Chickasaw artist Chance Brown’s piece “Greenwood, Archer & Pine” garnered the “People’s Choice Award” for the Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM), recently.
Since 2005, SEASAM has provided a unique marketplace where adult and youth artists from Southeastern and Woodland tribes can showcase and sell their work.
The 2020 and 2021 SEASAM competitions and markets were offered virtually for the safety of artists and patrons, allowing for the continuation of the market.
Brown’s award was announced Monday, Nov. 8, on the art market’s website SEASAM.net. His art was selected by SEASAM patrons’ verified votes. He received 354 votes.
When he was notified of the award, he was busy feeding cattle.
“It’s very surreal. It was not the call I was expected while looking at a Brahman bull,” Brown laughed. “It was a wonderful surprise. I am beyond grateful to receive this award.”
This is the first time he has received this award. The piece also placed first in the painting category, which was another first for the 31-yearold Chickasaw artist.
The vibrant painting is a reflection of the artist, with many personal and cultural images interwoven and layered into the piece.
“Greenwood, Archer & Pine” commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, which took place in the Greenwood District of downtown Tulsa. Historic buildings and oil derricks ablaze are featured in the artwork’s background. Smiling members of a Tulsa funk band, which was formed 50 years after the massacre, are prominently featured in the foreground.
The three-member band dubbed their group the GAP (Greenwood, Archer & Pine) Band to pay homage to their neighborhood.
Brown’s piece also includes two aircrafts, a 1920s era biplane and a modern fighter jet that was represented in the GAP Band’s music video "You Dropped a Bomb."
The GAP Band is one of many rhythm and blues artists Brown has featured in his work throughout his career.
Across the bottom of “Greenwood, Archer & Pine” traditional Muskogean wind pattern motifs are featured, which serve as a narrative of the artist’s First American heritage.
“Being Chickasaw is innately a mainstay in who I am,” Brown said.
Overall, the work seeks to convey a message of “laugh to keep from crying.”
“There are horrific things that happen every day, but we’ve got to find some joy to laugh to keep from crying. We’ve got to stay diligent,” Brown said.
The colorful acrylic on Masonite painting serves as a narrative of the artist’s experience, but also documents history.
“I am trying to find a balance of finding the beauty in anything,” he said.
Brown completed the work in August 2021.
He is thankful for the opportunity to showcase his work, along with other Chickasaw and Southeastern Indian artists.
“The Chickasaw Nation’s support for the visual artists is beyond amazing, especially in this past year of unpresented times.”
Brown also recently completed a mural, painting the interior of the Mannsville Community Center. To identify the important community landmarks, Brown visited with residents of the tiny Southern Oklahoma hamlet and conducted research.
The mural reflects the communities’ history and includes features such as the old train depot, the old Norton Bridge stretched across the Washita River, the Argo Hotel, a field of cotton, flora and fauna, and other structures.
Brown’s long range plan includes pursuing a master’s degree in Fine Arts.
SEASAM is available until Dec. 31. To view and purchase art, visit SEASAM. net.