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
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
Do you want to improve your English? Free English classes for the community. You can join our classes at any point with our continuous open enrollment.
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.
Explore with all five of your senses in this fully hands-on program where you will navigate through different stations to complete the sensory scavenger hunt and be named Adventurer of the Summer!
Ages: 1-5
Disclaimer(s)
This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to be in attendance and be engaged with your child for this program.
Join us every Friday for bingo! This family friendly event will feature trivia, jokes, and facts on the theme of the week!
Disclaimer(s)
Be Advised: This program may be photographed and/or videotaped for publicity purposes.
By Attending, you consent: To the use of your voice and likeness in future publicity uses that contain content from this event. If you do not wish to be on camera, please let us know.
For more information visit our Photography & Video Disclaimer
Join us after school for a chance to read to a loving therapy dog! Our sweet furry friends like nothing more than to listen to children read books. Check in anytime between 3:30 - 4:15 pm for an opportunity to read or just pet your furry friend.
Come by to the Downtown Library and enjoy some free coffee! There will be puzzles and easy crafts available.
Join us every Friday for bingo! This family friendly event will feature trivia, jokes, and facts on the theme of the week!
Disclaimer(s)
Be Advised: This program may be photographed and/or videotaped for publicity purposes.
By Attending, you consent: To the use of your voice and likeness in future publicity uses that contain content from this event. If you do not wish to be on camera, please let us know.
For more information visit our Photography & Video Disclaimer
Looking for clues as to your ancestry? Come put our genealogical databases and print resources through their paces to learn about the places and faces of your family's past. Our resident Genealogical genius will give you the tools which you need to branch out your family tree for free.
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of barn quilts and create your own vibrant masterpiece during this interactive library program.