Today as we mourn the deaths from a mass shooting in El Paso, some might need to pray without words. I know I do. And, I’m praying for solutions as well.
Showcasing Red Dirt culture ~ authored and managed by contributors with connections to the great state of Oklahoma.
Includes all art forms: music, poetry, fine art, etc.
“Clean lines, compelling color palettes, refined sense of balance, and the greatest subject matter on earth.” Thoughts like these run through my mind as I work my way through Audrey Dodgen’s portfolio. An editorial and commercial photographer who calls Oklahoma her home, Dodgen describes a gravitational pull that seems to draw her back to our…
As a “Merry Christmas” to our sweet friends on this venue, I’m sharing all the files from a 2004 Christmas album my friends at Cherokee Hills Christian Church and I recorded at the University of Central Oklahoma Jazz Lab. Thanks to Paul Eastland, Sam Pappas, Mark Hinderliter & Brandon Smith for the good work. Peace,…
A grade school friend of mine who lived across our pasture used to tease our classmates then use “Dibble, OK” as the punch line. “If you DO graduate high school, I’m sure you’ll have nice career at the Sonic in Dibble.” “You’re getting on my nerves. I think it’s time for you to move to…
“Every Point on the Map” will be a ten year journey to visit each one of Oklahoma’s 593 townships or cities and have a meaningful conversation with one person in each place.
I decided Katherine Sarafian was the bees knees after watching a film clip of how she guided the historical and topographical research for her Pixar project, “Brave.” “If anyone would understand my book, Georgie the Giant,” I thought, “it would be her.” Go big or go home, right? So I reviewed the Pixar website prior…
“Five more minutes, everyone. Will that be good enough to wrap up your work?” General agreement murmured across the classroom by way of a visual cue from approximately twenty percent of my graduate students. Looking up from their group work, they made eye contact with me and affirmatively nodded. I had been asked by a…
A southern breeze was born far before the central Oklahoma horizon. Darting across the prairies, bumping over the lakes it grew in strength and unpredictability. By the time it reached my four-room home the wildness forced a path through our porch screen door, under my bedroom window sill covered in cracking pale blue paint, and…
We’ve been working on an event, and here’s the low-down, the info, the 4-1-1…capeesh? 2nd Friday Art Walk Offers Unique Imaginary Family Project and live music from John Calvin. START AT STASH on Friday, February 8th for Downtown Norman’s 2nd Friday Art Walk from 6-10 p.m. Among the features this month will be the book…
Yesterday I experienced a small personal celebration as I officially began announcements that “Georgie the Giant” was now complete and ready to order. My feelings around this project have been simmering for some time, as ‘Georgie” actually began to take shape when I was not yet ten years old. There are pieces of influence floating…
THE 2011 IMAGINARY FAMILY PROJECT
Even as a child, Janice only tolerated tradition to a point. Her doll stage was short lived and obligatory, and she rapidly moved on to non-fiction readers 3 levels above her grade…
This past week has been one of the grandest growing, cooking and discovery weeks for all good things I’ve had since early last October. But I’m not going to write about any of it. I’m leaving my position at Oklahoma State University tomorrow and will be starting a new career with the Great Plains Integris…
The last time I heard a poem about the Osage, I cried. The last time I heard a story passed to me by an Osage grandmother, I marveled at the power of history and meaning. The last time I stood in the oldest tribally-owned museum in Pawhuska, I was full on Indian Tacos and humbled…
I like the Bible. I like the whole story. To me the Bible is an extraordinary work of art, masterfully painted with exacting strokes, contrasting colors, and the most amazing Light source we could ever know. There are parts of this painting, certain parts of its composition that I don’t like in and of themselves;…
Editor’s note: I now have an annual ritual, having completed it three years in a row. During the week between Christmas and New Years, I meet with my former mentor, Dr. Leah Taylor, and my current neighbor, Lisa Red. We talk about the year, waxing philosophical about the ground we’ve covered. Then we talk about…
On Monday of this week, two members of our contributor team for the Red Dirt Chronicles (RDC) spent some time with the KSBI TV crew introducing the RDC to Oklahoma. Dallas Caldwell, our Faith contributor, and I spent about 5-7 minutes with Lyn Hester on “Oklahoma LIVE,” a daily live show that highlights events and…
We’re still here Holly, just throwing back little thoughts for you to take in case you need to go back in your hole for a while. I’m the one eating a slice of watermelon. I’ll share mine with you when you’re ready.
In November I took a day off work, grabbed my friend and we got all artsy. First stop was the 2011 Chili Bowl fundraiser. This was not your ordinary chili NOR fundraiser. The OU Ceramics department MADE food-safe bowls of every color of the rainbow. Upon arrival, we paid our $8.00, picked out our bowl…
My neck was curved slightly backward, my face lit up by the screen and my razor sharp, rapt attention was completely committed to Amelie. I sat on the front row, center seat, next to one of my dearest friends and as soon as I saw the effect I reached over and grabbed her hand. The…
I found myself dealing with a slight touch of sadness last Thursday. I realized that, after reading the final entry of the “Imaginary Family Project, 2011” there would be no more entries. No more stories created to bring the characters in forgotten photos to life, with new dealings, new thoughts and new nuances. In order…