Tealridge Independent Living begins new normal

With COVID numbers dropping and the increasing number of vaccines that have been given in the state of Oklahoma, one could say that senior living communities are opening up! What wonderful news it is! Many people who were almost ready to make the decision to move during 2020 but placed their plans on hold have decided it is time to return to their search and make their final selections. Tealridge Retirement community has seen a significant influx of inquiries and  move-ins during the last 60 days!

During the pandemic, Tealridge Retirement Community in Edmond followed the recommendations of county and state health departments. As the state began relaxing some of its COVID-19 recommendations, so did Tealridge.

Gov. Kevin Stitt recently signed Executive Order 2021-11 to withdraw and rescind the COVID-19 State of Emergency.

“We are open! Residents are able to accept guests in their apartments. In fact, we are conducting tours in person. We  feel very fortunate that we are able to provide that place where residents can socialize and get back to normal”, said Melissa Mahaffey, Tealridge Retirement Community executive director.

The community continues to follow recommendations set by the county health department. Currently, residents continue to wear masks in common areas. However, Tealridge Independent Living is offering full dining again while maintaining an area in the dining room for residents who choose to eat by themselves or whenever an individual is not fully vaccinated.

“All in all, we are back and stronger than ever. Our community has continued to be the choice for so many seniors – we are growing!” Mahaffey said.

Joe and Sandra Ward, along with resident Jose Diaz, are among the residents who recently moved to Tealridge Independent Living.

“I think Tealridge has managed the CDC guidelines very well,” Jose said.

Retirees are eager to be a part of the Tealridge Family. The “opening” of the community encouraged Jose and the Wards to not waste a lot of time to make the decision to move. Jose said he wants to find ways to volunteer at Tealridge and meet all the residents.

In fact, people are wanting to make sure that they are somewhere that they will not feel isolated. When the pandemic was at its highest peak, Joe and Sandra were unable to socialize with friends or neighbors during darker days of the pandemic. They didn’t go out of their single family home because everybody was scared. They didn’t want to get sick, but they were impressed by the safety standards and amenities they found at Tealridge. Sandra said life at Tealridge Independent Living has made her feel safer during the pandemic.

“I was flabbergasted when I came down to visit the community. I looked around and saw a  nice living room and super dining room,” Joe said. “They showed me a couple of apartments and one that we finally settled on. People would wave to me or tell me, hello. It was just open and wide, clean and smelled good. Everybody you talked with was happy. I observed people sitting and visiting with one another. It appeared that everyone got along great and welcomed me. It was super.”

Sandra said she became impressed with Tealridge when driving up to the front door.

“From the very beginning it started off so nice,” Sandra said. “I was so pleased that people were there to help me so soon when we arrived. I just can’t tell you how much I love the place. I am impressed with it. People here help you and they’re great.”

The sales staff made a great impression on Jose, he said. He told his son that he was looking for a good place to relocate. He checked out a couple of other independent living centers, but they were not for him. Tealridge Independent Living best suited his needs, including health care concerns, he said.

Sales Coordinator Cathy McComas said the long-established residents at Tealridge are ready to get back to familiar ways of life whenever possible.

“They understand things have to open up slowly,” McComas explained. “I have people say, ‘Can my daughter have lunch with me,’ or ‘when can we do this or that’. We’re just as excited as they are. We’re ready to get back to family night. We’re ready to get back to lunch tours. We’re ready to get back to things we were doing before, but we’re being very cautious. We’re opening up a little bit at a time.”

COVID never really excluded people in the community from reaching out to Tealridge in previous months, said Kristen Moss, retirement counselor. Now many of those individuals who put their moving decisions on hold are approaching the retirement community saying they want a new tour. The next day, they call and let me know they are ready to make the move, Moss said.

While people were in their own homes during the pandemic, we were seeing more people that were not able to see their families. And families are even calling saying. “My gosh, I had no idea what was going on with mom, because we chose not to go inside their home for fear that we could potential create a health risk to them.”

COVID vaccinations changed everything. Families are no longer feeling the need to stay put in their home. It’s exciting for the Tealridge staff to be able to share the community, build on success, and be a resource for people, Moss said.

They even help people navigate to find resources they need, Moss has also counseled people as to where to get COVID shots.

We are delighted that so many people have chosen to make a decision to move to our community. This is family, we are all here at Tealridge to create a great environment where everyone feels welcome!” Moss said.

To learn more about the Tealridge Retirement community call (405) 604-5433 or visit our website www.tealridge.com. Visit us at 2200 NE 140th St, Edmond, OK 73013.

Story by Darl Devault, Feature Writer

As Father’s Day, June 20, rolls around an Oklahoma City father and son are proud to share their bond by continuing their mission to brighten the days of hospitalized children. The pair have created an exotic car outreach to give kids in hospitals a special experience to help keep their minds engaged and focused on a positive future.
Eric Wynn is the older of Redline4Kids original organizing duo who readily gives full credit to his son who had the idea. The two and nonprofit volunteers have been busy the last few years taking their exotic cars to children’s hospitals for special events.
Youngsters in hospital beds may have access to exotic car driving video games at home using a controller and their TVs. This nonprofit gives them the ability to sit behind a real steering wheel of the latest generation of exotic cars to help them deal with the stress of being in a hospital environment. Their goal is to bring joy to kids, and hope to families, through an experience with exotic cars.
While not trying to foster a new group of automotive fanatics, the organizers want to give young patients a break from their normal routine.
This desire to create a novel experience for children in hospitals springs from the creator’s early confinement to a hospital bed when he was first diagnosed with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis at age four.
Now 25, Chance wants to offer kids in a hospital environment a fun exposure to cars most adults do not get by adding a fun part to their long hospital stays. The organizations name comes from high performance manual shift cars, where its instrument panel features a tachometer with a red line showing engine revolutions per minute where it is important to make the next shift.
“From experience I know hospital life, especially as a kid, is not fun and can be pretty traumatic,” said Chance Wynn, nonprofit president. “Any opportunity you get to escape, even if it is for just an hour is special. Whether you are a girl or boy, car lover or not, when you get close to these exotic cars it is a blast. It has been proven repeatedly as we have done so many of these events over the last four years from OKC to Dallas—Ft. Worth, and all the way to Miami Florida. It is all thanks to our great sponsors and volunteers. Without their support brightening children’s patient days would not be possible.”
The Wynns and volunteers want to give the kids a break from the hours upon hours of hospital routine by sparking their imagination of driving fun, fast cars. Chance is proud his idea gives such a memorable diversion from hospital routine to young children. The group offers them an outing, so the child can leave their hospital room which helps with cabin fever.
For those youngsters who already have a passion for automobiles it may be a dream come true to develop great memories that will stick with them.
The volunteers from Redline4Kids usually show up with a mixture of a dozen near-race cars, exotic or American muscle cars for the kids to enjoy. A few are among the fastest street-legal production cars in the world. Often the cream of the crop is European. They are built one at a time on a race engineered chassis with aerospace materials to create style, elegance, untamed power and speed on wheels.
“I love doing this event and excited to keep sharing my blessings with your organization and all of the kids!” said Tom Gore, volunteer car owner. Thank you so much for making this venue available to us.” He volunteers his legendary exotic, a 2019 Lamborghini Huracán Performante Spyder.
For the young patients, the experience runs the gamut from receiving a 1/64-scale die-cast toy car to play with to being able to climb behind the wheel of what seems like to them a “one-of-a-kind life-size car creation” because of their iconic rarity. Each child receives an event T shirt, wristband, a little Hot Wheels car and cards with photos and info about each vehicle on display.
“Once my son Chance bought his first exotic car, we quickly learned how kids wanted to get their picture taken with the car, or even sit inside of these types of cars,” said Eric Wynn, Redline4Kids board president. “As Chance spent a good deal of his childhood sick and in the hospital, the idea just came to him one day. He told me ‘Dad, I have an idea to help kids that are just like me’ and five years later here we are!”
The first event at OU Children’s Hospital was well documented in videos on YouTube by Imagine Productions OKC. They have also been featured on the front page of The Oklahoman newspaper.
After the first event in 2017 for OU Children’s Hospital where they have now appeared four times, the group targeted Texas patients. They visited the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Children’s Medical Center in Plano, the Cook Children’s Hospital in Ft. Worth and Children’s Health in Plano through 2018.
In 2018 they refocused on Oklahoma with appearances at Bethany’s Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital twice. The exotic cars have also brightened the patient’s days at INTEGRIS Children’s – Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City and the J.D. McCarty Center in Norman. And in 2019, Redline4Kids recruited more exotic car enthusiasts to launch in Florida at The Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Fort Lauderdale.
As restrictions for the pandemic are lifting the Redline4Kids exotic cars are schedule to brighten the children’s days at the J.D. McCarty Center in Norman the third Saturdays in June and July. The group is working to finalize the dates for OU Children’s Hospital and INTEGRIS Children’s – Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City.
For more info, or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.Redline4kids.org.

Photography and Text by Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn t4z@aol.com

Santa Fe has too much to offer to be confined to just the recent May issue.
Having been to Santa Fe a number of times, it is always fun and relaxing to again visit those dining establishments that made an impression over the years. This eating adventure led me to sample several familiar popular gourmet dining venues, and none mentioned here disappointed.
The Compound, www.compoundrestaurant.com located just off of artist filled Canyon Road, is an all-time favorite for the sophisticated palate. In an upscale adobe styled dining room, you can succumb to the temptations of; a Stacked Salad of Romaine, Tomato, Ham, Blue Cheese and Hard Cooked Taos eggs with Avocado Ranch Dressing topped with Free Range Chicken
If your luncheon appetite is not quenched, for dessert you might try the Bittersweet Chocolate Marquis of Pistachio Gelato, Apricot Pistachio; or the Orange Olive Oil Cake of Fig Jam, Lemon Curd and Crème Fraiche. Your evening plans might include a return to the Compound to enjoy a night cap or light supper at the intimate bar. With seating only about ten people, reservations are recommended.
The La Fonda Hotel www.lafondasantafe.com/la-plazuela holds many historic adventurous tales due to its early Santa Fe birth in 1640, but the restaurant, La Plazuela, has been a long time favorite for its casual, attentive, and never disappointing selections. Your selections might include: a spinach salad with grilled hazelnuts, with gluten free prosciutto bathed in a cranberry vinaigrette. Your entre might be the Alaskan Silver Salmon with lemon cilantro butter sauce, or sweet and buttery hearty pork tenderloins with pineapple glaze and papaya vinaigrette.
Top the meal with a Chocolate Molten Cake of dark chocolate truffles, dark rum cream glaze, which accents the dessert’s warmth and coolness. It is impressive when your server knows the term “Ice on the Pond” when ordering your extra cold, extra dry Martini, which is served to perfection.
While the décor has been renovated in recent years, the hand-painted side glass panels remains the restaurant’s signature Santa Fe tradition. Your high expectations for Santa Fe service, ambiance and dining are always met at La Fonda. Be sure and take time to visit the shops at La Fonda and the outside entrance to the top fashions of Rocki Gorman, a noted fashion and jewelry designer.
If you have not discovered the surprising and intimate atmosphere of Santacafe, www.santacafe.com you are missing a treat. Here inside white adobe, small dining areas, complete with a hint of Georgia O’Keeffe styled décor, you will find the best fresh Chimayo Red Chile onion rings available anywhere.
But this seemingly simple appetizer is only a prelude to an array of tasty selections including: Blue Corn Chicken Confit of enchiladas of red and green chile, or the healthy pan seared salmon roasted with fingerling potatoes over a kale and spinach lime cream. It’s known during high season to have one of the best outdoor patios for celebrity sightings.
While the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi has undergone a dining room renovation, to open up the bar for casual tequila tastings and encourage conversation, the restaurant retains its elegant atmosphere and gourmet menu. You might start off your evening with a Kettle One Citron Pomegranate Martini, or a selection from one of their fine wines.
A flavorful good soup is an invitation to a gourmet meal and the Anasazi sweet potato soup was a perfect complement to the autumn weather. The Buffalo Empanada over an Avocado Mouse is personally recommended as is the fashionable crusted Salmon with baby beets, parsnips in a tamarind sauce. For dessert, you can play like a child with the Fried Ice Cream reminiscent of an outdoor campfire’s S’more.
You can’t leave Santa Fe without a nighttime visit to La Cantina next to La Casa Sena restaurant www.lacasasena.com. At the Cantina, the waiters treat you, between serving food courses and beverages, with their favorite contemporary and Broadway styled songs. Many of the talented singers are biding their time here, saving their money before jumping into the Broadway pool of performers. Feel free to order a Mexican styled dinner, or just a beverage with their chips and dip. The congenial atmosphere, the prompt and friendly service is a fitting farewell to the enchantment that is Santa Fe.
Consider your Santa Fe visit between high tourist times like the Santa Fe Opera Season or the Indian Market. In this way you can be assured of obtaining your preferred dining reservation times, and Santa Fe will have a more accessible feel and friendliness.

Mr. Terry Zinn – Travel Editor
Past President: International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
3110 N.W. 15 Street – Oklahoma City, OK 73107
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Journey back to the age of dinosaurs with the Zoo’s new DINO SAFARI experience to discover the world’s largest, most life-like animatronic prehistoric creatures.

Dinosaurs are back at the OKC Zoo! The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden presents DINO SAFARI, a new immersive experience featuring life-sized, scientifically accurate animatronic dinosaurs that demonstrate movement and sounds like the prehistoric giants that once roamed the planet. Explore DINO SAFARI located in the Zoo’s lush, 6-acre pollinator garden along the Lakeside to see several dinosaurs come to life through 15 one-of-a-kind animatronic displays and 8 skeleton replicas in a COVID safer setting.
These amazingly life-like creations were created by Jurassic Park advisor “Dino Don” Lessem’s company Dino Don Inc., the premiere maker of robot animals in the world. DINO SAFARI is open to the public now through Sunday, October 31, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Entry into DINO SAFARI is the cost of general Zoo admission plus, $5 per person for ZOOfriends members and $6 per person for nonmembers. Children 2 and under are free and do not require tickets for entry into DINO SAFARI.
“Animal fans of all ages are drawn to dinosaurs so we are thrilled to bring this unique opportunity to the Zoo,” said Dwight Lawson, OKC Zoo’s executive director/CEO. “We hope to foster our guests’ natural curiosity and interest to learn more about these prehistoric wonders of the past while connecting them to our incredible animal family today.”
Learn how dinosaurs evolved over time and where they roamed as you encounter the fascinating creatures of DINO SAFARI. Stand next to one of the most popular predators of the late Cretaceous era, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, get an up-close look at a massive Woolly mammoth from the Pleistocene era as also referred to as the Great Ice Age and gaze at the 42-foot wingspan of a Tropeognathaus! Guests will also learn how the OKC Zoo is working with Tinker Air Force Base and the University of Oklahoma to help fight the extinction of Oklahoma’s beloved lizard, the horny toad, also known as the Texas horned lizard, through educational displays setup near the DINO SAFARI gift shop.
Trek over to the newly, renovated Dino Bites, located next to the pollinator garden, for a selection of tasty favorites including turkey legs, chicken nuggets, hot dog and churros. Shop for the ultimate dinosaur souvenirs at the DINO SAFARI gift shop and discover a vast selection of unique toys and gifts, apparel for both children and adults, plush, children’s books and more.
Additionally, guests can purchase exclusive DINO SAFARI OKC Zoo conservation wristbands. Choose from four limited-edition animal designs – Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, a raptor and Texas horned lizard – available for $2/each in the Guest Services office and stroller window located in the entry plaza. The Zoo’s collectible, conservation wristbands benefit the Zoo’s local and global conservation efforts with 100 percent of sales going to Round Up for Conservation.
DINO SAFARI TICKET OPTIONS
Bring on the big fun, purchase a single-day DINO SAFARI Adventure Ticket with unlimited walks through DINO SAFARI, unlimited lorikeet feedings, unlimited carousel and Elephant Express tram rides plus, general admission to the Zoo for $31/adult and $28/child and senior. ZOOfriends members can take advantage of a dino-mite deal and purchase the Zoo’s DINO SAFARI Adventure Season Pass for unlimited admission to DINO SAFARI through October 31, along with lorikeet feedings, carousel rides and a souvenir Zoo Key. DINO SAFARI Adventure Season Passes range from $35 to $200. Must be a current member to purchase season passes.
DINO-RIFFIC BIRTHDAY PACKAGES
Surprise your kiddo with a dino-mite birthday party! Young explorers can try their hand at the fossil dig to excavate rare dinosaur “bones” just like a real paleontologist. With the Zoo’s exclusive DINO SAFARI birthday package, your child’s special day is sure to be memorable.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the long-term care community forever. Tamara Meadows, RN, the Divisional Director of Clinical Operations for Oklahoma with Stonegate Senior Living, stated that it brought infection control in long-term care to the 21st century.
“It highlighted the importance of our infection control program, while also highlighting the need for additional staff to assist with all the different infection control activities,” commented Meadows.
Towards the middle of last year Stonegate’s Chief Clinical Officer, Dianne Sullivan-Slazyk, RN determined along with the owners of Stonegate, that a new permanent role of an infection control preventionist in each facility was needed.
Already on staff at Stonegate, was the Director of Quality, Rhonda Abercrombie, RN who had extensive epidemiology experience with the CDC. So, it was a natural fit for Rhonda to lead the infection control department, which includes two Regional ICP nurses in the state of Oklahoma, along with 4 in Texas and Colorado. The Regional ICPs have oversight of each ICP nurse in each of Stonegate’s 11 skilled facilities throughout the state of Oklahoma. Their job duties vary from routine Covid testing, sometimes as often as twice a week on all residents and employees, to the routine infection control surveillance with tracking and trending of infections.
The ICPs will play a big part of staying in compliance with the newest guidance from CMS on educating residents and staff on vaccinations.
Although they have had a very good turn out with vaccination rates of residents, Director Abercrombie states, they would love to see an increase in the amount of staff vaccinations.
“We have partnered with our consulting pharmacy, PharMerica, to do our own vaccine clinics, which are open to staff, residents, and families,” said Abercrombie.
Asked, if these ICP nurses are temporary, Abercrombie states, “The owners of Stonegate have committed to these being permanent positions, which we are very proud!”
For more information about Stonegate Senior Living communities visit: www.stonegatesl.com or call 972-899-4401.

By Nick Thomas

According to Diane McBain who turned 80 in May, it’s never too late to begin a new chapter in your life. Along with co-author Michael Gregg Michaud (see www.facebook.com/michael.michaud.90), the 60s glamour gal published her autobiography “Famous Enough: A Hollywood Memoir” in 2014. She also recently penned her first novel, “The Laughing Bear.”
“And I’ve got another ready to be published,” said McBain from the retirement community in Woodland Hills, California, where she has lived for several years. “I have a cottage here and spend my time writing my heart out. So you can start a new career whenever you want.”
2021 is also special for the actress since it was 60 years ago this year that her favorite film, “Claudelle Inglish,” was released in which she portrayed a ‘good girl’ who turns very bad.
“It was just my third film, so playing the title character gave me a great opportunity to test my acting wings,” she recalled. “I had led a very sheltered life growing up in Glendale (California), so playing the bad girl was an interesting challenge.”
McBain arrived in Hollywood as the studio system came to an end and appeared in over two dozen movies through 2001. She turned to television in the 60s appearing in dozens of shows, most notably co-starring in “Surfside 6,” as well as guest-starring parts in TV classics such as “The Wild, Wild West,” “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” and “Batman” as the colorful Pinky Pinkston. Her first TV roles were alongside James Garner and Jack Kelly in episodes of “Maverick.”
“They were both great Mavericks. Jack Kelly was really the first actor I worked closely with and was my first screen kiss. I was just a young girl and had never kissed a mature man before. But he was very sweet about it and I just adored him.”
A few years later, in 1966, McBain snagged another on-screen romantic moment, this time with Elvis in “Spinout.” “Women have asked me many times what it was like to kiss Elvis and I tell them it was just as wonderful as you would imagine! He was charming and a lovely person to work with. He didn’t come on to me which I appreciated because so many did throughout my career.”
Diane discusses her personal and career ups and downs, including some truly traumatic times, in her book. In 2001, she left Hollywood after a bad experience serving on the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild.
“I turned 60 that year and worked very hard to represent people in the industry and do the best I could. But it’s a very political organization so I found myself at real odds with others and under very stressful and nasty circumstances. The experience really turned me off being an actor.”
After her spell with SAG concluded she moved to Pine Mountain Village, about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
“I got a little cabin, moved in, and lived there for 15 years. I just loved it and especially the white Christmases in the mountains. But age was catching up with me and I had some health issues so that’s why I moved to the retirement facility. I still live independently and am enjoying my time here very much. It’s serving my health issues well.”
Obviously, says McBain, eating well and exercising as you are able can contribute to good health as you age. But a healthy mental approach is important, too, she stresses.
“It’s a great time in your life to start over and maybe tackle something you always wanted to but never had the time. For me, it’s writing. Your life is never over until you decide it’s over.”
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 850 magazines and newspapers.

by Steven Sibley, Ret Army, DAV

Memorial Day has just passed and I want to salute all those who took the time to commemorate those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Since 1775, records indicate that as many a 1.3 million lives have been lost by those who served in our country’s military. That is basically the population of Tulsa, Edmond, OKC, Moore and Norman combined. Imagine, almost half of them died in a senseless civil war that took nearly half those lives. The Civil War started because of uncompromising differences between the free and slave states over the power of the national government to prohibit slavery in the territories that had not yet become states. For those who fought for freedom for all, there was a familiar ring back to the words of Patrick Henry in March of 1775, “Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” The price of freedom for all is that great, that precious.
Our veterans have not only died, many have been wounded, maimed for life, and scarred both physically and emotionally. While complete statistics were difficult to find on this subject, it appears that on average, for every veteran killed, up to 10 were wounded. That is a significant number. It is why it’s so important for us to do the very best we can, to take care of our veterans. The heroic 1% of our population. This is one of the greatest needs we have as a country. It’s the greatest reason for those who are the top 1% of income earners in our country, to freely and responsibly give, in whatever way they can or must, to support these heroes, who have sacrificed so much for others to have the opportunity and freedom to succeed in our country at the highest levels.
Soon it will be Independence Day, 2021. This is my challenge to those who would seek to honor both those who have given their lives and those veterans who have been injured or disabled in the service of this country. Between July 4th this year and November 11th, Veterans Day, for those 5 months, would you purposely and proactively reach out to at least 1 veteran a month, and tell them you appreciate their service, and then serve them in some way. What ever you feel led to do, send them a card, buy them a meal, mow their lawn, take them to an appointment or just have a conversation with them. Imagine if everyone in Tulsa, Edmond, OKC, Moore and Norman reached out to just 5 veterans, that would be over 5 million times a veteran was talked to, recognized, appreciated and helped.
As a retired, disabled veteran myself, my wife and I do our part by helping veterans who transition into Medicare. We help them understand how those benefits work with their VA Benefits and Tricare Benefits. We provide support, advocacy and information about Medicare Plans offered by companies that have special plans for veterans, that offer additional benefits which they’ve earned and deserve. While healthcare issues and delivery of healthcare is confusing enough for seniors, it is even worse for veterans who have sacrificed their bodies and blood only to find red tape and bureaucracy standing in the way of the healthcare they desperately need. If you need our help, just call, there is never any charge, any pressure, just help. We are here to serve you at www.Sibleyinsures.com, (918) 404-0807.

Story by Darl Devault, Feature Writer

Osage master artist Clancy Gray is excited and grateful to show his artwork at the annual Red Earth Festival coming up June 12-13 at the Grand Casino Hotel in Shawnee for being his one constant for exposure in the time of COVID-19.
Gray says his being selected Red Earth The Honored One in 2019 and the Festival being held with masks in 2020 is probably the reason he was nominated in 2020 to receive an Oklahoma Governor’s Art Award.
He said one of the surprising parts of being nominated for the Governor’s Art Award is the nomination came forward in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Governor’s Arts Awards is an annual event recognizing individuals and organizations for their contributions to the arts in Oklahoma. First awarded in 1975, the awards are presented by Gov. Kevin Stitt during a special ceremony at the State Capitol.
The selection committee may honor a recipient in a category of its choice. Gray assumes if selected his award would be an Arts in Education Award for promoting Native American art and cultural. It recognizes an individual, organization, school, educator or group for their outstanding leadership and service in the arts benefitting youth and/or arts in education.
During his 39-year career teaching high school art in the Greater Tulsa area Gray taught several thousand students at three schools.
“I was fortunate even when art shows were scarce, someone was evaluating my life-long contribution to art in Oklahoma enough to nominate me,” Gray said. “This new status, even if I am not selected this year, makes me doubly proud to be a member of the Osage Nation, both as a former art teacher and artist.,”
The Red Earth Honored One is an annual award presented to a visual artist whose support of Native art has been substantial throughout his or her life and whose continuing involvement, activity and participation in their art form embodies the collective wisdom of their cultural experience.
This year’s Red Earth again features a large art show, lectures, demonstrations, activities, a dance grand entry and opening ceremony.
“People always talk about my versatility in describing my efforts as an artist. They are amazed I work in so many media— mainly painting, watercolor, pencil drawing, silversmithing jewelry, sculpting and pottery,” Gray said. “I am fortunate my long-time patrons and my dozen or so international clientele continued to commission my work as I continue to honor my Native American heritage in creating all this art, even during the pandemic.”
Continuing his tradition of gaining notice for his individual works of art at the Red Earth Festival, Gray received recognition again in 2020 for his silversmithing of two jewelry pieces “Elegant Ring and Bracelet.”
“I have always been blessed in receiving recognition at Red Earth, as well as other art shows because I do not limit myself to one media, but create in many media,” Gray said.
Last fall, the Oklahoma Arts Council accepted nominations for the 2021 Governor’s Arts Awards, expecting to present the awards in spring 2021. They altered the timeframe as the COVID-19 pandemic evolved. Following the guidance of public health officials, the Oklahoma Arts Council adjusted the timeframe for the awards ceremony, with the goal of presenting the awards in fall 2021.
“Again, I am humbled by the nomination to be a Governor’s Art Award recipient,” Gray said.
Gray, who retired in 2018, says he is grateful he was able to just be doing his own art during the pandemic, instead of trying to teach his way through a school year impacted by COVID-19. He says, “God Bless Our Teachers!”
“My 39 years of teaching has allowed me to showcase many Native American youth in various shows, events, contests and scholarships,”. Gray said. “Exposing our Native American art student’s talents outside of their schoolwork was very important for their futures.”
Gray’s dramatic use of depth in the impasto style of painting has elevated his status in the Native American art world. His use of a palette knife to apply vivid acrylics gives the paintings depth and allows light to animate the focus of his work. This signature style allows the Osage master artist to create a modern ruggedness celebrating the light’s reflective sparkle built up in some areas.
By creating a ceramic glaze depth with skillful repetitious palette strokes of the water-based acrylic paint his paintings are unique. Those high-gloss highlights have a richness of color which capture the eye, whether portrait and figure, still life, or landscape.
For the collector there is a stillness, balance and yet movement in his work. The art patrons celebrate Gray’s intentional building up of depth in the painting highlighted by brilliant hues or light catching the shiny acrylic. Many art patrons add extra lighting to those areas in their homes where they display his work to get the full effect of his talent.
Osage Nation member and bronze casting legend John Free Jr. casts most of Gray’s sculptures at his Bronze Horse Foundry in Pawhuska, Okla. Free is famous for capturing the artist’s real goal in their work by applying some of the most skilled patinas in the crucible industry.
Gray said John and Matt Free’s ability to create a life-like patina to the many bronze sculpture he has created over the years has added to his own ability to create innovative patinas.
“It is an honor and a privilege to get to work with John Free and his group at the Bronze Horse Foundry.” Gray said. “I always say sculpting success is a two-part process, the artist who first creates it in clay and the foundry artisans who duplicate it in bronze for them.”
Gray’s traditional and contemporary influenced jewelry reflects the Osage master silversmith’s fondness for vivid color, texture, and asymmetrical design. The silver jewelry is often the most collected of his work and leads to the most commissions. This nationally collected master silversmith has won many awards in exhibitions and museum shows.
The Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival is one of the largest Native American cultural events in the country. It is held at the event center at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, a tribally-owned business 30 minutes east from downtown Oklahoma City on I-40.
The festival features a juried art market and competition attracting artists and collectors from across the state and nation.
Red Earth, Inc. is an Allied Arts member agency and is funded in part by the Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Kirkpatrick Family Fund, James H. and Madalynne Norick Foundation, Oklahoma’s News 4, Allied Arts, and the Oklahoma Arts Council which receives support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Festival sponsors include the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Visit Shawnee and Communication Federal Credit Union