Introducing our documentary in my studio
http://www.mgmoa.org Call the museum to RSVP if you would like to attend. 405-878-5300
We travel all over the state of Oklahoma interviewing people and visiting places that show the intersection between art, ecological sustainability and cultural preservation. Be inspired as we emphasize mentoring and creativity as solutions for ecological preservation. To see a 'teaser' for the documentary:
Here I am working on trees from Oklahoma for the exhibition at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art that I am curating of my work and the artists we interview across the state of Oklahoma. The piece on the floor behind me, which is in progress, is of a cypress swamp in oil over egg tempera. YES.....there are cypress swamps in south east Oklahoma as you will see in our documentary. Tahlequah Sycamore above it, is going to the permanent collection of the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art.
Take a unique journey with the producers of the Creative-Native Project around our state of Oklahoma:
Travel to three diverse Nature Conservancy preserves in Oklahoma.
In the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, director Bob Hamilton talks with Fran, we hike a trail and see buffalo that are integral to the preservation of the tallgrass. See how a controlled burn inspires Fran Hardy’s ‘TreeBeard lives in the Tallgrass Prairie’.
Have an inside look at remote Four Canyons Preserve and talk with preserve director, Chris Hise and see how his and his friend Kevan’s passion for this unique environment created the preserve.
See a remnant of the once vast and virtually impenetrable crosstimbers forest at the Keystone Ancient Forest.
Learn more about the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art and their innovative educational programs that relate art to the environment and cultural history as well as the fascinating story of Father Gerrer who built the impressive permanent collection of the museum. http://www.mgmoa.org
See an inspirational interview with Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen about the community of St. Gregory’s Abbey and the monks who are doing sustainable projects that contribute to the museum, their community and the environment. http://www.monksok.org
Kim Baker, Oklahoma conservation photographer is one of the artists interviewed, as well as a visit to her Illinois River Survey events May 2011. Be impressed with the work that Kim is doing with her photography to bring attention to the beauty of Oklahoma and the need to preserve it’s rivers. http://www.oklahomaphotography.com
In Oklahoma City, founder of ‘Closer to Earth Youth Gardens’, Allen Parleir, tells the moving story of how a garden project has saved and united a community.
Go to the Wichita Mountains with artists Katherine Liontis-Warren and Jack Bryan to see how they have documented these ancient mountains with her beautiful detailed drawings and his expressive drawings and paintings. It is fascinating to see how they have interpreted this magnificent place in such different ways.
Visit Tulsa artist Grace Grothaus, recipient of OVAC’s Art 365 grant in her studio. See Grace at work on her synthetic landscapes, inspired by aerial views of Oklahoma and the effect industry has played on the landscape of Oklahoma. Art 365 has taken Tulsa artist Grace Grothaus high into the sky and around the entire state of Oklahoma in preparation for her body of work titled, ‘OK Landscape: From cornfields or oilfields’. See her innovative approach with work that uses light, layering and interactive arduino micro controllers.
Visit the Choctaw ponies on James Stephen’s Fossil River and Chahta Isuba Ranches.
See how Bryant Rickman’s dedication to saving the ponies inspired Jim to create a more sustainable environment on his ranches because of and for the ponies. Francine Locke Bray, archivist and research consultant on the Choctaw Ponies talks about their collaboration.
Henry Moy, Director of the Museum of the Red River shows us the museum’s Caddo pottery collection that inspired Caddo potter Jeri Redcorn to reclaim her history by reviving the tradition of her ancestors. In Jeri’s studio we talk with her about how she was inspired to teach herself since there were no longer active potters in the Caddo tribe. She now mentors and teaches other Caddo the ceramic art of their ancestors. Her work was chosen by Michelle Obama for display in the White House Oval Office.
Talk with Quintus Herron, co-founder with his wife, Mary, of the Museum of the Red River as an outgrowth of their passion for collecting the work of Oklahoma native artists bringing an exceptional museum to rural Idabel Oklahoma.
David Weaver, preserve director of the Little River National Wildlife Refuge takes the filmmakers to a hidden cypress swamp where they brave voracious mosquitos and don hip waders to see a champion cypress tree.
Dr Ian Thompson Choctaw archaeologist, anthropologist, artist takes us to the Choctaw Nation and shows us all the programs to preserve their environment and artistic heritage and language as well as a pit firing of Choctaw pottery and the gathering of endangered mussels for the traditional body of their clay. We also talk to Sue Folsom about other Choctaw traditions and see her beautiful beadwork. Tribal elder Israel Adams tells us about his work to preserve the Choctaw language. http://www.choctawnation.com/
