DURANT, OK – The Art Gallery at Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant has been updated to feature Beyond the Human: Animals and Insects in Choctaw Art, an exhibition highlighting the Choctaw people’s worldview of animals and insects as teachers, messengers, protectors and storytellers.
The exhibit has mixed media works from Paul King, Linda Kukuk, Erin Wetherill and Heather Scott. King is a retired educator who explores heritage and sports through his art. Kukuk is a self-taught artist and lifelong resident of Oklahoma City whose work focuses on scratchwork and watercolor. Wetherill is a visual artist who explores themes of identity, heritage and resilience through mixed media, painting, printmaking, sculpture, sterling silver jewelry and graphic design. Scott owns Lamon Photography in McAlester and showcases an attention to detail in the images she captures.
“Each artist brings a distinct voice to this living dialogue,” said Claire Green Young, Public Arts Manager for Choctaw Nation. “Through bold visual storytelling and intricate material choices, they honor the spiritual, ecological, and cultural significance of the beings that crawl, fly, hunt, and dwell alongside us. Whether evoking a cicada’s fleeting song or the silent strength of a buffalo’s gaze, the works reframe our perceptions of life beyond the human.”
The art gallery’s update comes ahead of Native November, offering guests the opportunity to experience unique forms of Choctaw art at no cost. The exhibit will be up in the Sky Casino gallery until April.
