Well, a year has certainly flown by!  Gabrielle’s reign as 2009-2010 Little Miss Indian Oklahoma City is coming to an end the 26th of March. Changing Winds Cultural Society will again go through the process of nominating and selecting new Princesses for 2010-2011, this years event takes place at Destiny Life Center in Del City.

Three families will be celebrating the outstanding job she and the other girls, Aysia & Brianna, have done with an Honor Dance to be held Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Norman, OK.  You can print a downloadable flyer here.  We would love to see you there to support and encourage all the girls. The event begins at 1:30 pm and ends about 11 pm.

2009 OKC Stockyard Christmas Parade

Hosting an Honor Dance is certainly a challenge and a huge task – and so we extend to you our friends an opportunity to become a partner with us in one or more various venues, such as: volunteering to assist our coordinators (afternoon or evening), donating an item to the fund-raising raffles, setting up as  a vendor (booth fees are $30),  purchase an ad space ($10-$75) in the Competition Program Book, or anything else you are good at, please contact us at 405-445-7498 and leave your contact information.

Well, being the parents of Little Miss Indian Oklahoma City has proved to be quite a bit more time consuming that we would have thought!   But we are so proud of her.  Here is a video of the girls performing Indian sign language to “God Bless the USA” while the ROTC lowers the American Flag, Sunday September 27, 2009.

Actor Mark Harmon was in Oklahoma City for part of his annual charity baseball game.  This year one of the recipients of the funds raised was the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic.  Little Miss Indian OKC, Jr. Miss Indian OKC, and Miss Indian OKC were invited.  Here are a few photos from that day.

Well it’s not exactly live but the first day of the Red Earth Festival was a blast! It has been a long nine years since I last participated as an exhibitor so I went with no expectations, just wanted to soak in the atmosphere of wall to wall people.

The Longest Parade I’ve Never Seen…

Gabrielle and the girls, Aysia & Brianna, were part of the celebrity lineup in the parade that jump-started the Festival. I had it all planned out, drop off the family at 9 am and run a couple of errands before the 11 o’clock official opening of the exhibit area. Everything was going smoothly until I returned to the Cox Convention Center, and then I found out I couldn’t get into the building…all the streets were blocked off. So I drove around until the parade ended (about 11:30) but the streets remained blocked off for at least 30 more minutes which meant I didn’t actually make it to my booth until after 12 noon.

“How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You…”

A host of new artists that I’m meeting for the first time are gracing the festival but the sea of familiar faces are warming my heart to no end. It is so wonderful to see some of those beautiful smiles, shaking hands, embracing warm hugs, and even stealing a few kisses has made this “apple pie” an ala mode. I cannot even begin to list some of those people (I wouldn’t be able to finish this blog in time to attend the rest of the festival). Come on out and see for your self! Don’t forget to print your Padilla of San Felipe coupon for a free print at Red Earth (see us at booth # 816).

A Live Demonstration:

Saturday will tend to be the busiest day at the festival but I always enjoy allowing guests view me creating the newest piece. I have prepared to paint, construct and finish a 4’x6’ panel with added pieces by Sunday afternoon. They may think I may be doing it for their pleasure but actually I’m working on a piece for the Art In Living Art Walk at Tahlequah next weekend. Hint: I’ll be displaying my artwork at the Iguana Café, 500 N. Muskogee Ave, come for a nice repast and conversation with a delicious ambience setting.
We’ll See You at Red Earth, Booth # 816

There is a new business line just for Padilla of San Felipe: (405) 445-7498. Leave your name, number and message so we would be informed of your call or order whether we are in the studio or on the road doing shows.

Come visit me at the Iguana Cafe in Tahlequah!

Iguana Cafe is located at 500 N. Muskogee Ave in beautiful downtown Tahlequah, Fernando will be exhibiting his recent artworks inside from 11 am until 6 pm. Come have an “artful” taste of delicious sights, sounds and savory aromas. Fernando would enjoy spending time visiting with you and getting to know you better, ah-ho.

June 5, 6, & 7, RED EARTH 2009 !!!

Mark those calendars today for one of the most exciting Native American Festivals in North America, and it all happens right downtown in Oklahoma City. We are excited about it more so this year because Fernando will debut his newest original works at the Art Show, and, Gabrielle will make her appearance as the reigning Little Miss Oklahoma City during the Red Earth Parade as well as with the multitude of dancers & singers during Grand Entry for the dance competition. You don’t want to miss one day of this tremendous gathering, all activities are indoors except for the parade which winds its way through the business section of downtown Oklahoma City. For more information than I can give you please go to www.redearth.org and download on the latest news pertaining to this years’ festival. We have been connected to this outstanding organization since the first year 1986. We are looking forward with great anticipation to be featured with so many other outstanding Native Americans, whose talents and gifts will be shared with every guest and visitor.
There is a new business line just for Padilla of San Felipe: (405) 445-7498. This number will connect to our internet system so that we would be informed of all calls or orders whether we are at home or on the road doing shows.

Upcoming Events and Pending Art Shows
For Padilla of San Felipe

2008

• October 4-5, 2008: 2008 Fall Indian Arts Market-Indian Pueblo Cultural Center; Albuquerque, New Mexico

• October 10-11, 2008: IACA Fall Wholesale Market; Mesa, Arizona

• November 2008: Buffalo Bash, Red Earth Museum; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• November 2, 2008: Art in Worship @ Glencoe First United Methodist Church, Glencoe, OK

• November 15, 2008: Circle of Friends Chili Cook-Off, Bethany, OK

• November 23, 2008: Art in Worship @ Mayfair Heights United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City, OK

• December 5-7, 2008: Winterfest & Miniature Show; Tribes 131, Norman, OK

• December 7, 2008: Art in Worship, Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, Tulsa, OK

• December 13-14, 2008 Pueblo Grande Indian Market; Phoenix, Arizona

2009

• January 2009: Colorado Indian Market & Southwest Showcase; Denver, Colorado

• February 2009: Tulsa Indian Art Festival; Tulsa, Oklahoma

• February 21-22, 2009: Southwest Indian Art Fair, Arizona State Museum @ University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona

• March 2009: Texas Indian Market & Southwest Showcase; Arlington, Texas

The holiday season brings with it numerous opportunities to get out and do a little gift shopping for our loved ones and special friends. Please find among the few events listed something that will arouse your interests, with all the hectic schedules and chaotic running around associated with the “peace & joy” of Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years, it’s amazing how calming an exhibit of artwork can be for the stressed out person. Try it, you may need it.

• Friday through Sunday December 5, 6 & 7: Tribes 131’s Winterfest and Miniature Show, Norman OK. Hours: Friday 6 pm – 10 pm; Saturday 10 am – 6 pm; Sunday noon – 5 pm.

• Sunday December 7: Art in Worship @ Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, Tulsa OK. Hours:  Sunday 10:30 am. A private showing of the Padilla’s artworks after the morning service.

• Saturday & Sunday December 13, 14: Tribes 131’s Native American Calendar signing, Norman OK. Hours: Saturday 10 am – 7 pm; Sunday 11 am – 6 pm.