From Ocmulgee to Okmulgee Opening Reception
Thursday, September 14th, 2023
Doors Open at 4pm
Artist Talk begins at 5pm
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Join us in welcoming Bobby C. Martin and Randy Kemp as they discuss their work at the McEachern Art Center. Beverages and light bites will be served!
Bobby C. Martin (Muscogee)
Randy Kemp (Euchee / Muscogee / Choctaw)
Opening Reception: September 14th, 2023
Photo Gallery
The exhibit is a reflection of Martin and Kemp’s work to express the homecoming from Oklahoma back to the ancestral lands in Georgia. “From Ocmulgee to Okmulgee” is an interpretive way that each artist expresses what it’s like to be back in the homelands, where their ancestors lived before the colonization of the southeast.
The Indigenous people of the Muscogee and Euchee called the Southeastern United States home, long before explorers crossed the seas. Upon settlement of these lands, the tribes were forced to sign treaties ceding various sections of land. The first treaty was signed with the British Crown in 1733, titled The Treaty of Savannah. As the people were continually moved west, one area of land along the Ocmulgee River (current day Macon) was to always be protected and never ceded. In the illegal Treaty of 1821, all lands in the now state of Georgia were lost.
The descendants of the Muscogee and Euchee people were removed from the Southeastern United States in the 1830s by the United States government. The people walked over 700 miles into Indian Territory which is modern day Oklahoma. When they were forced to leave their homes, they took their tribal town ceremonial fires with them to Oklahoma. When arriving in Oklahoma, each town placed their fires where they still reside and enjoy their ceremonial dances and songs. However, not all tribal town fires still burn.
Today, there are 16 of the original 45 tribal town fires that exist. While some tribal towns brought their fires, other tribal towns built churches predominately of the Baptist or Methodist faith. They set up their “Indian churches” similar to the ceremonial grounds, where they sing their hymns ineither Muscogee or Euchee language. The ancestors of these people make up the modern Muscogee (Creek) Nation whose capital city is in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
The Ocmulgee River, which translates as “boiling waters” was known as the Capital city of the Lower Creek Confederacy. The imprint of this sophisticated civilization still remains and is protected in the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park.
Bobby C. Martin is an artist/educator/ facilitator who works out of his Martin Mountain Studio near West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma.
Martin’s artwork is exhibited and collected internationally and has been featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions.
His current project, Altars of Reconciliation, is a three-person show featuring Martin, Erin Shaw (Chickasaw) and Tony Tiger (Sac & Fox/Muscogee/Seminole) that
focuses on the experiences of the artists as Native Americans and as Christians, and
is currently traveling throughout the United States. Martin’s work is in numerous museum collections, including the Philbrook Museum and Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Museum of the Great Plains in Lincoln, Nebraska, and the Georgia Art Museum in Athens, Georgia.
As an enrolled citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma, Martin currently holds a Professor of Visual Arts position at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and he frequently leads printmaking workshops and artist retreats at his studio and at various museums and art centers around the world.
Portfolio/Website:
Randy Kemp is a citizen of the Muscogee- Creek (Mvskoke) Nation of Oklahoma, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and Euchee tribe of Oklahoma.
Kemp is a retired Environmental Graphic Designer of 30 years from Arizona State University and is an alumnus of the Katherine K. Herberger College of Fine Arts at Arizona State University. Kemp also received an Associate of Arts degree from Bacone Junior College in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Kemp is a multidisciplinary artist. His body of work includes mixed media, found objects, painting, printmaking, film, theatre,
storytelling and flute performer. His artwork has been exhibited in prominent museums, galleries and private collections throughout the world.
As a music recording artist, he was nominated for “Best Spoken Word” and “New or Debut Duo/ Group of the Year” at the 10th and 18th Annual Native American Music Award (NAMA), respectively. He was also nominated for “Best Instrumental Album” at the Manito Ahbee Indigenous Music Awards (IMA), in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. Kemp also performed prelude flute music for President Barack Obama (70,000 in attendance) at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.
Website/Portfolio:
Instagram:
randykemp.artist