The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-10-08

Tulsa has q civilization older than
Itself, OF which II knows nothing and
that embodles an art that belongs
TO this country alone. Look from this
wlndow--see that skyline, those
mesas that have an individuality all
their own and II Tulsa but knew IL.
the art and civilization of which
speak belong with what you see
there"
The speaker was +. Overton Col
bert. young Indian artist. lie was
standing at tho windows OF the art
rooms at Central high school over
looking the low lying hills to. the
north Of tho city, hills shadowed
with the faint blue haze OF n Sep
tember morning. II was through
such hills that Colbert raced, horse
back. when no was a little boy. He
grew up In the midst of surround
lnBs that he has ueed In his art and
has tried 10 interpret for the people
that zee them every day as well as
for tho artistic world in which no
has already made a name for HIM
self He received his college train
ing In A. Il NJ. college at saltwater.
Now. after years OF hard work that
are summed up briefly in the sue
cess that he has achieved for him
self. he has come homo for a little
while.
Oklahoma hasn't known much
about this native son. Colbert's
father and aunts and uncles weren't
In sympathy with his artistic ambi-
tons. They had ideals OF n CONNER
cial or political career for him. Col
berts grandfather. Frank overton.
was a governor OF Indiana territory.
Ills father .s vel. known II Okla
homais political life. SO when, at
the end OF college career that
gave young Colbert training ns a
mechanic and engineer. he talked
things over quietly with his father
and herewith announced his inten-
tion OF following line of work for
which ne felt himself 10 be fitted
above all else, II was without back
ing or sympathy from his family
that he struck out for himself
stRrting out first for Alaska. The
lstory OF his Journeyings, making his
way as he went, studying the life
the myths. the legends, the religious
rites, the art OF the Indian wherever
he found people OF his own race
his subsequent arrival in New York
and his gradual climb up the ladder
towards success as the world gives
llt, IL n long story.
But Tulsa people who kept In close
touch with artistic events In art cen
ters OF the east have read many critl,
ciams. appreciatlona comments upon
lColbert's work. They have seen
newspaper pictures OF some OF his
best canvases. They know that his
paintings, with their background OF
European training, modern thought
and technique, go TO the primitive
Thoughts and impulses OF the red
people for their inspiration and that
lin their symbolism they contain
meaning and story that tho youne
lartist Is most earnest in his endeavoI
10 pass on to this modern generation
Colbert is n Chlckasaw Indian. Ii
Calera, okla, 'the land OF hi
fathers" he has a studio. II Is q
wlgwam, and when he works ther,
he more often than not wears hi
native costume, His other studio Il
In New York. The schools from
which he received his training ar,
the New York School OF Fine Ant
School OF Art. Exhibitions OF hi
paintings has been sponsored nv Mis-
Mabel Clark In the Yer Nicer studios
and he has exhibits in the Montros,
galleries. Paul Wyland bartlett. thu
sculptor Is deeply interested In Col
bert and plans TO sponsor him soor
In Paris.
But while New York and its emil
nent people have meant recognition
OF his work TO Colbert. II is from
Oklahoma, his own home. and from
1.-The state in which folk OF his owT