By Morgan Taylor, Reporter
MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma – The Five Civilized Tribes Museum held its 47th Annual Master Artist Show through the month of Nov. The show included 46 master artists from each of the Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole tribes.
Out of 46 master artists who participated in the show, two Muscogee (Creek) citizens took home awards. Jon Mark Tiger of Eufaula and Sandy Wilson of Morris were both awarded the Spirit of Oklahoma Awards.
According to Five Civilized Tribes Executive Director Sean Barney, master artist is a special category of artists that are considered established in their career.
“The Masters show started in 1973,” Barney said. “There was a group that would always win at competitive shows so they came up with the idea to start a Masters Artist Program and the only way the could compete was with other master artist.”
Master artist are only allowed to compete in this show at the museum and according to Barney the criteria to qualify is outrageous.
“Jon Mark Tiger has been a master artist since 2012,” Barney said. “Sandy Wilson is our newest master artist. She became a master artist in 2017.”
Artist talent varies from painting, carving, textiles, sculpting and even weaving.
“Sandy does a lot of finger weaving, she also does a lot of shell carving,” Barney said. “She had two shell piece in and two finger weavings in the show.”
Wilson’s piece that won the award was a shell carving called “Cetto Mekko – Rattlesnake”.
“Everything Jon Tiger had in the show is three dimensional art,” Barney said. “The piece that won was an acrylic.”
Tiger’s acrylic painting that won the award is called “Moondance”.
Barney explained that winners are chosen based on their pieces and how they relate to the mission of the Five Civilized Tribes Museum.
“Either culturally or historically and how it relates to our mission statement,” Barney said.
According to the website of The Five Civilized Tribes Museum their missions states that they shall preserve the history, culture, and traditions of the Five Civilized Tribes…through the acquisition and preservation of works of art, artifacts, documents, books, correspondence, and other materials pertaining to the Five Civilized Tribes, and to promote interest, knowledge, and appreciation of tribal heritage through exhibits, tours, programs, writings, and other media to all people.
The Masters Artist Show ended on Nov 30.
For more information about the Five Civilized Tribes Museum visit the website at www.fivetribes.org
