Odessa Arts’ MuralFest, presented by United Supermarkets & Market Street, is pleased to announce the selected artists and entertainment for the May 13th event.

“152 artists applied for the mural commissions,’ Odessa Arts executive director Randy Ham said in a press release. “We selected 4 of the best. We are so excited to bring their talents to Odessa.”

Selected muralists include: Nekoda Witsken, Dan Thompson, Maxilie Martel, and Jeremy Flores. Muralists were encouraged to create designs that celebrate Odessa’s designation as a Music Friendly Community by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022. Mural locations and designs will be revealed when the muralists begin work the week of May 7th. Murals have been sponsored by Eofficial Enterprises.

As well as the four new murals, seventeen additional artists will be installing designs on twelve traffic boxes and five donated pianos in the downtown Odessa footprint.

“Downtown Odessa, Inc. has been an amazing partner throughout the planning process. Not only have they taken on the logistics of the permits, permissions, security, street closures, and so much more, they also helped to fund the wrapping of the remaining traffic boxes in the Downtown footprint. Each box wrap was designed by a different local artist and they also reflect the Music Friendly designation,’ continued Ham, ‘It’s one of the things that we’re really proud of with this festival. There will be permanent leave behinds that will last for years, even after the crowds have gone home. MuralFest will also include several immersive art experiences and performances. With the support of the FMH Foundation, the Bike Zoo from Austin, TX will offer opportunities for community members to ride on artist designed bicycles that resemble living creatures: butterflies, armadillos, and the first West Texas appearance of the Bike Zoo snake skeleton.

Paradox Traveling Art, an immersive art installation inside a repurposed school bus will open its doors for exploration and activities, courtesy of the Moore Foundation.

A children’s area will offer activities including painting, and other arts based crafts, and is sponsored by the Children’s Miracle Network at Medical Center Hospital.

A silent disco will give dancers the opportunity to move to the groove of three different DJs.

The newly completed Odessa College green space will host a rotating lineup of local talent including musicians, theatricals, dancers, and more.

‘We are so excited to be one of the first events in the new green space. We’ve been watching the construction with so much anticipation. We cannot thank OC enough for partnering with us on this event,’ said entertainment coordinator Amber Gray.

Forty vendors including food trucks and local artisans will line the street from 5-9pm for participants to shop. West Texas native Barry Corbin will hit the stage at 7pm at the Ector Theater with CBS7’s Jay Hendricks to talk about his Hollywood career: from Urban Cowboy to Northern Exposure. This ticketed event will benefit Meals on Wheels. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/7390622/an-evening-with-actor-barry-corbinbenefiting-meals-on-wheels-odessa-odessa-the-ector-theatre

A special Preview Party at Homemade Wines on Friday the 12th will give patrons early access to many of the MuralFest offerings. Tickets for the preview party are on sale now.

Related

Chris Peterson is an artist with a vision. In his mind’s eye, he sees walls in every county in the state covered with murals he’s painted of Utah wildlife. A black bear here, a Bonneville cutthroat trout there, a Rocky Mountain elk over there.

He’s already made a prototype. You can see it on the side of the Neighborhood Hive building located just west of the intersection of 2100 South and 2100 East in Sugarhouse.

There, in vibrant colors, stands what has to rank as the largest cutthroat trout ever painted.

It’s this 120-foot long mural that gave flight to Chris’ lofty idea to adorn the side of a building in every Utah county with a similar rendering of a species that is prized by the locals.

Chris, as you might have guessed, is a lover of wildlife, and of Utah wildlife in particular. A native Utahn who grew up at the mouth of Provo Canyon, he’s been a fan ever since his first cast in the Provo River.

As an artist — he was trained at BYU and the Kansas City Art Institute — he can choose to paint any number of subjects, but it’s wildlife he’s drawn to, and wildlife he champions.

It’s his view that the animals in our midst — non-human category — deserve all the attention they can get.

To that end, Chris enlisted the support of noted Utah wildlife guru Brett Prettyman, author of “Fishing Utah” and chairman of the board of the nonprofit Utah Wildlife Federation, to create an advocacy campaign called Celebrate Utah Wildlife.

They created a website — celebrateutahwildlife.org — that spells out their goals, hopes and dreams, and to kick things off they’re hosting a Celebrate Utah Wildlife contest with $10,500 in prizes.

The contest, which runs through May 10, is open to age groups 4-11, 12-17 and 18-plus. There are seven categories, including photography, handmade art, video, music, writing, digital art and digital storytelling.

First prize in each category is $250, second prize is $150 and third prize $100.

In addition to the Utah Wildlife Federation, dozens of animal-supportive organizations are helping sponsor the contest, including such disparate groups as the Utah STEM Action Center, the Hansen Sisters Foundation, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Wasatch Front Scouting and the Utah Division of Arts and Museums.

The contest’s purpose, besides increasing the bank account of the winning artists, is to serve as a promotional kickoff for Chris’ 29-murals-in-29-counties project, also known as Wildlife Walls.

The plan is for the winning entries in each category to become part of a visual show and storytelling exhibit that will travel the state to be part of the unveiling of each Wildlife Wall.

If this all sounds ambitious, Chris will be the first to agree with you. There is plenty of work to be done, including A) Finding the walls in each county and securing the rights to paint them, B) Selecting what animal species the locals would most like painted and C) securing the financing.

But the ball is rolling. Already, for example, Chris reports that negotiations are underway in Uintah County to paint a mural on a wall in the center of Vernal of a Colorado River cutthroat trout, a fish Chris said the Division of Wildlife Resources — one of the donors to the cause — is planning to re-introduce in the northeast part of the state.

If all goes according to plan, Chris and his crew — he plans to utilize local artists to assist him whenever possible — will be on site in Vernal this August, finishing their mural to coincide with the annual Dinah Soar Days Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Chris admits his concern for the future of wildlife in Utah is driving his advocacy. “I recognize a decline in diversity and a decline in habitat and some attitudes around wildlife that I feel aren’t totally sustainable,” he says.

“But at the same time, I choose to be positive, I choose to be present, and to celebrate the opportunity that we have to be alive at the same time and in the same vicinity as these amazing creatures. That’s the message I’d like to spread.”

At a rate of six to eight murals per year, Chris estimates his Wildlife Walls project will conclude with the 29th county sometime in late 2026.

That gives him four years to traipse the state and act out the part of a wildlife evangelical, a Van Gogh of the high plans.

And after the counties are all finished, what then? According to the Celebrate Utah Wildlife website, there are more than 600 different species of fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians within the confines of the Beehive State.

More than enough to keep a painter busy for a good long time.

Samsung Electronics Australia has crowned vocal powerhouse Ivana Ilic as the winner of its TikTok-based music reality show, UNDSCVRD. The second season wrapped last night, with the final episode now available on the official @UNDSCVRD_artist page on TikTok.

Throughout the four-week, documentary-style showcase, five budding artists worked together with industry heavyweights like global R&B artist Tkay Maidza, platinum producer James Angus, and multi-platinum songwriter Brooke Toia, to develop their music and brand identity, culminating in the creation of a personal music track and accompanying music video filmed completely on Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra.

In the electrifying season finale, the aspiring professional musicians performed their hit singles in front of a live audience and a panel of music and media industry experts.

The UNDSCVRD winner selection process factored in all elements from the one-month competition, including song writing capability, professionalism in the studio, working with others, musicality and performance style. In the end, Ivana wowed the judges with her powerful vocals, heartfelt lyrics, and captivating stage presence.

“I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity to learn from such passionate and talented people within the industry and to be able to share my music with so many people,” Ivana Ilic said of her experience.

“With Samsung’s support and guidance from all the mentors, I feel like I’m coming out of UNDSCVRD as a singer-songwriter ready for the next chapter of my journey.”

As the winner of UNDSCVRD Season 2, the 19-year-old Melbourne native will receive the opportunity to create a 5 track EP featuring “Better Love”, her emotive debut single and music video, along with four new singles, for a total prize value of $100K. Ilic will retain full control of the resulting EP and its future success, giving her the means to kickstart her music career. She will also be supported by artist management and label services from Call & Response in the form of distribution, artist management and promotion of her EP.

Each of the UNDSCVRD contestants will maintain full ownership of their music masters and production content, serving as a launchpad to jumpstart their professional music careers.

In the next week, further content will be dropping on the official @UNDSCVRD_artist page on TikTok, showcasing the contestants’ journeys on the show as well as a cut down of their music videos. Each artist’s single will be available to stream on music streaming platforms from Friday 21 April.

Since its launch in October 2021, the UNDSCVRD series has cultivated a loyal fan base, amassing more than 64 million views and 1.3 million likes, shares and comments.

“We’re humbled by the impact of our UNDSCVRD series on local musicians – it truly demonstrates the good that can come out of merging creativity and technology, helping young Australians transform their sound and providing a platform to amplify their voice,” said Samsung Australia’s Garry McGregor, Vice President, Mobile Experience Division.

“Samsung is all about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, in our technology and ourselves. We can’t wait to see what else Ivana does with this unique opportunity.”

UNDSCVRD was developed in partnership with Australian production and talent agency, Amplify for Samsung.

For more information on UNDSCVRD or to rewatch the series, visit the official @UNDSCVRD_artist page on TikTok. To follow Ivana’s musical journey, visit @IvanaIlic82.  

NOTES TO EDITOR:

The UNDSCVRD Season 2 contestants and their soon to be released singles are as follows:

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) – Indigenous art was displayed on the runway as part of the Culture Shock Festival at the Monument. Event Director Dalton Buckman wanted to highlight Native American artists while bringing the Black Hills community together.

“Just bringing everybody together of all races, and not just indigenous, but just bringing a community together in general for a really fun time, especially with all the negative stuff that’s happening in Rapid, we just want to give a positive place for everyone to come in,” said Buckman.

According to NTV.com, Native Americans were highly respectful of nature and made it a point to never waste any part of the animal. fur, feathers, leather, and bone were all used to make decorative costumes, clothing, and other ceremonial accessories.

“We bring people in, and not only are we teaching modeling basics, but also basic empowerment for our women and our young men. There’s been a lot of genocide where we’ve encompassed as a people, so building our people back up in more ways than one and not just fashion but personally to the core is really what we focus on,” Buckman said.

The Culture Shock fashion show had seven designers and over 60 models embracing their talents from all parts of the U.S.

The inaugural event includes a music festival featuring over 30 musicians, including Grammy-nominated artist Kirko Bangz.

Copyright 2023 KOTA. All rights reserved.

Details

By Native News Online Staff

April 16, 2023

WASHINGTON — In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country last week.

Comment Period for Draft Bill to Update Indian Arts & Crafts Act Extended

 The deadline for comment submission to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on the discussion draft of the Amendments to Respect Traditional Indigenous Skill and Talent (ARTIST) Act of 2023 has been extended to May 19, 2023. 

Comments may be submitted to [email protected].

 The ARTIST Act would update the Indian Arts and Crafts Act to support creative economies and strengthen enforcement of current law and protections against counterfeit competition for Native artists and their works. Comments will be used to further inform the legislative process and serve as a resource for future discussions on updating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

The Committee will also hold a virtual listening session, “The ARTIST Act: Updating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act,” on the discussion draft on April 26 at 2:30 p.m. ET. More details on the listening session are forthcoming.

Patrice H. Kunesh to be Sworn in as Commissioner of ANA on Tuesday, April 18  

Patrice Kunesh (Standing Rock Lakota), President Joe Biden’s choice to lead the Administration for Native Americans as commissioner, will be sworn-in on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 in Department of Health and Human Services’ Great Hall of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building at 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC on Tuesday, April 18 at 1:30 p.m. – EDT.

The ANA is a program office within the United States Department of Health and Human Services. ANA works to promote self-sufficiency and economic opportunity for Native Americans by providing funding for community-based projects, training, and technical assistance to eligible Tribal Nations and Native organizations.

The position required the U.S. Senate’s approval. Kunesh was confirmed by the Senate on March 8, 2023.

Bipartisan Effort to Reintroduce Funding Reauthorization for Special Diabetes Program for Indians

Representatives Tom Cole (OK-R-04) and Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-D-25) announced on Wednesday they reintroduced legislation to reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), 

Currently, SDPI serves nearly 780,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives each year and is set to expire September 30, 2023. The legislation would extend funding for the program through fiscal year 2028.

“Since 1997, SDPI has significantly improved the trajectory of diabetes in Indian Country,” Rep. Cole (Chickasaw) said. “By allowing tribes to create public health programs for diabetes prevention and treatment, they can better promote healthy living to prevent diabetes and significantly improve the health outcomes and quality of life for many Native Americans. I am proud to join my colleague in the reintroduction of this critical legislation to ensure the continuation of this highly successful and effective program.”

“As a physician, I care deeply about health equity,” Dr. Ruiz said. “Diabetes disproportionately impacts Tribal communities, and when left untreated, can lead to higher risks of strokes, blindness, renal failure, and amputations. Reauthorizing this program is important to addressing health disparities for Tribal communities. That is why I am pleased to coauthor this legislation with Congressman Cole and to approach this issue in a bipartisan manner.”

The SDPI has helped to decreased diabetes among American Indians and Alask Natives by 5.5 percent.

Bipartisan Legislation to Prepare for Inevitable End to Federal Cannabis Prohibition Introduced

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY) and Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to better and immediately prepare the federal government for the inevitable end to cannabis prohibition. Titled the Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult Use Regulated Environment (PREPARE) Act, this bill creates a fair, honest and publicly transparent process for the federal government to establish effective regulations to be enacted upon the termination of its 86-year prohibition of cannabis. 

Joyce and Jeffries designed the PREPARE Act to provide experts across the ideological spectrum the opportunity to engage on cannabis reform and best equip lawmakers with the information necessary to establish a safe and effective federal regulatory system. Without such engagement, it is unlikely Congress can establish the bipartisan consensus necessary to enact the federal cannabis policy change Americans across the country have called for.  

The PREPARE Act would direct the Attorney General of the United States to establish the ‘Commission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis’ to advise on the development of a regulatory framework modeled after Federal and State regulatory frameworks with respect to alcohol. Specifically, the legislation would:

• Direct federal regulators to develop a regulatory and revenue framework to ensure safe production and consumption of cannabis, which would account for the unique needs, rights and laws of each state, and present such a framework to Congress within one year;
• Build upon the Obama and Trump Administrations’ efforts to remedy the unjust consequences of the war on cannabis, particularly those suffered by minority, low-income, and veteran communities;
• Help grant medical professionals critical research access and training,
• Develop protections for the hemp industry, including cross pollination prevention efforts. 
• Help ensure that absent the physician prescribed treatment of a minor, cannabis remain an adult-only product. 

“Once again Indian Country applauds both Representative David Joyce and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for their tremendous leadership in preparing the way for plant medicine to help heal the trauma of this nation. Central to this sacred effort is having the original healers of our country – it’s Indigenous people – at the genesis of this journey,” Tom Rodgers (Blackfeet Nation), Acting President of the Global Indigenous Council said. 

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Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at [email protected]

After years of planning and countless hours of work by master artisans from Indigenous groups across Alaska, 12 totem poles are about to be raised along the waterfront in Juneau, Alaska.

Importantly, several bronze masks will also be mounted nearby during the ceremony.

The two projects, known as Kootéeyaa Deiyí, or Totem Pole Trail, and Faces of Alaska, honor the five major Native groups of Alaska.

Both projects are the result of years of work by the private, nonprofit Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI). Founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska, its goal is to “promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding through public services and events,” SHI explains. It also conducts social scientific and public policy research that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history, and education across the state.

“SHI continues its efforts to make Juneau the Northwest Coast art capital, and I think people will be amazed to see these installations,” Rosita Worl, president of SHI, said in a statement. “We can’t wait to unveil them to the public.”

The ceremony, which will be open to the public, will be held on Saturday, April 22, at Heritage Plaza by the Sealaska Heritage Arts Campus on Seward Street in Juneau.

Don’t worry if you can’t travel to Juneau on short notice; the event will also be live-streamed on SHI’s YouTube channel.

Totem Poles’ Importance

The totem pole, or kootéeyaa in Lingít, gyáa’aang in X̱aad Kíl, and p’tsaan in Sm’algya̱x, is one of the most widely-known art forms of the Indigenous societies of the Pacific Northwest of North America. While its exact origins are unknown, scholars have traced the earliest known examples of this artform to the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian of Southeast Alaska, Haida Gwaii, and northern British Columbia, according to SHI.

“The carved figures depict crests, spirits, and designs that symbolize the rich history of clan origins and migrations, as well as significant ancestors who made lasting contributions for their descendants,” SHI continues. “Carved exclusively of red cedar, totem poles are raised on important occasions such as marriages, the construction of a new clan house, or the transfer of historic names and titles from one generation to the next. ‘Shame poles’ were also carved if an individual or clan grievously offended another clan.”

The Totem Pole Trail

During the totem pole ceremony on April 22, 12 of the planned 33 totem poles will be raised on what will be known as Totem Pole Trail.

That initiative, which was launched in 2021, has come to fruition thanks to a $2.9 million grant from the Mellon Foundation. Importantly, the grant also provided funds that allowed apprentices to be mentored by each of the artists.

“We discovered through this process that there aren’t a lot of master artist Northwest Coast totem pole carvers. SHI’s Native Artist Committee considers a person a master artist totem pole carver if he/she has carved at least five totem poles,” Worl said. “With the limited number of master totem pole carvers, the mentor-apprentice arrangement became a vital component of the project.”

The totem poles will serve as an entry point from the waterfront to Heritage Square, which encompasses the intersection of Seward and Front Streets in Juneau, as well as the surrounding area. Each totem pole will feature a corresponding storyboard that identifies the clan, crests, and information related to the artwork, according to SHI.

The Faces Of Alaska

The Faces of Alaska art installation at the Sealaska Heritage Arts Campus will feature bronze masks that represent Alaska’s five major Native groups, including the Inupiat, Yup’ik, Alutiiq, and Athabascan. The fifth group will be a combination of the Southeast tribes, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian, because their cultures are similar, according to SHI.

Master artists from each of those groups were selected to create four-foot monumental bronze masks, which are representative of their region’s artistic traditions. The masks, which will be positioned on pedestals, will provide a “centerpiece for discussion and education” on Alaska’s different cultural groups, SHI continues.

“I saw Juneau and Southeast Alaska as the gateway to the rest of Alaska, and I wanted to introduce visitors and residents to the other Indigenous groups of the state,” Worl said. “Additionally, other groups of Alaska Natives have settled in Juneau and Southeast Alaska, and I wanted to make them feel welcome in our region.”