Field Trip to Historic Sites, 2-Day Creative Expression Workshop Scheduled For Lawton Fort Sill

Experience Oklahoma’s American Indian History via the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge with Jimmy W. Arterberry, Comanche scholar, historian, artist and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Comanche Nation. Participants will experience the refuge by taking part in a lecture with journaling/sketching field trip. The following day, they will meet in Lawton, OK to create an interpretive piece in a medium of choice – drawing, painting, poetry, song, short story, film, beading or leatherworking in a studio setting. Limited art supplies are provided; participants are welcome to bring their own media. The limited art supplies available are acrylic paint, watercolor, tempera, color pencils and markers. Lunch is not included in cost of program.

Previous experience with creative/artistic media is helpful but not required. Due to sensitive nature of the refuge, workshop is limited to 20 participants. Youth 17years and under must have parent/guardian also enrolled. Workshop is scheduled no matter the weather. Cost is $35/person Pre-registration with payment is required. Registration as well as cancellation deadline for refund is Friday, March 27, 2015.

Day 1 - Friday, April 3, Meet at the Arts & Humanities Division at 8am. The group will travel to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge for lecture with journaling/sketching from approximately 9:00am – 2:00pm. Participants have an opportunity to examine the sites from their own creative perspective by taking notes, photographing and journaling. These sites are an easy walk but note that this involves natural terrain and comfortable shoes are recommended. Bring sack lunch and light snack. The refuge is for wildlife, rules and regulations of the refuge will be followed. What is brought into the refuge will be packed out when leaving.

Day 2 - Saturday, April 4, Creative Expressions in Studio, 9am – 5pm. Studio time will be held at Old Town Hall/Carnegie Library in downtown Lawton. Each participant will create a response to his/her onsite experience. Participants are welcome to bring their own media and supplies such as beads, leather, basket weaving materials, etc. Limited art supplies that will be available include acrylic paint, watercolor, tempera, color pencils and markers. Previous experience with creative/artistic media is helpful but not required. Lunch is on your own.

Registration forms are available at the Arts & Humanities Office, in the McMahon Auditorium, west entrance, 801 NW Ferris Ave., 8am-noon & 1-5pm, Monday through Friday. Call 580-581-3470 or 581-3471 for more information, or to download CLICK HERE

The City of Lawton, Lawton Arts & Humanities Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts are program sponsors. The program is made possible in part by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council.

About the Oklahoma Arts Council
“The Oklahoma Arts Council is the official state agency for the support and development of the arts. The Council’s mission is to lead, cultivate and support a thriving arts environment, which is essential to quality of life, education and economic vitality for all Oklahomans. The Council provides more than 500 grants to over 300 organizations in communities statewide each year, organizes professional development opportunities for the state’s arts and cultural industry, and manages hundreds of works of art in the public spaces of the state Capital. For more information, visit www.arts.ok.gov.”