Pat Riggs of Roland will be one of the local artists with a booth at the festival, showing off her Native American artwork. Riggs, who was born in Fort Smith, Ark., is a long-time resident of Roland.
Riggs, along with her sister, Ruth Price of Fort Smith, and niece, Emily Butcher of Muldrow, will be featuring their art and jewelry work at the festival. Riggs does portraits of the Comanche and Kiowa tribes, while Price does jewelry art and Butcher does Christian art.
Riggs said they are making plans to put on a top show at the festival. Price will be doing a beadwork demonstration, and original and limited-edition prints of Riggs' work will be available. Riggs said she travels the country showing her work, but it will be the first time to show her work locally.
"We haven't shown locally, but since this was in my home town, we want to make it special for the people coming to the festival," Riggs said.
Riggs said she began painting under the instruction of Fort Smith artist Tonya Moran. She graduated from Westark College in Fort Smith, which is now part of the University of Arkansas.
Riggs said she is a nationally-known artist who has made it to juried shows that only include the top 200 Southwestern artists in the United States. Her art has brought in over 25 awards in juried competitions.
Price said her sister does colorful beading and jewelry art, and her work has also made it into juried national shows this year, putting her too in the top 200 southwestern artists in the United States.
The booth will also contain art of her 13-year-old niece, Emily Butcher. She works in pencil and does Christian art. She has won first place in Oklahoma state competitions and first place in national competitions for the past two years, Riggs said.
The sisters are the adopted daughters of Robert Redbird, an international artist who is a full-blood Kiowa Indian. Riggs said her father has been presented humanitarian awards in three states, and he was the first Native American to be inducted into the Motion Picture Hall of Fame. Two of his original paintings will be on display in Roland during the festival, both from private collections.
Riggs' artwork depicts real people from the Kiowa and Comanche tribes in the Anadarko area. She said she hopes to capture part of the Native American spirit in her portraits, and she said each piece tells a different story.
Riggs said her original work is done museum quality on acid-free papers and canvas with professional paints and pencils.
Riggs operates a gallery in Roland, Pat Riggs Fine Art Studio & Gallery, and her art is available for viewing by appointment. Her gallery is located in Roland at the corner of North Cottonwood and Shamblin.
For more information or to make an appointment, call her at (918) 427-7047.
