-spoken and knowledgeable as any of the birds in the area, of which he enjoys whistling calls in accompaniment. But it’s not just the birds of Utah that capture his curiosity; Joe possesses a deep and intimate knowledge of the Pueblo peoples, a curiosity that is often explored through the stone-carved artworks known as petroglyphs. As Joe led the Westie group through the canyons, he would point out petroglyphs, the outlines of houses, and other signs of Pueblo life. He shared his curiosity openly with each one of us, openly inviting our questions, and often meeting them with one of his own. Joe is an artist, archaeologist, and active community member. His artwork is shared through the communal burning of his intricate animal statues in the town of Bluff. Additionally, throughout the “Edge of the Cedars National Park Museum,” you can see many of his replications of Pueblo petroglyph carvings. Joe impressed upon us just how much of a community the Pueblo people have had throughout time, from thousands of years ago, up to the present day.

by Noah Pody