Red Earth Celebrates the Holidays with TreeFest
Check out The Oklahoman article to learn more
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – The Red Earth Art Center celebrates the Christmas season with a Native twist when the 9th annual TreeFest opens free to the public in the new BancFirst Tower in downtown Oklahoma City. Treefest is open weekdays through December 29, 2023.
Red Earth Treefest features Native Tribes from throughout Oklahoma invited to participate in the annual holiday event by creating handmade ornaments and art objects made to highlight their distinctive tribal cultures. The exhibition highlights the diverse Native cultures that make Oklahoma unique.
PHOTO CREDIT BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN
Oklahoma Native Tribes and Tribal Groups participating in the 2023 TreeFest include the Caddo, Cherokee, Cheyenne & Arapaho, Citizen Potawatomi, Comanche, Kaw, Kiowa, Muscogee (Creek), Osage, Ponca and Wichita and Affiliated Tribes.Each tribal organization has been hard at work creating their handmade ornaments with information explaining how each ornament tells their cultural story.
PHOTO CREDIT BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN
The event featured heavy hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer, and a specialty cocktail. Guests browsed and bid on the diverse selection of items donated by local artists, businesses, and supporters. The live auction showcased high-end artwork, unique experiences, and other valuable items, with proceeds benefiting Red Earth.
PHOTO CREDIT BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN
TreeFest will feature three additional trees this year. The "Women’s Tree" decorated by Oklahoma City artist Susan Howard, Muscogee Creek. The Women's Tree focuses on the role of women in their tribal culture. Handmade dolls are also incorporated into the display. Each is unique and has a story to tell. The Red Earth Docent Tree is adorned with hundreds of handmade ornaments including beaded corn, dreamcatchers, mini tipis, drums and parfleche bags. A variety of handmade ornaments are available for sale in the Red Earth Sales Gallery and online at the Red Earth website, www.redearth.org. A new addition this year is a tree dedicated to the creative talents of the students from Norman Public Schools Indian Education. This unique tree showcases ornaments handcrafted by these young artists. Through their imaginative works, the tree highlights the evolving artistry of Native American youth.
PHOTO CREDIT BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN
Handcrafted ornaments on the Christmas trees are as diverse as the tribes of Oklahoma. Birch bark canoes adorn the Citizen Potawatomi purple clad tree synonymous with their Great Lakes culture; while intricately painted ponies are featured on the Comanche tree to celebrate their legacy as the “Lords of the Plains.”
PHOTO CREDIT BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN
Thirty-nine Native tribes are headquartered in Oklahoma, giving the state more tribal headquarters than any other. Nearly every tribe Oklahoma tribe has homelands in other parts of the country – from the Pacific Northwest to the Florida Everglades – creating a diverse tribal palette unique to Oklahoma.
PHOTO CREDIT BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN
Red Earth Treefest is presented free to the public 10 am to 5 pm weekdays. The Red Earth Art Center is located at 100 North Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City. Visit www.RedEarth.org or call (405) 427-5228 for additional information.
PHOTO CREDIT BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN
Red Earth, Inc. is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote the rich traditions of
American Indian arts and cultures through education, a premier festival, a museum and fine art markets. This project was supported in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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The Oklahoma Arts Council is the official state agency for the support and development of the arts. The agency’s mission is to lead in the advancement of Oklahoma’s thriving arts industry. The Oklahoma Arts Council provides hundreds of grants to organizations in communities statewide each year, organizes professional development opportunities for the state’s arts and cultural sector, and manages the art collections at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Additional information is available at arts.ok.gov.