My story of Oklahoma is told the same way the early Paleo-Indians told us of their existence, by using a stick to leave their mark in caves for future generations to contemplate the meaning of their existence. As an artist who believes the heart of man is revealed through archaeological discoveries, I believe his story is as mysterious as that of Moses producing water by striking a stone with his staff or David using a smooth stone to kill Goliath or mud used by Jesus to cause the blind man to see; so this book of paintings is done with a simple stick. These stick paintings are evidence that God does work in mysterious ways and He chooses those who make him their habitation to tell His story. This book of stick paintings is about the thirty-nine Indian tribes that are headquartered in Oklahoma. It speaks of the tragic and difficult times for the Indian people as they were gathered up and relocated in the early 1800's in what was then called Indian Territory. My purpose is not to retell their story in words, but to do so in paintings that cause the viewer to explore the wonderful lives of these early Americans. I give to you what has been given to me - The Ancient Art of Stick Painting
