Robert McMurtry (artist)

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Robert McMurtry was an indigenous artist from Oklahoma who published several books for children about native and Oklahoma history.[1][2]

Biography[]

Robert, nicknamed Robby or Robbie, was a native artist of Comanche descent whose work primarily focuses on Native American subject matter. McMurtry worked in pencil, acrylic, mixed-media, and comic book style.[3] McMurtry grew up in Loco, Oklahoma.[4] He worked at a variety of jobs creating his art, teaching students, and other odd jobs to make his living. McMurtry published several works such as The Life and Times of Ned Christie, Cherokee Patriot and Renegade.[2]

McMurtry grew up in a military family and when the family was not living overseas they resided in Loco.[4] There was little in the way of entertainment and friends, so he found enjoyment in reading comic books and drawing.[5]

He began attending college in but flunked out as an art major as the college almost exclusively supported abstract art. In college, McMurtry found a strong Native community and later in life would collaborate with the other artists he met during this time.[6]

McMurtry’s art predominantly focuses on pairing Native American stories with art. Inspired by his childhood obsession with comic books, he created several books featuring Native characters such as The Road to Medicine Lodge: Jesse Chisholm in the Indian Nations and Native Heart: The Life and Times of Ned Christie, Cherokee Patriot and Renegade.[7]

McMurtry often taught children at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center and taught for three years at the Art Explosion summer program which was sponsored by the Chisholm Trail Arts Council. McMurtry was a beloved teacher. He was heavily involved in his community, serving as the Cultural Coordinator for the Creek Nation and assisted in the planning of the annual Western Spirit Celebration.[8]

He won a variety of awards including the Redbud award in 2011 from the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association for an exhibition at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. In 1978, he was the Cherokee Nation's artist in residence.[9] His work "Unarmed" is a part of the Gilcrease Museum's permanent collection and was donated in 2004.[10] He was also a part of a team which built a permanent art installation, named "The Passage" at the Tennessee River Landing in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was a major starting point for the Trail of Tears. McMurtry designed seven sculptures of stickball players as part of his contribution.[11]

McMurtry was killed on August 1, 2012 after he was shot by police deputies at his home in Morris, Oklahoma.[12] Two years after his death, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum held an exhibition of McMurtry’s works.[13]

References[]

  1. ^ Hopper, Toni (August 3, 2012). Deputies named in shooting of award winning artist Robert "Robbie" McMurtry. Duncan Banner.
  2. ^ a b McMurtry, Robert (2009). The Life and Times of Ned Christie, Cherokee Patriot and Renegade. Morris: Two Crows Studio.
  3. ^ Brandenburg, Joan. "Show reveals breadth, diversity of late Oklahoma artist's talent". The Oklahoman. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Little Thunder 2011, p. 4.
  5. ^ Little Thunder 2011, pp. 5–6.
  6. ^ Little Thunder 2011, pp. 6–7.
  7. ^ Callison, Camille; Rifkind, Candida (2019). "Introduction: "Indigenous Comics and Graphic Novels: An Annotated Bibliography"". Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures. 11 (1). Archived from the original on August 6, 2020.
  8. ^ Hopper, Toni (August 3, 2012). "Deputies named in the shooting death of award winning artist Robert "Robbie" McMurtry". Duncan Banner. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  9. ^ "Multi-media Utilized in Student Art Show". Cherokee Phoenix.
  10. ^ McMurtry, Robert. "Unarmed". Gilcrease Museum. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  11. ^ Agent, Dan (June 2005). "Cherokee Monumental Art Returns to origins". Cherokee Phoenix.
  12. ^ Mergh, Wilhelm (August 13, 2012). "Native Artist Robbie McMurtry Fatally shot by Deputies". Indian Country Today. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  13. ^ Brandenburg, Joan. "Show reveals breadth, diversity of late Oklahoma artist's talent". The Oklahoman. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
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