Oklahoma Archaeology Month

To create the original piece Speak to Me, rising high school juniors and seniors from Oklahoma, collectively representing the Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation, Creek Nation, Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma, Kaw Nation, Latin America, Muscogee-Creek Nation, Osage Nation, Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma and Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma communities met twice with Mvskoke / Sac & Fox / Seminole artist Tony Tiger.  At the first meeting on the University of Oklahoma campus in July 2024, the students presented to Mr. Tiger the academic posters they had each created after learning about the field of archaeology in a two-credit college class called “Voices of Oklahoma.”  At that time, the students also shared with Mr. Tiger their vision that the poster should be collage-style and as colorful as possible and should convey the idea that heritage and art are intrinsically linked to one another.  “Voices” instructors followed up by sharing digital files of the student posters with Mr. Tiger, which he considered for several weeks.  Mr. Tiger revisited the students three weeks later, when their summer “Voices” experience was drawing to a close.  He shared a number of images of his previous artwork, seeking to gauge student responses to them as final input for his artistic process.  After that meeting, Mr. Tiger produced the original work Speak to Me as the product of his collaboration with the students.  To learn more about the “Voices of Oklahoma” program, click here.  To recommend a rising high school junior or senior for the 2025 “Voices of Oklahoma” class, click here.  To learn more about Tony Tiger, click here.  Finally, to visit a gallery showcasing the academic posters the 2024 “Voices” students created, click here.

VIEW THE POSTER HERE