Heavy Metal Heron

I work surrounded by art, encouraged by artists who see this damaged place, mourn with us and lift up the hope for a better tomorrow through the art that challenges reality with their mockingly clever creations.

While at the LEAD Agency office just this week, a gentleman who I had never met walked in with a sack and was about to leave when I stopped him to introduce myself, while another man hollered out his name in great familiarity. The gentleman stopped and handed me the sack saying he had found the contents in Tar Creek and was directed by Pam Bevis to bring it to me. I did reach into the sack and found a surprisingly beautiful bird that seemed to have been constructed with spoons and forks. But the shape and the eyes and long beak quickly made it possible to identify the Heron in my hands.

It was certainly more than an ordinary Heron, as the poem on the pedestal would attest which read:

THE HEAVY METAL HERON

WITH LONG AND POINTED BEAK

MAKES HIS HOME IN THE WATERS

IN OKLAHOMA’S TAR CREEK

TAILINGS FROM THE MINING DAYS

OF ALL THAT ZINC AND LEAD

TURNED ITS FEATHERS TO SOLID

METAL FROM ITS FEET UP TO ITS HEAD

NATIVE TO OTTAWA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA USA

HANDMADE BY OKLAHOMA.COM

Ref: Tar Creek Miami, Okla.

I read the above aloud and then quickly had to reach for a copy of Maryann Hurtt’s book of poetry, Once Upon A Tar Creek: Mining for Voices to read back aloud to him her Tar Creek Monster poem that begins with the words, “I didn’t always look this way…” and presented it back to him as my gift in return for the marvelous heavy metal Heron he had “found” in Tar Creek.

I came to learn much more about this artist. The tags on this piece of art do not mention his name which I learned was Doug Lee with a website handmadeoklahoma.com showing a few of his other metal-work art pieces. He agreed to allow LEAD Agency to honor he and his art as one of the artists we feature at this year’s conference.

What I failed to do was to point to the handmade clay figure renditions of the Tar Creek fish sitting on the table across the room, all made by Patty Shinn, a well-known local tribal cultural treasure and artist, now deceased. She had gifted me one years ago, then every year for a series of years followed with fish that continued to morph in unusual ways. We longed for the day the trend in her art would begin showing the improvements we know are possible.

Also, on my desk was the fine pottery piece rising Cherokee potter Carrie Lind has crafted for me after I had told her the story of the fish trying to return to Tar Creek and then the toxic spill turned the water black and 10,000 fish were found by ODEQ to have died, causing the $10,000 fine to the company, a simple $1 for each dead fish. Just above these hung a then high school artist along side a creative painting local artist Connie Bennedict had gifted.

Elsewhere around the room and filling each room of our office are framed fine photographs and lithographs, children’s drawings and classroom projects referring to the legacy mining and the toxic consequences to the environment and every living being here has suffered. But the beauty of their art shows the expressions of the deep desire we all want this place restored and the vibrant life we seek to begin.

This year’s 27 th National Environmental Conference at Tar Creek, October 7-8-9 at the NEO College Ballroom will be featuring artwork from a set of artists. You will want to come to the conference and enjoy meeting these talented artists, seeing their work and stay to learn how together we have the power that forces the cleanup you deserve. It has always been free for Ottawa County residents and all who do their work here.

Respectfully Submitted ~ Rebecca Jim