LATE OPENING - MARATHON

LATE OPENING: The Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library will open at 2:30pm on Sunday, April 27, due to the Memorial Marathon.

Attention:

The Ralph Ellison Library at 2000 NE 23rd St is closed for upgrades beginning April 16. We anticipate reopening on May 6.

Native American Heritage

Join us during Native American Heritage Month to honor the history and culture of indigenous people in our community!

The library is proud to host a variety of events and cultural experiences this month in honor of Native American Heritage.

 

Native American Art

Watercolor on paper. Signed l.r.: H. Begay, Stamped u.r.: PLANCHE 64

Visit Metro Library's Native American online art collection featuring art from the Kiowa 6.

Between the years 1929 and 1952 French publisher C. Szwedzicki produced six portfolios containing works of North American Indian art. Edited by American scholars Oscar Jacobson, Hartley Alexander and Kenneth Chapman, each of these portfolios represents original works by 20th Century American Indian artists. Notably, one collection entitled, Les peintres indiens d'Amérique, contains paintings from the legendary Kiowa 6, a group of artists from Oklahoma who earned both national and international acclaim during the early twentieth century.

Born in Indian Territory at the outset of the 20th century, Stephen Mopope (1898–1974), Jack Hokeah (c. 1900/2–1969), Monroe Tsatoke (1904–1937), James Auchiah (1906–1974), Spencer Asah (1905/10–1954) and Lois Smoky (1907-1981) each displayed artistic promise and had been encouraged to paint by relatives, school teachers and Indian Services personnel. In 1926, the head of the University of Oklahoma art department, Oscar Jacobson, took notice and began creating a unique program for Kiowa artists. Through Jacobson’s influence, from 1928 to 1932, the Kiowa 6 exhibited their paintings at the First International Art Exposition in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and at the 1932 Venice Biennal. These exhibitions, along with a portfolio of the artists’ work titled Kiowa Indian Art, brought the group critical acclaim in America and Europe.

Many of the images were published as pochoir prints which are similar in appearance to silk screen prints. Stylistically, the works feature outlined fields of flat color with little or no indication of perspective. Such a linear, decorative style was derived in part from Plains ledger drawings and hide paintings with subject matter consisting of auto-ethnographic representations of everyday, traditional Kiowa life.

The contents of this collection are drawn from holdings of the Metropolitan Library’s Special Collections department.

 

Want to learn more?

We offer a variety of online resources to explore topics like Native American History and genealogy. Check out some of these resources to begin your research.

 

Events

This event is in the "Kids" group.
This event is in the "Teens" group.

American Girl Book Club

4:30pm - 5:30pm
Kids, Teens
Bethany Library
Library Branch: Bethany Library
Room: Children's Area (Bethany)
Age Group: Kids, Teens
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Book Clubs, Books & Reading, Cultural Experiences, DIY & Hobbies
Event Description:

                                                     ♥  Be a part of history!  ♥

Disclaimer(s)

The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.

This event is in the "Adults" group.

Red Earth Regalia

6:30pm - 8:00pm
Adults
Edmond Library
Library Branch: Edmond Library
Room: Meeting Room AB (Edmond)
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Cultural Experiences
Event Description:

This interactive program, led by Native presenters, offers an immersive exploration of the cultural significance behind Native regalia.

This event is in the "All Ages" group.

Understanding Native American Regalia

1:00pm - 3:00pm
All Ages
Ralph Ellison Library
Library Branch: Ralph Ellison Library
Room: Meeting Room B (Ralph Ellison)
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Cultural Experiences, Live Performances & Entertainment
Event Description:

This is an educational and culturally immersive experience designed to give guests of all ages a firsthand look at the significance and beauty of Native American regalia.

Disclaimer(s)

The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.

This event is in the "Teens" group.
This event is in the "Adults" group.

License Plate Design Take Home Kit

All Day 6/16 - 6/18
Teens, Adults
Ralph Ellison Library
Library Branch: Ralph Ellison Library
Room: Online + Curbside (Ralph Ellison)
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Cultural Experiences, Take-Home Kit
Event Description:

Inspired by the powerful text-based works of Oklahoma-based artist, Edgar Heap of Birds, and his exhibit HONOR SONG at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, this activity transforms a blank license plate into a meaningful art piece.

This event is in the "Teens" group.
This event is in the "Adults" group.

License Plate Design Take Home Kit

All Day 6/20 - 6/22
Teens, Adults
Ralph Ellison Library
Library Branch: Ralph Ellison Library
Room: Online + Curbside (Ralph Ellison)
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Cultural Experiences, Take-Home Kit
Event Description:

Inspired by the powerful text-based works of Oklahoma-based artist, Edgar Heap of Birds, and his exhibit HONOR SONG at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, this activity transforms a blank license plate into a meaningful art piece.

This event is in the "Kids" group.

Honor Song: Torn Collage Take Home Kit

All Day 7/5 - 7/31
Kids
Nicoma Park Library
Library Branch: Nicoma Park Library
Room: Passive Program (Nicoma Park)
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Cultural Experiences, Museums at MLS, Take-Home Kit
Event Description:

Create a torn paper collage inspired by artist Edgar Heap of Birds' Neuf painting series. Rip colorful paper into jagged pieces to create shapes like mountain peaks, rocky canyons, and tree leaves.

Disclaimer(s)

We can only guarantee one kit per household and per registration (if required).

This event is in the "Teens" group.
This event is in the "Adults" group.

Lost History, Arts Edition: Rediscovering Tales of Oklahoma's Past

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Teens, Adults
Bethany Library
Library Branch: Bethany Library
Room: Onsite (Bethany)
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Community & Civics, Cultural Experiences
Event Description:

Rediscover tales of Oklahoma's past (and present!) in this exciting discussion series led by local Oklahoma historians and artists.  Each week, we will rediscover a new aspect of Oklahoma history you probably didn't cover in your Oklahoma His

This event is in the "Teens" group.
This event is in the "Adults" group.

Lost History, Arts Edition: Rediscovering Tales of Oklahoma's Past

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Teens, Adults
Bethany Library
Library Branch: Bethany Library
Room: Onsite (Bethany)
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Community & Civics, Cultural Experiences
Event Description:

Rediscover tales of Oklahoma's past (and present!) in this exciting discussion series led by local Oklahoma historians and artists.  Each week, we will rediscover a new aspect of Oklahoma history you probably didn't cover in your Oklahoma His

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