HONORABLE GEORGE NIGH Governor Oklahoma's Indian Art. ... By Judith Wall VOLUME 32 NUMBER 1 WINTER 1981 I SUE CARTER PAUL E. LEFEBVRE Christmastime in Indian Territory. .... Editor Art and Production By Alice Robertson KEVIN NORMAN KATE JONES I Circulation Manager Asst. Editor Decking The Halls Of The 1889er Museum. ....... .12 By Kate Jones Published quarterly by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department I COMMISSION MEMBERS I Farm-Freqh Christmas Trees. .. JIM PATE W. R. "DICK" STUBBS CELlA ROSENBERGER Madill, Chairman Henryetta, Vice Chairman Tulsa, Secretary Weekend In A Winter Wonderland. ... RlLLA WlLCOX JAMES DURHAM By Kathleen Kunz Red Oak Okeene I BOB HINTON R. A. "BOB" HODDER Pedal Pushers Par Excellence. .. Altus Oklahoma City By Sharon Wright KEN FLAMING, Dir. ABE L. HESSER EUGENE DILBECK, Dir. State Lodges Executive Director Marketing Services The Time They Give Dream Dolls Away. CHUCK WOOLSEY, Dir. TOM COVALT, Dir. TOM CREIDER, Dir. By Susan Everly-Douze Administration State Parks Planning& Development I It is the purpse ol Oklahoma Today to devote itself to the entire state of Oklahoma A Honey Of A Candle Factory. ... and its every positive aspect; the scenery, culture, recreational and visitor attracting vents; its industry, natural and man-made wonders; its achievements; its heritage; By Sheila Samples I~Spresent; and its future. 502 WILL ROGERS BUILDING NG OKLAHOMACTPI, OK 731059 (a)521-24% The Healing Hands. ... SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT OKLAHOMA CITY (ISSN 0030 1892) By Joye R. Boulton $7.00 Per Year in U.S., $11.00 Elsewhere. $1.75 Single Copy Copyright 1981 by Oklahoma Today Magazine. Litho in Oklahoma I Today In Oklahoma. ..... I Books In Review/Letters. .... COVERS: Joan Hill of Muskogee won the Grand Award at the Five Civililed Tribes Museum's 198 1 Master Art Show with this painting. "The Voice Star Of Wonder. ..... Of The Drum Circles The Sun." Inside, skaters enjoy the ice rink of Tulsa's By John Davis Williams Center during the holiday season. Photo by Fred Marvel. Back, Christmas lights decorating homes in northwest Oklahoma City reflect in the I lake surrounding Ski Island. Photo by Paul Lefebvre. I Entertainment Calendar. ..... ne of Oklahoma's greatest treasures is its American Indian Art, and Oklahoma Today takes great pride in offenng our readers prints by some of Oklahoma's most prominent 0artists. It's our holiday gift to you! Surely everyone remembers yearning for a bike or a favorite doll on Christmas Eve, decorating the glittering tree, and later, enjoying the magic of a glowing candle. Oklahoma Today tries to capture the holiday symbols and traditions that are uniquely Oklahoma in this issue. We think a really nice family tradition may be escaping the bustling holiday crowds and heading for the quiet of a state park. What better place to read about Miss Alice Robertson's Christmas in Indian Territory back in 1866 and reflect upon our rich life here today? Enjoy your holidays - theyZrespecial in Oklahoma. COMING IN THE SPRING ISSUE Oklahoma Today celebrates our state's 75th birthday with fascinating stories about both famous and unknown faces and places, the rebirth of our cities, the oil boom, the arts and entertainment, agriculture and industry. You won't want to miss our biggest issue ever! J WINTER 1981 THRE from artist to artist, and there are a great many artists to choose among. Judlth Wall IS dlrector of Unlverslty of Oklahoma alumnl publications Reba Olson, owner of The Galleria, In some circles, it is not oil wells, a Norman gallery that deals exclu- quarterhorses, cattle ranches or even sively in Indian art, suggests that football that comes to mind when the potential buyers "do their homework state of Oklahoma is mentioned. before making a purchase." In the world of art, it is the im- "It would be a good idea for them pressive reputation of a growing num- to go to every show, visit permanent ber of Oklahoma Indian artists that collections at museums and visit sev- people are talking about. eral galleries," she says. "Then they Since the late 1920s, when the U.S. are better able to decide what they government relaxed its policy of sup- like and determine what is an equi- pressing Native American culture, table price for an artist's work. Oklahoma Indian artists have been "Even more importantly, they will earning national and international learn some history that will be eye- reputations for themselves and their opening. Most of us don't know the cultural-art. The work done by Okla- history of the Indians; it's been left homa Kiowa artists in the 1920s and out of our history books. Seeing that '30s is credited by many as being in- history and culture presented from an strumental in the emergence of Indian art in this country. Oklahoma is con- sidered the birthplace of contemporary Indian painting. Today a new wave of Oklahoma Indian artists are living up to the high standards established by such greats as Stephen Mopope, Monroe Tsatoke and Jerome Tiger. According to Imogene Mugg of the Oklahoma Art Center Sales Gallery in Oklahoma City, the state has be- come to Indian painting and sculp- turing what New Mexico is to Indian rugs and jewelry. A A ppL- "There is an unprecedented interest Indian artist's viewpoint is exciting in Indian art," Mugg says. "And many and rewarding; the historical and spir- Ranked as Master artists by the Five Civilized ribes Oklahoma artists are among the ranks itoal aspects of Indian art give it a Museum are Valjean McC%ty Hessing, Fay Anderson of the top professionals." strong emotional appeal." and Bert Seabourn. Paintings on the next three pages were entered in the 198 1 Master Art Show. Opposite, Shawnee gallery owner and well- Permanent collections located by ValleanHessing, known Indian artist Enoch Kelly throughout the state provide the Haney believes that some of the finest chance to view some of the nation's Indiali art is being produced by Okla- finest Indian art. The best-known col- homa artists. "And we have just be- lections are at Tulsa's Philbrook Art gun to scratch the surface," he claims. Center and Thomas Gilcrease Insti- Haney, who owns the American In- tute of American History of Art, dian Arts Collection in Shawnee and Woolaroc Museum near Bartlesville, serves in the Oklahoma legislature, the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in believes there are more professional Muskogee, the Cherokee National Indian painter6 in Oklahoma-par- Museum in Tahlequah, the Southern ticularly those who reflect Indian cul- Plains Museum in Anadarko and the ture in an authentic way-than in Oklahoma State Museum in Okla- any other state. homa City. The University of Okla- With this growing interest in Indian homa Museum of Art in Norman has art, more and more people are ac- a large collection, which is displayed quiring a painting by an Indian artist periodically. for the first time, or considering mak- Annual shows featuring Indian art- ing a gift of Indian art. ists include the Trail of Tears Indian But the rapid development of this Art Show at the Cherokee National art category can present a confusing Museum, June 19 through July 11, picture for would-be buyers. Prices, 1982; the All-Oklahoma Indian Artists styles and subject matter vary greatly Invitational at the Oklahoma Art Cen- OKLAHOMA TODAY ter Sales and Rental Gallery, July 11 by a well-established artist brings a through Aug. 31, 1982; the Philbrook price in the thousands, "most paint- Museum's Indian Art Show, a summer- ings are not all that high, really." time event with dates to be announced; "Most paintings we have on our the Five Civilized Tribes Indian Art walls run from $250 to $850, though Show, October 1982; and the Art From a few large ones will run more than the Earth Show at Norman's Galleria, that," she says. "And a lot of paint- November through December 1981 and ings we have in our bins run from again in October 1982. $60 to $250." While the permanent collections M. A. Hagerstrand, executive vice offer an opportunity to view works president of the Cherokee by past greats and well-established Historical Society, which contemporary Indian artists, the shows operates the Cherokee offer a chance to see works by pro- National Museum, ducing artists in various stages of encourages their careers, from the newly emerging beginning collectors to long-time professionals such as Doc to consider newer Tate Nevaquaya. artists who are just begin- The Five Civilized Tribes Museum, ing to acquire a following which also has a sales gallery, is and do well in juried known not only for its permanent col- shows. He believes that lection and annual show, but also for many of the state's less its policy of occasionally honoring an well-known artists are artist from the Five Civilized Tribes doing quality work and by designating him or her a "master." will soon be making a Living artists who have been so hon- name for themselves. ored are painters Joan Hill, Valjean Most galleries, such as Hessing, Bert Seabourn, Troy Ander- the Art Market in Tulsa, son and Enoch Kelly Haney, and sculptors Willard Stone, Jason Stone, Saint Clair Homer and Bob Bell. These masters and other successful Oklahoma Indian artists are producing works that constantly rise in value; collectors seek out works by artists such as Gary Montgomery, David will include works by promising new Williams, Robert Redbird, Benjamin artists and prints by established artists Harjo, Charles Pratt, Leonard Rey- with higher priced Winner of the Herita~eAward during the 1981 Master nolds, Bruce Wynn and others too by established artists, thus making Art Show is the bronze sculoture of "The Berry Pickers" numerous to list, and are willing to Indian art available in all price by Bob Bell, above.