Reenacting the Kiowa Five

Jacobson House lives and breathes tradition of Native art

By Brian DaffronThe Jacobson House Native Art Center was filled Feb. 20 with people who waited to see a dramatic re-enactment of the “Kiowa Five” artists--Monroe Tsatoke, Spencer Asah, Stephen Mopope, Jack Hokeah, Lois Smoky and James Auchiah--the dominant figures from southwest Oklahoma who in the 1920s brought Native art into the contemporary era.And:“Jacobson House--1930,” the play that featured the dramatic re-creation, was written by former Jacobson House Executive Director Russ Tallchief, who is working on a book on the Kiowa Five to be published by University of Oklahoma Press.

Tallchief, Osage, presented the play as a benefit to raise money for the art center and then appeared in the play as newspaper reporter Savoie Lottinville, who questioned the Jacobson family and the Kiowa Five.

“We’ve had to be very creative in how we have fundraised and how we have programmed, because art sales are down across the board,” Tallchief said. “Not just for us, (but) everywhere. Museums are laying people off. The entire art world and nonprofit world is in turmoil. We are trying to be creative about what we do to generate revenue. The support that we got from that play was really overwhelming. We planned one play and sold out three. I think it says a lot about the community and how much the Jacobson House means to the community.”Comment:  For more on the subject, see Film Captures a Night with the Kiowa Five and Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.

Below:  "Maya Torralba posed as Lois Smoky, the only female member of the Kiowa Five." (Photo by Brian Daffron)