Mixed Media - Weaving 

My Anglo name is Jay Benham.  My Kiowa name is Au Pia Goodle (Red Otter).  Red Otter was the name of my great-grandfather.

I was born in Oklahoma City.  My mother was 100% Kiowa, my father was Anglo.  Spending summers, holidays, and special events with my Kiowa family, was the norm during my formative years.  Kiowa family traditions are important to me. 

Since the eighth grade I knew I wanted to be an art teacher.  I always enjoyed art and as a child often painted on any surface that was available.  

After receiving a B.S.E., in Art Education from Henderson State University, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, I taught elementary and junior high school grade art.  I received an M.A. in Art Education from Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona.   

While living and teaching elementary and high school art in Flagstaff, I started to display my artwork in an art gallery in Sedona, Arizona.  In later years, my artwork was exhibited in the Oklahoma Indian Art Gallery in Oklahoma City.  This gallery was operated by Doris Littrell, a Designated Oklahoma Living Art Treasure.  Doris played a decisive role in the development of my Indian Art career.  I have exhibited in galleries in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  I have also entered Native American Art Shows such as The Red Earth Festival, Oklahoma City, Indian Market (SWAIA), Santa Fe, New Mexico, and The Cherokee Art Market, Catoosa, Oklahoma.  Permanent collections include Fred Jones, Jr. Museum of Modern Art, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Research Center, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, and the Kiowa Tribe Art Museum, Carnegie, Oklahoma.

My business career includes working for two Fortune Five Food Companies.  My experiences include manufacturing, establishing a consumer relations team, a customer information center, and employee development in quality and customer response.

At present I am a Museum Educator for Crystal Bridges.  We facilitate school groups on tours through the museum’s collection.  Our educators use a dialogical method of instruction, which is based on conversation, using open-ended questions.  Establishing a non-judgmental, supportive environment for self-expression.

My plans are to continue to have a significant impact on Native American Art by continuing to share and advance our story with a regional network of collaborating and supportive artists.  I want to celebrate Native American cultural practices and traditions with a new emphasis on Ledger Art.  

Currently, I am collaborating with the director of a short film as an historical, and cultural consultant.  This is a true story about two fathers who have lost their sons in battle.  They travel to Texas from Oklahoma in 1874 to reclaim their sons remains. A disagreement arises between the two brothers as to whether the tribe continues to do battle with the United States Government and parish as a tribe, or does the tribe agree to a peaceful settlement and remain on a reservation. 

During the development of this short film, I’vehad pause to re-examine my approach to art.  I realize that my oeuvre, which has included two-dimensional paintings that hold a particular narrative supported by a written story, no longer suffice.  I will network a relation of connections to Native communities that will allow me to visualize a new scope for future projects.  I will refer to this new approach as Contemporary Ledger Art Installation. The plan is to utilize the community of Native Artists to set a new scenario of Ledger Art in three dimensions. The setup is a scenario of models, dancers, and actors to act out a story in real time.  Each scene tells a story.  In each scene the actors will be painted (clothes, faces, hair), as well as stage walls, floor, and furniture.  The actors act out the scene utilizing music, dance, script, and dialogue. The scope of this project is designed to elevate the traditional ledger art story told on a new level.  I am committed to the success of this art installation project.

The success of this new endeavor will be determined by the degree of advancing the Native American Voice in our community.  The voice of the Native American Community is telling the Indigenous Peoples’ story of the U.S. Boarding Schools, or the story of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.  The enlightenment and education of our community about Indigenous Peoples will give strength and empower the Native Peoples by providing structure.  I feel the best measurement will be the increased dialogue and civil discourse, which will advance the attainment of social justice and mutual respect for our Native American community.