Saralyn Chee
In the first episode of Red Earth Conversations, Executive Director Chelsey Curry sits down with emerging artist Saralyn Chee to talk about her artistic journey, the inspiration behind her work, and what it means to participate in the 40th Annual Red Earth Festival.
The conversation gives listeners an opportunity to get to know one of this year's Emerging Artist Award recipients before meeting her at the festival.
About Saralyn
Saralyn Chee is a fifth-generation Navajo silversmith based in Northern Oklahoma. Working entirely by hand, she uses traditional silversmithing techniques passed down through her family. Her jewelry emphasizes balance, protection, water, and connection to the natural world, blending ancestral knowledge with contemporary expression.
Geogria Harjo
In the second episode of Red Earth Conversations, Executive Director Chelsey Curry sits down with emerging artist Georgia Harjo. She is more than an artist. She is a cultural ambassador, educator, dancer, and advocate who is passionate about sharing Native culture with the next generation. In this conversation, we talk about her artwork, her experiences representing Indigenous communities, her nonprofit work, and what being named a Red Earth Emerging Artist means to her.
The conversation gives listeners an opportunity to get to know one of this year's Emerging Artist Award recipients before meeting her at the festival.
About Georgia
Georgia Adeline Harjo’s connection to Red Earth spans many years, beginning in the Youth Art Show where she earned numerous awards across multiple categories. In 2025, she was named Best in Show at the Red Earth Youth Art Show and served as Head Girl Dancer at FallFest, Red Earth’s youth powwow. Georgia was also crowned Miss Indian Oklahoma 2024–2025, a role in which she represented Native youth, culture, and community across the state. Her artistic practice includes traditional regalia, beadwork, sewn cultural items, and two- and three-dimensional media that reflect identity, culture, and continuity.
Kate Wiley
In the third episode of Red Earth Conversations, Executive Director Chelsey Curry sits down with Kate Wiley, a Chickasaw artist and former Red Earth Emerging Artist. Kate shares how growing up in an artistic family inspired her creative path and what influences her artwork. She also discusses what life as a professional artist is really like, and how her Chickasaw heritage continues to shape her work.
From winning Red Earth's Emerging Artist recognition to building her own creative brand, Kate offers an honest look at her journey and shares encouragement for the next generation of Native artists.
About Kate
Kate Wiley is a Chickasaw artist whose vibrant paintings celebrate movement, storytelling, and her cultural heritage. Inspired by dance, photography, and the natural world, Kate creates bold contemporary works that capture the energy and spirit of Indigenous traditions. A self-taught artist and 2023 Red Earth Emerging Artist Award recipient, she continues to share her work through Taloa Oka Studio while inspiring the next generation of Native artists.
About Brent
Brent Greenwood is an award-winning Chickasaw and Ponca artist known for creating powerful contemporary works inspired by Native history, culture, identity, and storytelling. His richly layered paintings combine traditional imagery with expressive color, texture, and modern artistic techniques.
Throughout his career, Brent has exhibited his artwork across the country and has earned recognition for his contributions to Native art. In 2024, Red Earth named him its Honored One in recognition of his artistic accomplishments, cultural impact, and continued dedication to the Native art community.
Brent Greenwood
In this special two-part episode of Red Earth Conversations, Executive Director Chelsey Curry sits down with acclaimed Chickasaw and Ponca artist Brent Greenwood. Brent reflects on the experiences, people, and cultural influences that shaped his creative journey and helped him develop his distinctive artistic voice.
He also discusses the realities of building a career as a professional artist, the importance of continuing to grow creatively, and what it meant to be recognized as Red Earth’s 2024 Honored One.
Listen to Part One
Brent shares the beginnings of his artistic journey, the influences that guided his work, and the experiences that helped shape him as an artist.
Listen to Part Two
The conversation continues as Brent discusses his career, artistic growth, Red Earth experiences, and the lasting importance of Native artists sharing their own stories.
Gregg Standridge
In the fifth episode of Red Earth Conversations, Executive Director Chelsey Curry sits down with Gregg Standridge for an in-depth conversation about his unique artistic process and creative journey. Gregg specializes in wood marquetry, an intricate art form that uses carefully cut pieces of wood veneer to create detailed images.
The conversation also explores Gregg's background in music, how creativity has influenced every stage of his life, and the experiences that have shaped his career as an artist.
About Gregg
Gregg uses the influences of such masters as Van Gogh, Escher and Matisse for the visual designs and converts his images into Wood Marquetry Inlay Art. As far back as he can remember he has always been surrounded by music, art and wood. In his father’s shop he sorted, sanded and swept wood. Gregg learned to identify, cut, shape, finish and appreciate glorious wood. He feels that he is releasing gifts that have been almost overlooked, hidden, only to be revealed in my Wood Marquetry Inlay Art.
Jane Semple Umsted
In the sixth episode of Red Earth Conversations, Executive Director Chelsey Curry sits down with Jane Semple Umsted, the 2026 Red Earth Honored Artist.
For decades, Jane has created artwork that reflects her Choctaw heritage, deep connection to family, and passion for preserving Native culture through art. In this conversation, she shares the experiences that shaped her artistic journey, the inspiration behind her work, and what it means to be recognized as Red Earth's 2026 Honored Artist.
About Jane
Jane is a nationally respected artist and a 1969 Fine Arts graduate of the University of Oklahoma whose career spans more than five decades. She also earned a master’s in education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1989. Working across sculpture, painting, batik, and large-scale public art, Umsted is known for her extensive research, historical accuracy, and commitment to telling Choctaw stories through art. Her work appears in public spaces, museums, and private collections throughout Oklahoma and beyond.