Exhibit C Gallery in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown District is more than a gallery and exhibit space. The 4,000-square-foot gallery houses works of art from First American artists in a variety of mediums. Exhibit C’s staff assists collectors in curating collections and offers brokerage services.
Opened in 2014, the gallery is a platform for First American voices and artistry. Over the past 10 years, it's given indigenous artists from across the world a place to exhibit and sell their work.
“The art created by our First American artists is a continuation of their culture, heritage and indigenous identity,” said Katie Goodnight, tourism arts manager for the Chickasaw Nation.
Investing in artwork by First American artists supports the artists and the broader purpose of recognition and celebration of indigenous lives.
Artists like Andrea Day bring their own life experiences into their art. Andrea, an Oklahoma-based mixed media artist who uses acrylic and hand-sewn beadwork on canvas, says her designs are influenced by her Mvskoke (Muscogee) heritage and language, Fuswalgi (Bird Clan) and ancient Southeastern Woodland designs, all while guided by nature.
Andrea’s intricate beadwork is on display now in the current exhibition, “Seeds of Tradition: Expressions of Beadwork in Contemporary First American Art.” This exhibition explores various ways beadwork is used as adornment, storytelling and tradition-keeping. An enduring and deeply cultural art form, beadwork continues to resonate today as an iconic symbol of indigenous identity and artistry.
The exhibit also features artwork by Yonavea Hawkins (Caddo), Valerie Kagan (Cherokee) and Lynn Traylor (Navajo).
Yonavea, a Caddo artist who works in a variety of mediums, including beadwork, drawing, painting and twill basketry, learned to sew and bead cultural items for herself and her family. Whether doing loom work or two-needle appliqué beadwork, her designs are a combination of traditional and contemporary using cut beads.
Valerie is a U.S. Army veteran, a mom, a wife and an artist who creates traditional Cherokee beadwork and art from a variety of distinct mediums, including metal, wire, shell, vintage Czech beads, wool, silk and pearls. Her specialty medium is two-point needle appliqué beadwork and handwoven and twined textiles.
Valerie said her art is inspired by mound builder iconography, abstract floral designs on antique beadwork of the five tribes and how those designs reflect their ceremonies and what they treasure most in their culture, even well into present times. She uses the iconography from those antiques to build beaded art with stroud cloth and beads that are well over 100 years old.
Lynn is an interdisciplinary Navajo fashion artist known for her detail and intricate patterns on contemporary fashion garments, specifically wearable art beadwork. She explores themes of traditional storytelling, feminine energy, masculine energy, resilience, love and loss, as well as the complexities of historic and contemporary indigenous experiences across beading, fashion and installation.
“Each piece I create has a purpose,” Lynn said. “I spend a great deal of time on my pieces and so they carry stories with them and names. They come to life, which is why I bless each piece (with cedar) before they go to their new homes and/or owners.”
“Seeds of Tradition” remains on exhibit through June 30.
Exhibit C Gallery is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at 1 E. Sheridan, Oklahoma City. For more information, visit ExhibitCGallery.com.