THACKERVILLE – A husband and wife jewelry making team from the New Mexico Pueblo of Zuni tribe were awarded “Best of Show” by judges at the Chickasaw Nation’s Hushtola’ Art Market.
More than 100 artists contributed works to the show, conducted at WinStar World Casino and Resort Dec. 9-10.
Raylan and Patty Edaakie took Best of Show and also finished first in the 3-D competition with jewelry pieces reflecting their Southwestern tribal roots.
Many Chickasaw artists finished in top places in categories, including Norman-based artist Billy Hensley for a mixed-media painting and Chickasaw artist Jimmy Dean Horn. Horn, from California, finished in third place in mixed media.
“The selection of artists was great, and there was a wide variety of fantastic artworks available to art patrons,” Hensley said. “The show is new and has the potential to be a wonderful holiday shopping experience. I know I purchased a number of wonderful things from other artists from beadwork to pottery as gifts this year.
“The piece I won with is called ‘Finding My Way to the Past,’ mixed media acrylic painting embellished with handstitched glass beadwork and gar scales,” he added.
Hensley has expanded his offerings to include alligator gar scales on paintings, jewelry and leather works.
Both Hensley and Horn have displayed their talents in art galleries located in the United Kingdom and Portugal, respectively.
Chickasaw artist Brian Landreth said he enjoyed Hushtola’ Art Market and praised the show’s management.
“The culture and humanities department did a wonderful job with the market, and the location was beautiful. The department did a great job providing direction to the market in WinStar. I sold a few small works and prints, and got to network with my fellow artists, which is something I always enjoy. WinStar staff were also excellent in providing support to the artists,” Landreth said.
The art show also saw Landreth become acquainted with a relative. “A cousin’s wife saw (an article) in the Chickasaw Times and wanted to connect with me about our family and its history. I’ll be sending her some photos I have of our elders for her husband and family to have access to,” he said.
Tribes from vastly different locales graced the show. Two Southwestern tribes – Pueblo of Zuni and San Felipe Pueblo – joined the juried art show, as did Caddo, Navajo and Coushatta Nation of Louisiana tribal artists.
Chickasaw artists were awarded first place in 10 judged categories. They include Jennifer Hicks, pottery; Mary Wilds, handwoven textiles; Melissa Freeman for general textiles and traditional dress and regalia; Glenda Dewbre, miniatures; Michael Cornelius, instruments; Marcella Yepa, traditional pottery; Jim Keel, cultural diversity; Regina Free, drawing and sculpture; and Hensley, mixed media.
