TISHOMINGO, Okla. — The Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival was alive with a flurry of color and culture as the annual Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) attracted thousands of art patrons and families.
More than 130 First American artists from across the United States showcased an array of colorful original art on the Chickasaw Nation Historic Capitol Building grounds.
Artists representing different tribes earned top awards at the annual Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM).
Adult Art Show
Chickasaw artist Abby Gaines’ painting, titled “Ihoo Feshi' Hishi' Foyyokka,” (The Woman That Wears Feathers) was awarded Best of 2D by Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) judges. The 18-by-24-inch acrylic gouache painting depicts a Chickasaw bird-clan woman with traditional tattoos wearing a feather cape and glass bead jewelry.
“I’ve only done a few paintings in the past, so this was really out of my comfort zone. But I really wanted to push myself to do something with more color and more texture,” Gaines said.
“Woven Together,” a pottery piece created by Chickasaw artist Ben White, was named Best in 3D. The pottery vase, purposely broken into many separate pieces, is woven back together with straw and pine needles.
“Usually when we find pottery, especially old pottery, it’s always broken. So, you’re looking at a piece that’s been glued back together by somebody to present it,” White said. “I was always fascinated with that, and I find old pictures of old pottery and try to recreate what I think it used to look like. But this is kind of an ode to that thought,” White said.
Best of Culture was awarded to Caddo artist Chase Kahwinhut Earles for “The Second One Out,” a pottery piece depicting a traditional Caddo story Earles said he believes dates back 1,000 years.
“The original story is about us coming up out of the ground and being led by Mr. Moon,” Earles said, reflecting on an ancient Caddo origin story. “This is the story of the second one out, Tonin. He was small, big head, he knew about the future and the past.”
According to Earles, Tonin told the Caddo that people would come to their land to eradicate the bison.
“It’s a story about being prepared and adapting for the future so that we can remain a people all the way to this day, even from ancient times,” Earles said.
Chickasaw artist Jimmy Dean Horn’s print, titled “Progress,” was awarded Best of Show by Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) judges. The 4 feet by 5 feet print on medium-density fiberboard was made using a block-printing technique, an artistic method Horn is well known for.
In the fashion industry, block printing is a technique in which illustrations are carved into wood or linoleum blocks and then used to stamp patterns onto fabric. Block printing is a time-honored design method used for centuries in various cultures.
“Progress” depicts a dramatic scene of wolves and vultures converging on a fallen bison, while the broader landscape behind them reveals additional bison carcasses scattered across the plains, a mounted horseman carrying a rifle and a freshly placed railroad cutting through the horizon.
“It’s open to interpretation,” Horn said, referring to the meaning behind the print. “I wanted to bring this piece, because it’s like the biggest challenge I’ve done for myself so far. It took about 400 hours over the course of three years.”
Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) Youth Show
The Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) Youth Show is open to youth ages 8 to 17 and broken into two different age categories. Youth ages 8 to 13 fall into the junior category where youth ages 14 to 17 fall into the youth category.
For the junior category, Emery Crawford won best of show with “Finger-Woven Sash.” Jaelynn Furr took home Best of Culture with “Faith.” Best of 3D went to Mahlia White Buffalo with “My Memory Tree — A Journey to Remember.” Colton Cope won Best of 2D with “Feathers.”
For the youth category, Elizabeth Earles placed Best of Show with “Caddo Skates Effigy.” Hannah Wolfe won Best of Culture with “Fala' Ishto” as well as Best of 2D with “Portrait in Charcoal.” Trevor Linton took home Best of 3D with “The Saurophagnax.”
Learn More
The Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) and SEASAM Youth events are an opportunity for tribal artists and others to celebrate Southeastern and Woodland arts.
As a juried art competition, awards are available for winners among various categories for both adults and youth. The Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) is open to adult and youth artists of federally recognized Southeastern and Woodland tribes.