Kiowa @ Jacobson House Native Art Center

Jacobson House Native Art Center
609 Chautauqua Ave, Norman, OK 73069
GPS Coordinates: 35.210778, -97.449860
Tel: 405.366.1667
Web: https://www.jacobsonhouse.org

Contact the house first to confirm which items are currently on display, as they, like most other collections and museums, may rotate their collection on display.

The Jacobson Foundation

With a commitment to preserving the property and the legacy of Oscar Jacobson and his wife, Jeanne d'Ucel, while honoring the courage, talent, and achievement of the "Kiowa Six" and all the Native American art students, The Jacobson Foundation was incorporated as a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization. In 1986, the Foundation succeeded by seeing the Jacobson House placed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its unique architecture and role in the evolution and success of art in Oklahoma. expression which embodies our values and spirit and has the capacity to convey those values and that spirit. That tradition gathers people together.

The Kiowa Six

Young Native American artists and Kiowa Tribal members from the Anadarko area of Oklahoma. Due to their talent and the opportunities afforded them at The University of Oklahoma, they became international celebrities. It is well remembered that these young Kiowa artists were occasionally homesick for their Kiowa cultural heritage and that during those times they would gather at the Jacobson House to sing, dance and tell Kiowa stories.

The six Kiowa artists, not alone but in particular, exerted a strong and positive influence on Native American artists, all Native Americans trying to accommodate drastic new conditions. Their achievement was a source of pride. Art is a vocation compatible with Native American communal values; the world of art has become a major arena for economic development for Native Americans.

* James Auchiah (1906-1974)
* Spencer Asah (1905/ 1910-1954)
* Jack Hokeah (1902-1969)
* Stephen Mopope (1898-1974)
* Monroe Tsatoke (1904-1937)
* Lois (Bougetah) Smoky (1907-1981)

Historic Jacobson House

The historic Jacobson House is located on the northwest corner of the campus of The University of Oklahoma at 609 Chautauqua in Norman, Oklahoma. Following the death of Dr. Oscar B. Jacobson in 1966, the House became rental property until it was gifted to the OU Foundation and then sold to the University. The University of Oklahoma planned to solve one of its pressing problems by demolishing the Jacobson House and providing more parking at this convenient location. Fortunately, a group of Norman people saw far more than a parking lot in the somewhat rundown residence and began work to preserve the House.

When Oscar and Jeanne Jacobson were building their home in 1916 and 1917, the shortages of World War I made everything difficult. They persisted and created a marvelous house. Several motifs are characteristically Swedish. The connecting door between the house and garage and the wooden scrollwork outlining the garage windows are a tribute to Jacobsons Swedish heritage. Stucco was a popular exterior finish in Sweden at the turn of the century. Classical columns and the gallery-like formal living space give the interior a timeless, sunny atmosphere experienced by all who enter. The back porch was perfect for its use to stage plays and performances by the mistress of the house. The House was then, as now, a wonderful gathering place and gallery for experiencing art and conversation. One can easily imagine the Kiowa Six singing and drumming to the enjoyment of a gathering of guests.

Source:
* Jacobsonhouse.org. (n.d.). The Jacobson House. [online] Available at: www.jacobsonhouse.org [Accessed 16 Jan. 2019].