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Lil Mike and Funny Bone were two performers at the 10th Annual Artesian Arts Festival. They are posing with their little fan, Caiden Latham. Tom Stewart
The Artesian Hotel in Sulphur, Okla. was the place to be on April 22. That was the site for the 10th Annual Artesian Arts Festival of the Chickasaw Nation. Friday April 21, 2023 was the Artist Preview Sale and Reception at the Artesian Hotel Ballroom.
The Chickasaw Nation holds the annual festival as a platform to showcase First American artists and their many art forms. At the reception, the Chickasaw Governor Bill Anoatubby announced that the festival included over 100 First American artists representing 15 Tribes and 10 States. Governor Anoatubby said arts and community go hand in hand.
“Talents make a community better and the world a better place.”
It was apparent that Governor Anoatubby had much adoration for arts because he took the time to visit with every artist as well as inquire about each piece. The preview included contestants who competed for Best of two-dimensional art, three-dimensional art, Best of Culture, and Best of show. It was a grand affair including extravagant horsd’- oeuvres and a charcuterie display.
The Festival on Saturday brought in a large crowd and many vehicle tags revealed states from all over the map. The food truck court offered all the festival type foods and, of course, the famous Indian Tacos and fry bread.
Artists’ booths were carefully decorated with artists’ works. Each artist seemed to have a storytelling way of revealing parts of their wonderful and intriguing culture. It seemed every person had a piece of art that they could not live without.
Themainbandstandstage hosted several different talents whose art could be easilyenjoyedthroughoutthe entire campus. Five o’clock sharp was the time for the main stage event featuring the duo Lil Mike and Funny Bonewhoalsoarewellknown on the TV show Rez Dogs. Their fantastic performance is just a reflection of how dynamic they really are.
It doesn’t take much to realize that the due loves God and intend on sharing His love through their music. It seems that every song they meticulously performed included a direct message. When the base vibrated through the speakers onto the crowd not a single person stood still, they all seemed to move to the groove.
Saturday started out cloudy and windy then sprinkled a bit. Despite the weather, folks attended in droves. Each food truck was graced with a line and every artist’s tent seemed to be full of patrons and admirers.