Rising Star & Mexican Water

I spent an afternoon with a rising star film maker and the stars she has created, reluctant me and Dana Tiger, absolutely delighting in every moment of the attention.

Jane Breckinridge asked us to come to the Euchee Butterfly Farm outside Bixby, OK to screen both of Loren Waters’ short documentaries, Meet Me at the Creek and her latest film, Tiger and to sit for a panel discussion after the viewings.

The afternoon’s event began with Creek tribal hymns sung a Capela. I became familiar with their style and tones when living in Creek Nation while working in Sapulpa decades ago. The mournful sounding songs build and in many settings people all over the room begin to chime in sharing the verses in a way to bring a congregation together in difficult and hard situations through grief and trauma.

At this gathering we viewed the artistry of a young native woman who is launching her career with these films, the latest centered around Dana Tiger and her family of artists.

The room filled with strangers, family and friends and on the front row one of my very own cousins, Bates Frayser had come and totally surprised me!

He and I were conflicted on being there, when an hour away, at the Tulsa Botanical Gardens my brother Clark Frayser was engaged in a ceremony connecting the two sister cities, Tulsa and San Lois Potosi, Mexico with the dedication of a water feature. The water fountain, Caje de Agua is a replica of the early 1800’s original fountain still used there by the public. This smaller version has been stored in Tulsa for the last decade waiting for this permanent home. The carved quarry stone pieces were assembled and dedicated at the Tulsa Botanic Garden. And my cousin and I were missing it as we settled in to watch Loren Waters’ two documentaries.

Caja De Agua fountain, Tulsa Botanic Garden

The panel discussion followed the showing and mingling afterwards as people filed out the open doors to see a selection of live butterflies in the screened structure just down the lane. Plants were in bloom and the butterflies were not in any way distracted by human presence.

The gift of directions lit up my cellphone when the site of the counter celebration address was entered but the time of arrival was the time the facility CLOSED. I can’t tell you how many times, I have looked up and seen Clark arrive for our Tar Creek Conferences, and how few times I have made the same effort to be present at his various doings.

I was determined to RACE the time on the cellphone and get there for him. Clark has been involved with the Tulsa Global Alliance for a great number of years, but he has been traveling to San Luis Potosi for over 20 years. After his 20 years teaching Indian Art at Alexander Elementary in Commerce, he taught the arts at Eisenhauer Elementary in Tulsa, a language emersion school for French and Spanish. Each year the 5th grade class spent a whole 9 weeks in the sister city, San Luis Potosi and he served as a chaperone for weeks at a time, getting to know the teachers, the city and many of the parents who allowed the Tulsa students to stay in their homes with their own children.

This dedication was the kick-off for the exchange visit for him and other Tulsans, to return to the Mexican city and rekindle friendships that had developed over the decades. Tulsa has many “sister cites” but San Luis Potosi is her oldest with their alliance beginning in 1980.

The race to get to his event. The estimated arrival time SHOUTED DON’T EVEN TRY, but the directions kept coming and I kept watching and pushing. Arrival did find the gate LOCKED, as warned. But on the other side of the gate were many cars waiting to leave. There was a sign with the hours of operation, AND a phone number. So, I called and was told the garden was closed. I alerted them about the automatic gate was not opening to let the line of cars leave. As the gate then opened, I asked if I could walk through and meet my brother… and was given permission.

Walking in, while so many cars and people were leaving, I kept going and asking for directions to the new water fountain, and assurances kept coming, I was going in the right direction. Through the building and off in the distance, there it was. The crowd was thinning but dignitaries sometimes linger, especially with Clark, who finds these types of engagements stimulating.

I would like to say that day, Water connected us. Loren Waters, and the Ceje de Agua. She of the future, the fountain a replica of the past.

Respectfully Submitted ~ Rebecca Jim