Post by Moon Seeker on Jun 4, 2009 12:37:57 GMT -5
Festival celebrates Native American culture
Megan Morgan/The Daily
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The annual Red Earth festival, featuring Native American art, dance and culture is this weekend in Oklahoma City.
Dubbed “Oklahoma’s outstanding event” by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, the festival attracts talented artists from across the U.S., said Eric Oesch, director of communications for the event.
“We have an art market with over 200 artists from across the country,” Oesch said. “And it’s also juried, so the artists must be accepted first. This ensures the quality of the art.”
The dance competition will include more than 100 tribes competing, including Native Americans from all over the country, and even from other countries. Prizes will be awarded.
This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the festival. In addition to the many tribes that will be represented, there will also be an emphasis on Oklahoma Native Americans.
“We want to continue providing an outlet for Oklahoma Indian artists to sell art,” Oesch said.
He also said that the art featured at Red Earth from Oklahoma Natives is especially noteworthy.
“One thing that makes Oklahoma Native Americans so unique is the art is so diverse,” Oesch said. “It provides Red Earth with a wide variety of art to showcase.”
Every year, the festival names an “Honored One.” This honor is awarded to a Native American master artist who has contributed to, and supported art all throughout his or her life.
Jereldine Redcorn from Norman has been named this year’s “Honored One.”
“I was ecstatic, very pleased,” Redcorn said of her reaction. “It was a complete surprise.”
Redcorn’s art is a form that has not been attempted in a long time, she said.
“I’m a traditional Caddo potter, reviving it from how it was made 500 to 600 years ago,” Redcorn said.
Redcorn herself is of Caddo descent. She does a lot of research about her tribe, and about Native American pottery techniques in order to bring back this lost art.
The process is extremely labor intensive, she said.
“I want to make them just like my ancestors did and try to replicate the tools they used, and what was in their minds when they tried it,” Redcorn said.
But despite the difficulties of the process, Redcorn said she wanted to revive the style because no one else was doing it, and because she wants to inform others.
“I want to educate people that have no idea what this style of pottery is,” Redcorn said.
Caddo design is “wonderfully abstract,” Redcorn said, and it is very high quality.
Festival attendees will have the opportunity to see Redcorn’s art in addition to many others.
Red Earth kicks off on Friday at
10:30 a.m. with a parade through the streets of Oklahoma City around the Cox Convention Center.
“The parade is unique —other festivals don’t have that,” Redcorn said. “I think it creates excitement.”
Red Earth Festival
Where: Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens Oklahoma City
When: Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
Sunday: 11 a.m to 5 p.m.
Admission: Three-day Pass — $20; One-day Pass — $10
Source: Cox Convention center
www.oudaily.com/news/2009/jun/03/festival-celebrates-native-american-culture/
Megan Morgan/The Daily
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The annual Red Earth festival, featuring Native American art, dance and culture is this weekend in Oklahoma City.
Dubbed “Oklahoma’s outstanding event” by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, the festival attracts talented artists from across the U.S., said Eric Oesch, director of communications for the event.
“We have an art market with over 200 artists from across the country,” Oesch said. “And it’s also juried, so the artists must be accepted first. This ensures the quality of the art.”
The dance competition will include more than 100 tribes competing, including Native Americans from all over the country, and even from other countries. Prizes will be awarded.
This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the festival. In addition to the many tribes that will be represented, there will also be an emphasis on Oklahoma Native Americans.
“We want to continue providing an outlet for Oklahoma Indian artists to sell art,” Oesch said.
He also said that the art featured at Red Earth from Oklahoma Natives is especially noteworthy.
“One thing that makes Oklahoma Native Americans so unique is the art is so diverse,” Oesch said. “It provides Red Earth with a wide variety of art to showcase.”
Every year, the festival names an “Honored One.” This honor is awarded to a Native American master artist who has contributed to, and supported art all throughout his or her life.
Jereldine Redcorn from Norman has been named this year’s “Honored One.”
“I was ecstatic, very pleased,” Redcorn said of her reaction. “It was a complete surprise.”
Redcorn’s art is a form that has not been attempted in a long time, she said.
“I’m a traditional Caddo potter, reviving it from how it was made 500 to 600 years ago,” Redcorn said.
Redcorn herself is of Caddo descent. She does a lot of research about her tribe, and about Native American pottery techniques in order to bring back this lost art.
The process is extremely labor intensive, she said.
“I want to make them just like my ancestors did and try to replicate the tools they used, and what was in their minds when they tried it,” Redcorn said.
But despite the difficulties of the process, Redcorn said she wanted to revive the style because no one else was doing it, and because she wants to inform others.
“I want to educate people that have no idea what this style of pottery is,” Redcorn said.
Caddo design is “wonderfully abstract,” Redcorn said, and it is very high quality.
Festival attendees will have the opportunity to see Redcorn’s art in addition to many others.
Red Earth kicks off on Friday at
10:30 a.m. with a parade through the streets of Oklahoma City around the Cox Convention Center.
“The parade is unique —other festivals don’t have that,” Redcorn said. “I think it creates excitement.”
Red Earth Festival
Where: Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens Oklahoma City
When: Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
Sunday: 11 a.m to 5 p.m.
Admission: Three-day Pass — $20; One-day Pass — $10
Source: Cox Convention center
www.oudaily.com/news/2009/jun/03/festival-celebrates-native-american-culture/