As part of the Osage Nation’s 150th commemoration this year, there will be a Pendleton blanket design competition with a design theme surrounding the Sesquicentennial of the Osage Reservation.
The competition is part of this year’s events marking the Nation’s 150th commemoration, which will include an observance event scheduled Oct. 22 with planning in the works.
A panel of ON government employees will review and select the winning design from Osage contest entrants, which will be made into a custom Pendleton blanket, according to a news release.
“We are excited to provide this opportunity to our incredible artistic community,” said Wahzhazhe Cultural Center and Visitors Center Director Addie Hudgins. “Our hope is that the blanket can serve as a commemorative item at this significant moment for Osages to be passed along for generations to come.”
The Pendleton design contest is open to all Osages. Submission dates are March 14 through Friday, April 8. Late submissions will not be accepted. Submissions can be made at osagenation-nsn.gov.
If any individual needs submission support, he/she/they can email culturalcenter@osagenation-nsn.gov, call (918) 287-5580 or visit the ON Visitors Center in Pawhuska.
Participants can submit any form of art including digital designs, drawings, paintings, crafts, sculpture, pottery, etc. If the form is not digital, participants can take a picture and upload it to the submission form. As part of the submission, participants are asked to describe the design including process and materials, meaning (personal and theme), influences (cultural), and to describe the story being told with the design.
The competition selection panel will judge the submissions based upon the quality of design, originality, message, accessible subject and appeal of the story. Criteria details and previous Pendleton design competition examples will be made available for review within the submission form. Submissions will be provided to the selection panel anonymously and the Visitors Center staff will tally the scores and announce the winner on April 22, the release stated.
The winning design will be made into a custom (64 in. x 80 in., 82% wool/18% cotton jacquard weave) commemorative Pendleton blanket. The Nation will order 250 blankets; a portion will be made available for purchase at the Visitors Center. Additional units may be ordered based on demand.
