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On the Town: First Americans Museum welcomes stunning sculpture

COMMENTARY

By: Lillie-Beth Brinkman//The Journal Record//September 22, 2022//

On the Town: First Americans Museum welcomes stunning sculpture

COMMENTARY

By: Lillie-Beth Brinkman//The Journal Record//September 22, 2022//

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Lillie-Beth Brinkman

As the First Americans Museum continues to celebrate its first anniversary since it opened in downtown Oklahoma City, a group of dignitaries gathered Thursday morning to dedicate a new public art installation in FAM’s front courtyard.

The beautiful morning ceremony celebrated the four-piece “Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water” sculpture by Cherokee Nation members Bill Glass Jr. and his son Demos Glass. Arranged in a circle around the outdoor courtyard, each piece represents one of the four elements. The colorful pieces are ceramic, protected from the weather with a clear panel and surrounded by a sturdy steel case. On the back of each are the name of the element written in Cherokee and a representation of it that illuminates at night.

Glass told the gathering that notable Native American sculptor Allan Houser, a member of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe in Oklahoma, encouraged him as a student to think about scaling his work to bigger public projects. When Glass’ son Demos became an artist and focused on metal, scaling became possible and their collaboration was born.

“This is humbling,” Bill Glass Jr. said. “We’re just artists. This is what we do. We live this. I never dreamed it could be this good.”

Shoshana Wasserman, FAM’s deputy director, introduced dignitaries, including the Glass family, the First Americans Board, Cherokee Nation citizens, representatives of the Oklahoma Arts Council and the city of Oklahoma City, including former Mayor Mick Cornett, and others.

“We gather to dedicate this artwork which reminds all of us of our special connection to life-sustaining elements, earth, fire, wind, and water,” Wasserman said.

Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief Bryan Warner offered a blessing and discussed the artwork’s symbolism.

“Earth” piece features a rattlesnake as a symbol with corn, beans and squash rooted and growing. “Fire” features a sacred fire, Grandmother Water Spider and ceremonial stomp dances; “Wind” depicts a design reminiscent of a whirlwind or whirlpool; “Water” depicts water, swimming aquatic creatures and a rainstorm.

Also speaking were Jarica Walsh, director of visual and public art for the Oklahoma Arts Council, and state Sen. Sen. Blake Stephens, R-Tahlequah, who read a proclamation honoring the Glasses.

The artwork is a project of the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Art in Public Places program in cooperation with the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority.

This weekend

Actor and musician John Stamos will join the Beach Boys for Saturday’s concert at the Civic Center Music Hall benefiting the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Food for Kids Programs. Surf rock icon Dean Torrence of “Jan and Dean” will guest-star.

Through Sept. 30, all donations to the Food for Kids program will be matched by the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma, Mark and Beth Brewer, David Gorham, Energy Transfer, David and Lezlie Hudiburg, Dolese Bros and Marathon Oil. Visit foodforkids.us to donate or text “Kids” to 501-501 to make an automatic $10 donation. Buy tickets to the concert at okcciviccenter.com.

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