TVLSE, Okla – The Tulsa Indian Club (TIC) sponsored a Native Art Market at Mother Road Market on Saturday, Feb 10. The patio at the Tulsa Market District food hall was packed with vendors and artists throughout the afternoon.
The market featured merchants of all kinds. Artwork, crafts, clothing and apparel, home goods, and beadwork were for sale or order. Powwow dancing and traditional songs were also presented throughout the day, as was a Native fashion show. TIC Chairman and Southwest Trading Company owner David Bible (Mvskoke) said, “I’m really excited about it because there’s some very talented seamstresses within our community.”
Bible said the idea was originally for a fundraiser, as the TIC is a nonprofit 501c3 organization. The idea to include a fashion show which would showcase Indigenous designers came about after thinking they should expand their ideas. He explained, “So we decided to have a Valentine’s Day art market, and then we threw a taco sale in there but then we also thought ‘what could we do next?’. So we decided to go ahead and have a fashion market so about half of our artists are Mvskoke… and so it just showcases the community.”
Since most of the designers have online storefronts, Bible thought a fashion show would give the designers an opportunity for people to see their creations in person. Bible shared, “It gives them an opportunity to showcase their clothes in a live venue so people can come see it. You know it’s kind of hard to tell from a picture what they look like, so it’s an opportunity.”
Bible’s storefront at 11th and Peoria carries most of the artists’ work shown or sold at the market. He related that while the store doesn’t carry every color, size or style, customers can contact the designers and artists for custom work.
The timing of the event was perfect for Valentine’s Day but the TIC has lots of upcoming events this year. “It hasn’t been announced, but we’ll probably have a dance to benefit dance… And it funds the July powwow, which will be our 71st annual here at the Cox Convention Center. We have an upcoming Memorial Day 5k 10k run. We usually have about 300 runners there at Mohawk Park Memorial weekend.”
Bible shared Mother Road Market has been a generous collaborator, helping the TIC promote the Native American community in Tulsa. “We did one at Christmas, it went really well. They were excited about doing something for Valentine’s Day. So I think we’ll do it three or four times a year,” he said.
While the market does draw a crowd, Bible shared it’s more than shopping and eating. He said, “Every time we have an event, people are wanting to come together, gather together, have fun, laugh, and share stories and see their friends and relatives. It’s nice it’s just not about raising funds, making money, it’s mostly just kind of gathering together, sharing some food, and having a good time.”
For a full list of the designers featured during the fashion show, see below
Jaylee Lowe (Seminole/Mvskoke)
Jamie Creek-Bennet (Mvskoke)
Artists Collective
Brooklyn Fields (Mvskoke/Pawnee/Crow/Chickasaw)
Marly Fixico (Seminole/Navajo/Laguna Pueblo)
Erica Zunigha (Lenape)
TAFV Hat Company & Tomahawk Customs
Casey Riggs (Cherokee/Mvskoke)
Jennifer McAffrey Thiessen (Cherokee)
