Rhonda Williams is a native Oklahoman. She is the great-granddaughter of Ralph Dent, the last hereditary chief of the Otoe-Missouri Tribe of Red Rock, Oklahoma. She also comes from a long line of artists including her great-grandmother, Madge Pettit Dent, a noted and widely known ribbon work artist. Rhonda was given her great-grandmothers Indian name "Whoo-gra-do'-a'me", meaning 'the four main support poles of the tipi' [homemaker]. Williams includes a symbol of these four main poles as part of her signature on all of her artwork.
"I have absorbed all the beautiful things that have surrounded my life and express them in my work. My creative inspirations range from the bright blue flower of a morning glory vine quietly winding itself around my grandmother's fence post, to the feelings and sights of vivid colors at a gathering of my people."
Williams balances the delicate beauty of her subject matter with the strength of bold colors and the exact placement of each item in her composition without becoming rigid or hard even where curved line meets bold straight bands of color. There is calm, quiet strength in her paintings that demonstrates an intimate and spiritual knowledge of her culture and environment.
Williams' paintings follow traditional themes executed in a variety of media; from acrylics to clay to mixed media compositions incorporating buffalo or horse hair, bone and hand sculpted clay faces adorned with hair and face paint. "Painting allows me to be expressive with my style, while my clay faces demand meticulous attention to detail that I take great pride in."
For over 35 years, Williams has been creating art. She currently works out of the White Stallion Studio, a home based studio in Edmond, Oklahoma. Rhonda studied sculpture under Christy Myers, an award winning and nationally known sculptor and attended Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma where she studied art. Williams' professional memberships include the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition and the American Indian Artist's Network Group.
Williams has exhibited her work in many group exhibitions in Oklahoma City including; the White Stallion Fine Arts Show, Oklahoma Native Art and Jewelry, 4th of July Celebration, Muhn-Kuh Pee Ka (Good Medicine) Fine Art Show and Red Earth. Other groups show include, Guthrie Art and Wine Festival, Guthrie, OK, Jacobson House Indian Art Market, Norman, OK, Gallery of the Plains Fine Art Show, Nichols Hills and Colony, OK and Artwork by Native American Women, Southern Plains Indian Museum, Anadarko, OK in 2006. Her work is held in private collections and galleries in Oklahoma and Texas.
The Southern Plains Indian Museum is privileged to present her work in her first solo exhibition. Williams' work will be on display at the museum from through December 29, 2007.
Inquiries regarding the purchase of her work may be directed to the Oklahoma Indian Arts and Crafts Cooperative (OIACC) gift shop located in the Southern Plains Indian Museum.
The OIACC phone number is 405 247-3486.
After the exhibit closes, Rhonda Williams may be contacted through her email address: otoegirl_76@yahoo.com
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