Native American Artist to Showcase Works in Correlation with OSU Authors’ Book, The Oklahoma Woman’s Almanac |
A public showing of paintings by acclaimed Native American artist, Dana Tiger, was displayed at the Oklahoma State University Foundation April 13 - May 12.
The exhibition of Native American acrylics and watercolors will open in correlation with a book signing for the recently published The Oklahoma Woman’s Almanac, a book coauthored by two OSU professors with cover art by Tiger. The opening exhibition and reception were held April 13 at 5:30 p.m. in the Foundation’s Malinda Berry Fischer Gallery and is open to the public free of charge.
The Tiger name has a distinguished place in the history of Native American art. Dana Tiger, daughter of the acclaimed artist Jerome Tiger, pursued her artistic skills as a way to know the man who died when she was five. Inspired by his work, Dana learned both her father's genius and about the richness of her Native American heritage.
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Native American Artist,
Dana Tiger
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A Tahlequah native, Tiger attended OSU as a political science students for 2 ½ years before leaving the university to pursue a full-time career as an artist. A descendent of both the Creek/Seminole and Cherokee tribes, her work celebrates the heritage of her ancestry and seeks to inspire the public, especially youth, about the importance of culture and American women.
“By realizing the natural strength and courage of women in my ancestry, I hope to portray the historical dignity and contemporary determination of Native American women,” said Tiger. “I’m inspired by the continuation of the things that went on before me with art and my ancestry.”
The youngest ever Master Artist at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee, her painting, "On Their Honor They Kept Watch and The Ancestors Watched Over Them" hangs in the Cherokee Nations Court House. One of her Warrior Women series was selected as the official poster of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women 1999 Summit held at OSU.
Because of Tiger’s connection with OSU and commitment to illustrating women, coauthors Dr. Bob Darcy, OSU Regents Professor of Political Science and Statistics, and Dr. Jennifer F. Paustenbaugh, Director of the Women's Archives, Puterbaugh Professor of Library Service, enlisted upon Dana’s support in 2004 to create a cover for their Centennial commissioned book chronicling Oklahoma women: The Oklahoma Woman’s Almanac.
“We challenged our friend Dana Tiger to create a painting that would represent Oklahoma women in their vigor and strength, something that could never be the cover of a book about California, Nebraska, Delaware or Florida women” remarked Darcy. “Dana gave us ‘Again We Ride.’ Not only is it our cover - it is a poster that finds itself in the place of pride in offices and homes throughout Oklahoma.” |
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The Oklahoma Woman’s Almanac is the first almanac to focus exclusively on the women of Oklahoma and contains five article-length chapters on policy issues with a current, major impact on Oklahoma women. The book has been designated as an official Oklahoma Centennial project.
“The Oklahoma Women’s Almanac celebrates the accomplishments of Oklahoma women,” stated Paustenbaugh. “It also documents the circumstances and conditions that cause Oklahoma to be rated as one of the most unfavorable places in the country for women in terms of political participation, access to healthcare, economic enfranchisement and basic rights. We hope that people will read the book and begin asking why this is, and ask what can they do to make Oklahoma a better place for women and children.”
Tiger currently resides in Park Hill, Okla. with her husband and two children and owns her own gallery, Tiger Art Gallery, in Muskogee.
Named in honor of the Foundation’s former board chairman, the Malinda Berry Fischer Gallery showcases Oklahoma and OSU artists. The gallery serves to strengthen the connection between Oklahoma State University and the OSU Foundation. The gallery is open to the public and free-of-charge.
The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.
Additional information on The Oklahoma Woman’s Almanac can be found at http://almanac.okstate.edu/.
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