Artesian Arts Festival Set May 26 in Sulphur

Sulphur, Oklahoma – More than 100 prominent artists representing Native American tribes throughout the United States will be featured during the Artesian Arts Festival, Saturday, May 26.

Hosted by the Chickasaw Nation at the Artesian Plaza, activities begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 6 p.m.

The Artesian Arts Festival has continued to expand each year since its 2014 inaugural year, to become one of the fastest growing Native American art markets in the United States.

A celebration of all types of art, with an emphasis on Native American art and artists, the Artesian Arts Festival features diverse art media and a variety of visual art including paintings, basketry, jewelry, sculpture, metalworking, bead work, textiles and pottery.

Open to artists from all federally recognized tribes, 110 Native artists selected for the juried show will compete in as many as 21 categories.

Artists scheduled to participate include: Chickasaw potter and New Mexico resident Marcella Yepa; Muscogee (Creek) Master Artists of the Five Civilized Tribes Museum Sandy Fife-Wilson and Jimmie Fife-Stewart; Caddo artists Chad, Chase and Wayne Earles; 87-year-old Comanche artist Rita Heath; award-winning Cherokee artist Dino Kingfisher, and many more.

The artists will be display their art work in dozens of booths along the length of Muskogee Street in downtown Sulphur.

Artesian Arts Festival Artists Talks will begin at 10 a.m. with a live paint by distinguished Chickasaw artist Mike Larsen in the ARTesian Art Gallery, 100 W. Muskogee St.

Other artists giving demonstrations and discussing their craft include: Mary Ruth Barnes, Deana Ward, Raven Halfmoon, Elihu Johnson, Tim Nevaquaya, Rena Smith, Tahnee Ahtoneharjo-Growingthunder, Ron Mitchell and Margaret Wheeler.

A variety of musical entertainment is planned, as well as tribal dance demonstrations and regalia.

Bands will provide continuous entertainment on two stages.

The musical line-up includes children's music, rock, pop, jazz, country and more.

Performances by "Injunuity," "Boyd Street Brass," "Sugar Free Allstars," "John Bomboy," "Tequila Azul," "Spix 5," "Overdrive," "Conflict of Interest," "Bluez Boys," and "Justin Logan," are scheduled.

Native American Dance troupes including the Chickasaw Nation Dance troupe, Aztec Dancers, Magic Circle Entertainment, Oklahoma Fancy Dancers and Pueblo Enchantment Dancers are scheduled to demonstrate Native dances on both stages and other areas of the festival throughout the day.

Several food vendors will be serving festival fare such as barbecue, fried catfish, Indian Tacos, nachos, roasted corn, kettle corn, burgers, and more.

Sweet treats including funnel cakes, fried Oreos, pie, ice cream, watermelon and fried peaches will also be available.

An area for children's activities and a senior citizens' arts and crafts booth are also planned for the day.

Open to the public at no charge, the Artesian Arts Festival welcomed more than 8,000 to last year's festival.

Cash awards will be presented to each artist for first, second and third place in each category, as well as "Best of Show."

The Artesian Arts Festival takes place at the Artesian Plaza, located adjacent to the Artesian Hotel and Spa, 1001 W. First Street, Sulphur.

For more information, please contact Chickasaw Nation Arts & Humanities at (580) 272-5525 or email artistinfo@chickasaw.net

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Artesian Arts Festival Artists 2018

Absentee Shawnee/Seminole

Ben Harjo, Jr.

Caddo

Wayne Earles

Chase Earles

Chad Earles

Raven Halfmoon

Yonavea Hawkins

Cherokee

Eva Cantrell

David L. Chaudoin

Toneh Chuleewah

Dan Corley

Vivian Cottrell

J. Ross Davis

Gary Farris

Matthew Girty

Steve Holland

Troy Jackson

Ambrie Johnson

Dino Kingfisher

Talon Kingfisher

John Knotts

Tonya Lowrance

Ron Mitchell

Tommy Mitchell

Traci Rabbit

David Scott

Elizabeth Scott

Greg Stice

Jerry Sutton

Jack Test, Sr.

Mary Beth Nelson-Timothy

Karin Walkingstick

Tana Washington

Jeffrey Watt

Bryan Waytula

Cherokee/Otoe Missouria

Tom Farris

Cheyenne

Merlin LittleThunder

Chickasaw

Steve Adamietz

Mary Ruth Barnes

Melvin Burris

Beverly Callahan

David J. Correll

Tracie Davis

David Dowdy

Linda Edgar

L. Wayne Edgar

Wayne Edgar

Sue Fish

Peggy Immohotichey

Elihu Johnson

Brian Landreth

Kathryn Langley

Paula Loftin

Phillip Lowrance

Kelley Lunsford

Dustin Mater

Paul Moore

Doneeta Nowlin

Heather Richardson

Tyra Shackleford

Rena Smith

Kaitlyn Tingle

Ben Trosper

Jim Trosper

Taloa Underwood

Margaret Wheeler

Ben White

Daniel Worcester

Marcella Yepa

Chickasaw/Choctaw

Norma Howard

Chickasaw/ Creek/ Seminole

Prairie Mitchelle

Choctaw

Diana Cannon

Bronson Henderson

Lauretta F. Newby-Coker

Lauren Reed

Candace Shanholtzer

Samuel Stitt

Deana Ward

Comanche

Joyce Nevaquaya - Harris

J. Nicole Hatfield

Rita Heath

Comanche / Chickasaw

Tim Nevaquaya

Creek

Jon Tiger

Creek/Euchee

Les Berryhill

Ingalik-Athabascan

Glenda McKay

Jicarilla Apache

Damon Neal

Kiowa / Otoe Missouria

Lester Harragarra

Kiowa / Creek/ Seminole

Tahnee Ahtoneharjo-Growningthunder

Laguna Pueblo

LuAnne Aragon

Muscogee (Creek)

Leslie Deer

Johnnie Diacon

Mary Howard

John Timothy II

Jimmie Fife (Stewart)

Sandy Fife-Wilson

Navajo

Abraham Begay

Lester Ortiz

Herbert Thompson

Navajo/Dine

Jimmie Harrison

Northern Arapaho

Jackie Sevier

Otoe-Missouria

Mewayseh Greenwood

Regina Waters

Rhonda Williams

Ponca

Sid Armstrong

Prairie Band Potawatomi/Chickasaw

Mitch Battese

Sac and Fox

Tony Tiger

San Felipe Pueblo

Jennifer Garcia

Ray Garcia

Seminole

Cody Harjo

Sheila Little Harjo

Cynthia Yerby