The Tulsa Voice | Vol. 3 No. 23

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TRUMP’S TRIUMPH: HOW OKLAHOMA ENABLED THE PRESIDENT-ELECT | P14


G N I Y A L P S SEE WHO’ ise... d a r a P n i

CHRIS YOUNG

CHARLIE WILSON

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November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


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THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

CONTENTS // 3


4 // CONTENTS

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


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November 16 – December 6 , 2016 // Vol. 3, No. 23 ©2016. All rights reserved.

MNI WICONI

PUBLISHER Jim Langdon MANAGING EDITOR Joshua Kline ART DIRECTOR Madeline Crawford ASSISTANT EDITOR Liz Blood DIGITAL EDITOR John Langdon GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Georgia Brooks, Morgan Welch PHOTOGRAPHY/MULTIMEDIA Greg Bollinger AD SALES MANAGER Josh Kampf

Dispatch from Standing Rock BY LIZ BLO OD

26

INTERNS Mary Budd, Emerald Dean, Laura Dennis, Emma Giddens, Morgan Krueger, Lindsay McClain

DEBATE ON A PLANE

CONTRIBUTORS David Blatt, Matt Cauthron, Angela Evans, Barry Friedman, Sterlin Harjo, Jeff Huston, Denver Nicks, Don Nix, Mary Noble, Joe O’Shansky, Joseph Rushmore, Amanda Ruyle, Megan Shepherd, Steve Todoroff, John Tranchina, RJ Young The Tulsa Voice’s distribution is audited annually by

Filmmaker Sterlin Harjo has a surprising conversation on his way to Standing Rock BY STERLIN HARJO

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Two men keep watch over a prayer ceremony at Standing Rock | JOSEPH RUSHMORE

PRESIDENT Juley Roffers VP COMMUNICATIONS Susie Miller

NEWS & COMMENTARY

CONTROLLER Mary McKisick RECEPTION Gloria Brooks, Gene White

7 TWO OPEN LETTERS AFTER TRUMP BY DENVER NICKS

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One to Trump supporters, one to everyone else

8 COME AS YOU ARE

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FOOD & DRINK 16 THANKSGIVING WITH THE VEGETARIAN BY MEGAN SHEPHERD

How do you do it?

18 MOTHER ROAD GRUB

PHOTOS BY JOSEPH RUSHMORE

BY ANGELA EVANS

Tulsans gather in spirit of inclusion

Get your food truck fix with Fuel 66

10 THE MORNING AFTER B Y DAVID BLATT

TV & FILM

Six takeaways from the election

14 TRUMP’S TRIUMPH B Y BARRY FRIEDMAN How Oklahoma enable the new president

N O V. 1 6 – D E C . 6 , 2 0 1 6 // V O L . 3 N O . 2 3

D I S PAT C H E S F R O M S TA N D I N G R O C K P 22

MUSIC 38 LONG-DISTANCE LABOR OF LOVE BY MARY NOBLE

The Phoenix Bros. drop new EP TRUMP’S TRIUMPH: HOW OKLAHOMA ENABLED THE PRESIDENT-ELECT | P14

ON THE COVER

40 FAREWELL, LEON

PHOTO BY JOSEPH RUSHMORE

PHOTO BY DON NIX

Jordan Williams, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, walked nearly 500 miles towards Standing Rock before his friends picked him up and they continued the journey. Williams is pictured on top of the burned barricade on Highway 1806 near Oceti Sakowin camp. He is looking at police and militarized vehicles not visible in the photo.

The master has left our dimension

THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

42 UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE

ARTS & CULTURE 28 #SHOPSMALL B Y LAURA DENNIS

Tulsa businesses participate in Small Business Saturday

30 DESTINATION KICKS B Y JOHN TRANCHINA

In its 11th year, the Williams Route 66 Marathon continues to grow

32 CURATING FOR A PEOPLE B Y AMANDA RUYLE

Renovating the Osage Nation Museum

BY JOE O’SHANSKY

‘ A rrival’ is a haunting meditation on the nature of communication

43 DELICATE EMPATHY BY JEFF HUSTON

‘Moonlight’ is deeply-felt filmmaking

44 COMMON SENTIENCE BY MATT CAUTHRON

HBO’s ‘Westworld’ is full of potential, but slow living up to it

ETC. 12 BOTTOMLINE 21 DOWNTHEHATCH 34 THEHAPS 41 MUSICLISTINGS 45 THEFUZZ 46 ASTROLOGY + SUDOKU 47 CROSSWORD

CONTENTS // 5


editor’sletter

Midnight in America Well, it happened. Donald Trump will be our next president. Call him what you will: fact-challenged demagogue, corporate fascist, despot in-waiting—he’s all this and more. He preyed on flyover malaise, class resentment, and racial tension, promising a litany of changes both laughably impossible (mass deportation) and frighteningly within reach (overturning Roe v. Wade). To lead us, protect us, and represent us, we’ve chosen a man who is a liar, a bigot, a sexual predator. He will shape the Supreme Court in his image for decades to come. Let it sink in for a moment that our president-elect has 75 lawsuits pending against him. Let’s all meditate on what it means that the incoming leader

of the free world has, according to his former ghostwriter, the attention span of a hyperactive child, and has likely never read a book in his adult life. The uptick in public acts of racism and bigotry since Tuesday, including two high profile incidents involving students from the University of Oklahoma, is deeply disturbing but hardly surprising. Trump appealed to our worse demons—fear, resentment, cruelty, envy—and won. White nationalists endorsed him, including former KKK leader David Duke, and for their support Trump has gifted one of their own, Steve Bannon, with an appointment— as chief strategist. Bannon, who shaped Breitbart into the preferred news source of the Alt-

Right (the nascent conservative extremist movement sprung from a warlock’s brew of once-isolated internet subcultures), is Trump’s Karl Rove. What does this mean for the future? Over the last week, I’ve struggled to process the enormity of what just happened. Emotionally, I’ve vacillated between fear and outrage, despair and determination, cautious optimism and apocalyptic pessimism. I’m exhausted. We’re all exhausted. But there’s work to do. Our challenge now is to be the best version of ourselves to each other as the worst version represents us to the rest of the world. At the same time, I’m going to echo what many others have said over the last week: we should resist the tempta-

tion to accept what just happened as the new normal. As Steven Thrasher wrote in The Guardian: We must let go of the normalizing idea that we are going “to get through this.” … Not all of us are going to get out of this alive or unharmed. But we can resist, fight for each other, witness one another and love one another. It’s going to take a more radical notion of love than we commonly hold–the kind of radical love Martin Luther King was jailed and died for expressing–and it will require never accepting that any of this is normal. a

JOSHUA KLINE MANAGING EDITOR

Thank you, Voice Readers! THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF TULSA READERS’ CHOICE 2016

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Best Place to Learn Something New

Two locations, one world-class art museum. Stay connected. philbrook.org 6 // NEWS & COMMENTARY

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


openletter

To Trump supporters,

I made it a practice for years not to take publicly partisan positions, because I felt that as a journalist it was my job to cultivate detachment in order to see things a little more clearly. But in our latest election, as Donald Trump barreled toward the White House while demonizing immigrants and minorities, attacking women and expressing utter contempt for fundamental principles like open government and a free press, I came to feel that this time it was different. It took me awhile, but I finally saw clearly that Trump is a categorically different political animal than we’ve seen in the United States, and an existential threat to the republic. I say this to convey to you how deadly serious I and many others take this situation. I suspect you felt this time it was different too, I hope because of Trump’s willingness to address economic hardship in a way Republicans haven’t in the past and not due to his racially-charged rhetoric. I want you to know that many of the people who do not support Trump hear you and want the same things for you and for themselves that you want for yourself. I also want you to know that I don’t believe you all to be racists, bigots and white nationalists, but there are bigots and racists speaking for you right now. Trump’s candidacy has unleashed an ugliness in our society that has many people afraid for their physical safety, particularly in places like Oklahoma, where Trump won an outsized majority. There are people in your communities who look at the locks on their doors differently now. They are afraid for the safety of the people they love. Please show them that they are safe, that you acknowledge this is their country too. And lastly, to those of you who do believe in a white America, who voted for Trump because you hate multiculturalism and demo-

TWO OPEN LETTERS AFTER TRUMP by DENVER NICKS

cratic values, who would curtail civil liberties and who reject the inherent value in common decency, I want you to take look at the popular vote, and remember this: there are more of us than there are of you.

To the rest of us,

Holy shit. It’s been an interesting several days. Many of us have been shaken to the core and are deeply afraid of the world we now find ourselves in. But while our bones tremble at what might come next in Trump’s America, let’s keep things in perspective. First, the one thing Trump has done consistently is surprised us. Let us hope he does that now. Second, one way to read what happened on election day is that in 2016, the old Republican coalition was in such tatters that the GOP put forth a candidate who

THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

has switched parties five times, in neither word nor deed represents anything resembling “traditional” or “family” values, who questions the wisdom of unfettered free trade and has openly called for universal socialized healthcare. The Republicans won by nominating a Democrat whose crass aesthetic and racist rhetoric is inoffensive enough to enough people to win them over with vague promises to soothe what ails them. That bodes well for the Democrats in the coming years, if they can offer real solutions for economically depressed communities beyond the magical thinking of neoliberalism. Which is to say that you are not living in a country half populated by crypto-fascists. A little more than half the voting-eligible population cast ballots in 2016, and less than half of them voted for Trump. Some Trump voters are people who simply feel left

behind by a political establishment that has indeed left them behind. I spoke to one who had this to say: “I don’t want racism, bigotry, or violence. But I do believe we need to regulate our country now a lot more than before. By that I mean immigration. I believe we can continue to allow it but some things need to change. Also, as a middle class or even lower middle class citizen, it’s hard to support my family at times with taxes at an all-time high and corporations adjusting pay scales so much just to ‘show profit.’” This person’s spouse is a Democrat who voted for Trump this year. To me this sounds like a person who isn’t out of reach. Before the next cycle I want to try to persuade people like this by offering a counter-narrative with real solutions—something Donald Trump, if he’s anything like he says he is, will not do. Third, I’ve been encouraged to see many of us reaching out to one another and asking: what now? As my friend Mischa Benoit-Lavelle put it, “We’re younger, smarter, and more competent than them. We can push the needle back. How do we start?” I feel an unshakeable calling to rise to this awful occasion and there are millions of us. We’re already fighting. And we are legion. Finally and most importantly, we need to look out for each other. I’m a straight, white man and I am petrified—I cannot imagine the fear seething in minority communities right now, as stories of racist assaults across the country in the age of Trump spread through social media. To the women in my life, to all minorities, to my fellow members of the press, to all who believe in decency and inclusiveness, I say this, the only thing there is left to say now: I have your back. Please have mine. I promise to lift you up and defend you as long as there is breath in my lungs and ink in my well. a NEWS & COMMENTARY // 7


gallery

COME AS YOU ARE Tulsans gathered at John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park on the afternoon of Sunday, November 13 to embrace each other in the spirit of love and inclusion. For some, protesting the president-elect was important. For others, it was about spreading the message of Black Lives Matter, encouraging peace, or showing support for LGBTQ rights. PHOTOS BY JOSEPH RUSHMORE

8 // NEWS & COMMENTARY

Jermini Wilson and Dominique Saunders

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


Tyler McClain Branjae Jackson performs with Count Tutu

Michelle Lewis and Skylar Simpson THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

NEWS & COMMENTARY // 9


okpolicy

The morning after Six takeaways from the Oklahoma election by DAVID BLATT

W

hile most of the attention in Oklahoma in early November focused on the geological earthquake that shook the state and the political earthquake that shook the nation, the state election results got less detailed coverage. Here are a few of our important takeaways from the vote: First, turnout was up. A total of 1,451,056 Oklahomans cast ballots for President, an increase of 9.9 percent compared to the Presidential votes cast in 2012 (1,332,872) but almost identical to the turnout in 2008 (1,462,661) and 2004 (1,463,758). There was a big increase in early voting: over 152,000 people took advantage of in-person early voting, compared to a previous high of 114,000 in 2008. The turnout rate of registered voters was 67.3 percent, also up from 2012. Second, straight party voting continues to help Republicans. A total of 526,794 voters, or more than one in three, opted for straight party voting, according to Election Board reports. Republicans enjoyed a 138,000 vote advantage over Democrats in straight-party voting, and received 10 // NEWS & COMMENTARY

61.7 percent of all straight-party votes. Third, the Republican legislative majority grew again. Republicans gained four seats in the state House and three seats in the Senate, adding to their already sizable majorities in both chambers. When the Legislature meets in February, the Republican advantage will be 75-26 in the House and 42-6 in the Senate. This election again confirmed that outside the metropolitan areas, Democrats are gradually being wiped out. Of ten open seats previously held by Democrats outside Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Democrats retained only one (HD 4 in Tahlequah). Democrats also were unable to win back seats held by Republicans outside the metropolitan centers, even where they still enjoy a large advantage in party registration. For Senate Democrats, this election cycle was disastrous – of 25 seats on the ballot, they won just one, and they lost all three open seats previously held by term-limited Democrats. The results in the House were more mixed. Democrats held all the seats where incumbents were running and picked up two open

seats, both in Oklahoma City. House Democrats are creating a strong and expanding base in Oklahoma City, where they now have ten seats. Fourth, there will be a large freshman class of legislators. Although no incumbent from either party was defeated last week, the large number of legislators who termed out or chose not to seek re-election, along with three Republican incumbents who lost in the June primaries, ensures a large freshman class of 2018. In total, 43 of 149 legislators will be freshmen. In the House, there will be 30 new legislators – 23 Republicans and 7 Democrats. In the Senate, there will be 13 freshmen, all Republicans. Fifth, there will be even fewer female legislators. Prior to Tuesday, there were 21 women in the Legislature out of 149 Representatives and Senators. Oklahoma’s rate of female legislative representation was second lowest in the nation, behind only Louisiana. The next Legislature will see that number fall to 19, with 13 female Representatives and 6 female Senators. While many female candidates stepped forward to challenge

incumbents or vie for open seats, very few were successful. Of the 43-member freshman class, only 5 are women. Sixth, voters showed an independent streak on ballot measures. This year two of the four legislatively-referred ballot measures – SQ 777, the so-called right-tofarm, and SQ 790, striking the constitutional provision used to keep the Ten Commandments monument off the Capitol grounds – were defeated by decisive margins. Both measures had been placed on the ballot with the overwhelming support of Republican legislators. Voters also rejected the opposition of the state’s District Attorneys to SQ 780 and 781, the two citizen-initiated measures that will make all drug possession charges and minor property offenses misdemeanors. Only in affirming the death penalty (SQ 776), rejecting the tax increase for education (SQ 779), and supporting alcohol modernization (SQ 792) did the results conform to what might have been expected based on past ballot measures. a David Blatt is Executive Director of Oklahoma Policy Institute (www.okpolicy.org).

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


TELL US WHAT YOU’RE DOING

I KNOW THE THOUGHTS THAT I THINK TOWARD YOU,

SAITH THE LORD,

So we can tell everyone else

NOVEMBER 27, 2016 | 5:30 pm

THOUGHTS OF PEACE, AND NOT OF EVIL, TO GIVE YOU AN EXPECTED END.

Send all your event and music listings to voices@langdonpublishing.com

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OKLAHOMA STUDY OF NATIVE AMERICAN PAIN RISK RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED

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INVESTIGATORS: Drs. Jamie Rhudy & Joanna Shadlow CONTACT: The University of Tulsa Psychophysiology Research Laboratory 918-631-2175 or 918-631-3565

A novel research study is being conducted at The University of Tulsa to identify potential markers of risk for chronic pain in healthy (currently painfree) Non-Hispanic White and Native American individuals.

Downtown Tulsa is a true destination for holiday activities! See the lights of

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at John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park, Guthrie Green, Arvest Winterfest, Deco District, Greenwood, Blue Dome District and The East Village District! downtowntulsaok.com

This study is safe, non-invasive, and does not involve medication. Participants must be able to attend 2 laboratory sessions (4-5.5 hours/day) in which physiological and behavioral reactions to different stimuli are recorded. This is a University of Tulsa, Cherokee Nation, and Indian Health Service Oklahoma Area Office IRB approved research study.

T HANK YOU

TU L S A

FOR 30 YEARS! November 2016

3 0 T H A N N I V E R SA RY

G I V E AWAY S TulsaPeople Magazine is celebrating our 30th anniversary throughout November with 30 DAY OF GIVEAWAYS! Visit the newly REDESIGNED TulsaPeople.com to register for an amazing new prize each day. Prizes include pearl jewelry from Moody’s Jewelry to celebrate our Pearl Anniversary! Other giveaways include dining gift cards, Tulsa Town Hall season subscriptions, Celebrity Attractions tickets, a $200 Ihloff Salon & Day Spa gift card and much more!

Subscribe to Tulsa’s award-winning magazine for only $18 per year at TulsaPeople.com. THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

NEWS & COMMENTARY // 11


bottomline by RJ YOUNG

THE NEW HEROIN THE STREET NAME IS “PINK.” TO BACKYARD CHEMISTS, IT’S KNOWN AS U-47700. Eight times stronger than heroin, the synthetic opioid—one of the contributing causes of Prince’s death earlier this year—has recently entered Oklahoma. It’s responsible for at least two overdose deaths in the state so far, and 15 across the country. It can be purchased online, and it’s perfectly legal, for now. Pink is the latest synthetic drug to hit Oklahoma since House Bill 2666 became law in November 2014. The bill effectively made synthetic marijuana—aka K2, or spice—a Schedule I controlled substance and the possession and distribution of it illegal in Oklahoma. How easy is it to acquire? After a few false starts, I found a halfway reputable website complete with a price list, contact info, policies, shopping cart and “Dark Web/Escrow” where you can “order risk free.” It offers a powdered form of the drug, branding it as an “oxycodone replacement.” The price ranged from $47 a gram to $4,497 for 1000 grams. To purchase it, one only needs a working knowledge of PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) software and Bitcoin currency. “I’ve never heard of this synthetic drug,” said Tulsa Police Department spokesman Leland Ashley. “But I do know that synthetic drugs are constantly changing to try to stay ahead of the different drugs that get outlawed.” Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent Jessica Brown said she’d never heard of the drug until this October, when the OSBI crime lab began examining the two overdose cases. The Upjohn Company invented U-47700, or Pink, as a synthetic alternative to morphine in 1978. Its properties make it similar to another synthetic opioid called fentanyl, the effects of which Pink’s most resemble. Upjohn gave U-47700 a research designation and did not perform any clinical trials. The formula can be found in medicine journals. Pink is legal in more states than marijuana is illegal. The DEA temporarily promoted it to a Schedule I controlled substance “to avoid an imminent hazard to the public safety.” “This stuff is so powerful that if you touch it, you could go into cardiac arrest,” a Utah police chief told NBC News. While the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and OSBI Crime Labs will submit Pink to the Oklahoma legislature in 2017, for the time being it’s not against the law—just against better judgment. BOTTOM LINE: In a state that has one of the highest rates of opioid abuse and overdose in the country, the last thing we need is yet another easy-to-acquire variant. 12 // NEWS & COMMENTARY

In one of the most narrowly contested city council contests in recent memory, Vanessa Hall-Harper defeated incumbent Jack Henderson to become District 1’s city councilor on Election Day. With her win, Hall-Harper hopes to push forward an agenda for her mostly black constituency that fosters better communication among the city’s elected and appointed officials in a time of racial turmoil and upheaval. “I think the people thought and understood that it’s time for a change,” Hall-Harper told the Tulsa World. “I’m appreciative they supported me.” Hall-Harper has worked for Tulsa County for two decades, including 15 years as a policy manager for the Tulsa Health Department. “My focus has always been to just engage the community, to make myself available to my community and, hopefully, to act on their concerns,” Hall-Harper said. Henderson has served seven consecutive terms on the city council. He was first elected in 2004. He famously proposed a city ordinance that would’ve restricted how low Tulsans could wear their pants in 2013. He felt baggy pants, or wearing pants below the hips, was a problem that the city needed to address. Even then, though, he felt “it is probably going to get me unelected.” Ya think? When this piece went to press, Henderson was considering challenging the election results because he suspected voter fraud.

BOTTOM LINE: Pull your pants up, Jack. You lost.

NATURALLY One day after a historic election day fraught with nativist and xenophobic rhetoric, 43 immigrant men and women from 17 countries became naturalized U.S. citizens at Booker T. Washington High School. Many of the high school’s students fi lled its field house to witness the ceremony. Among the attendees was Tulsa mayor-elect G.T. Bynum and retired chief probation officer for the federal court Larry Morris. Bynum made a not-so-subtle reference to the country’s future by referring to its past. “[You] have a responsibility to prove to the world that a government that is dedicated to equa lity, a government that is dedicated to the people, that is governed by the people for the people, can exist, and can continue,” Bynum told the new citizens. In remarks, Morris addressed the new citizens with words of encouragement and hope. “Each of you are here today because you have chosen to pursue a better life for yourselves and for your families, so I encourage you to dream big and set some lofty goals,” Morris said. “After all, this is America, where dreams really do come true.” BOTTOM LINE: This is what we look like at our best. November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

GREG BOLLINGER

DE-PANTS


WILL VOTE FOR BEER

TRONG NGUYEN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

With the passing of state question 792, Oklahomans overwhelmingly voted to allow the sale of strong beer and wine in more retail locations—notably convenience stores and grocery stores. The state question passing also means liquor stores will be allowed to sell cold beer. The vote repeals part of the state constitution, which will be amended to no longer reflect a difference between 3.2-percent beer and strong beer. The amendment to the constitution goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2018. But lawmakers still must answer questions regarding time-of-day sales cutoffs (it’s currently 9 p.m.) and whether a cashier needs to be a certain age to sell high-point alcohol in liquor, grocery or convenience stores. The 26 dry counties—including Haskell, Adair, Latimer, and Okfuskee—will remain so until voters in those counties vote repeal prohibition laws there. Adair and Latimer were two of the five counties that voted against state question 792. BOTTOM LINE: Over $2 million was spent in support of campaigning for a “yes” vote on state question 792. $1,613,507 of that money came from Walmart. Just so we know who the real winner is here.

IT’S A START With the passing of state questions 780 and 781, Oklahoma district attorneys no longer have the ability to file felony charges for “personal use” drug possession. (Think of “personal use” as that half-ounce of weed your friend got caught with.) It also means the threshold for a property crime to be charged as a felony has doubled—from $500 to $1,000. State question 781 also means money saved from not incarcerating such offenders will be used to rehabilitate them instead with treatment options. While the law goes into effect in July 2017, no one knows how it will affect change at the local level outside of the densely populated counties of Tulsa and Oklahoma. “The problem is that many of these communities don’t have the options that we do here in Tulsa,” Tulsa Assistant District Attorney John David Luton told The Frontier. “We’re fortunate in Tulsa to have funding for drug court, or mental health court, or veterans court, or women in recovery. But if you go to Adair County, or other counties, that type of thing isn’t there to the degree it is here. So where are people going to find that treatment?”

BOTTOM LINE: This is not a perfect solution. But it beats the hell out of throwing good people who need treatment into an over-populated cage with actual criminals. a THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

NEWS & COMMENTARY // 13


viewsfrom theplains

“Either our state leaders did not see the short and long con of Donald Trump, or saw it and didn’t care.”

Donald Trump | JOSEPH SOHM FOR SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Trump’s triumph How Oklahoma enabled the president-elect by BARRY FRIEDMAN

“I

’m betting that America will reject a politics of resentment, a politics of blame, and choose a politics that says we are stronger together. I’m betting you will reject fear and choose hope. I’m betting that the wisdom, the decency and generosity of the American people will once again win the day.” —Barack Obama

Yeah, how much? This is not the column I was going to write. This was not the column I wrote. On the Sunday before the election, it was done, all except for the percentage of the vote Trump would get in Oklahoma (I predicted 67 percent; it was actually 65 percent), and the final draft of the closing paragraph, on which I wanted a few more days to process an America that had elected a president whose name was preceded 14 // NEWS & COMMENTARY

by a Mme—and how Oklahoma had embarrassed itself by missing the revolution. In the piece, now in an electronic file labeled DATED, I wrote about how Governor Mary Fallin1 called Donald Trump a “racial healer,” even though he talked of building a wall to keep out Mexicans, threatened a ban on Muslims who wanted to come in, threw out African Americans from his rallies (even those who supported him), flirted with David Duke, ended his campaign with an anti-Semitic screed and then appeared with noted humanist Ted Nugent, famous for calling President Obama a “subhuman mongrel.” I wrote of Markwayne Mullin,2 who believed the president-elect had the sensitivity and intelligence to grasp Native American Affairs, even while repeatedly calling Massachusetts

Senator Elizabeth Warren “Pocahontas.” I wrote of Senator Jim Inhofe3 extolling Trump’s love and feel for the military even though Trump said military generals are “embarrassing our country” and told Hugh Hewitt, “nuclear is just the power, the devastation is very important to me.” I wrote how Senator James Lankford4 cried as he put his kids to bed because “neither candidate is a role model for my children,” but decided to support the thrice-married groper of genitalia anyway. I wrote of Congressman Jim Bridenstine,5 a veteran who supported Trump even though the president-elect dissed John McCain and Humayun Khan, encouraged Russia to hack Clinton’s emails, praised Vladimir Putin, gave credit to Kim Jong Un, and expressed admiration for Saddam Hussein for killing so many without trials.

And then Tuesday happened. Either our state leaders did not see the short and long con of Donald Trump, or saw it and didn’t care. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.

That was George Washington. He would have hated Oklahoma. Oklahoma is the Petrie dish of one-party GOP rule. America, come to Oklahoma City and see the roads, schools, rates of beaten and incarcerated women, deficits, and attempts at religious establishment—we’ve got it all. This, as has been said in this column

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


many times before, is the state we’re in. While statewide politicians failed on every moral and practical level to lead, to warn against this pending disaster, 947,934 Oklahomans voted for Trump—and that wasn’t Jim Inhofe’s or Jim Bridenstine’s fault. So, how many of those 947,934 laughed when chants of “lock her up” began to make the rounds? How many believed that by increasing tariffs on China, workers in Poteau would benefit? How many believed there was nothing amiss in the tax returns he refused to release? How many believed Trump when he said he alone would fix things? How many believed a wall between Mexico and the U.S. will do anything for the undocumented workers already here? (How many still believe there will be a wall?) Worse, how many compartmentalized all of that—the misogyny, nativism, incuriousness, duplicity, laziness, the fascistic leanings— because Trump, like some crazy uncle who lives upstairs and only comes down at meal times, promised to get their factory jobs back from Guangzhou or tells it like it is or because Hillary Clinton had her own email server or was secretary of state when four were murdered in Benghazi? You can’t love this country and hate everyone in it who doesn’t look or pray like you; you can’t give the keys to the place to a man who mocks the disabled and pageant winners; you can’t vote for someone who promises to protect your 2nd Amendment while also threatening to jail those exercising their 1st; you can’t allow a man who plays footsie with a Russian dictator and lies about it6 in the Situation Room; and you can’t call for insurrection if an election doesn’t go your way. But of course you can. We did. Something happened on November 8, and it’s not entirely about Donald Trump. Any Republican would have won—and probably by a wider margin—for not one person who voted for Trump wouldn’t have voted for Rubio or Cruz or Bush. Clinton didn’t lose this. The GOP base would have voted for a lawn chair over her. Clinton ran a good, if flawed, campaign.

Whatever is loose in America— call it fear, call it entitlement, call it racism—is stronger than anything Nate Silver can measure. That’s what won. That’s why the GOP retained the House and Senate and Sarah Palin will be in the cabinet. That’s why the GOP picked up seats in the Oklahoma house and senate, even though this legislative body, led by Republicans, failed in every way in 2016. That’s why men like State Representative John Bennett,7 who called for Clinton to face the firing squad and tribunals on Muslims, gets re-elected, but men like John Waldron, an admired schoolteacher, who called for increased education funding and decency, doesn’t get a chance to serve. We’ve lost our heart and replaced it with a sneer. The weekend before the election, when asked what if he lost, Donald Trump, said, “I … consider this the single greatest waste of time, energy…and money.” This from a friend: “Our grandson was adopted at a very young age from Korea. He is now eight years old, bright, handsome, just a great little kid, very loving, very much a part of an equally loving family of parents and siblings, whom he treasures and who treasure him. It is impossible to know this little boy without falling in love with him. In school today [on the Wednesday after the election], he was told that they were going to send him back to Korea now.” Anecdotal, sure, but not as much as you think. I have a scarf on. Passed by someone on the platform today and he says, “Your time’s up, girlie.”9

And that’s what Trump and his movement have unleashed. Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, John Kasich, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton did not have skinheads at their campaign rallies. The KKK didn’t plan victory parades for any other candidates.10 This doesn’t happen if anyone else is elected on November 8. A softball dugout in Island Park in Wellsville was defaced with the words “Make America White Again,”

THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

accompanied by a large swastika.11

Of course not all who voted for Trump are racists, but the lever pulled in those voting booths, the machines that tabulate the filled-in ballots do not measure intent— they just count. And they count all the Trump voters the same—David Duke and Mary Fallin. (What will get lost in the narrative is that more Americans—close to two million, as of this writing—actually voted for Clinton. But in a campaign where facts were ridiculed, why should that matter?) So, for all those who are not racist but still feel vindicated to have gotten America back, are elated to be rid of the Clintons, are stoked about sticking it to the liberal press, this is the result: women wearing hijabs being threatened on the way to work, dugouts in America being marked up with Nazi insignias on the anniversary of Kristallnacht, and 8-year-olds who are scared because they don’t have white skin. a

1) theguardian.com: Trump trying to campaign as ‘racial healer’, says Oklahoma governor 2) Indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com: Trump Makes Late Push for Votes in Indian Country 3) kjrh.com: Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe releases statement on Trump recording 4) thenormantranscript.com: Sen. Lankford: ‘No role model’ in presidential election 5) newsmax.com: GOP Rep. Bridenstine: If Paul Ryan’s Not for Trump, I’m Not for Paul Ryan 6) dailybeast.com: Russia: We Did Work With Team Trump During Campaign 7) talkinpointsmemo.com: Oklahoma GOPer Says Hillary Clinton Deserves ‘Firing Squad’ 8) marketwatch.com: Trump: Campaign would be ‘single greatest waste of time’ if he loses 9) twitter.com: Day 1 In Trump’s America 10) snopes.com: KKK of North Carolina Announces Donald Trump Victory Parade 11) buffalonews.com: Disturbing acts in Wellsville, at Canisius College follow Election Day NEWS & COMMENTARY // 15


foodfile

THANKSGIVING WITH THE VEGETARIAN How do you do it? | BY MEGAN SHEPHERD

“Y

es, but does she eat lard? Like, as an ingredient.” It’s a question I never thought I’d ask my brother: the barbecue-loving, Crossfit-obsessed, power investor libertarian, about his very serious new girlfriend: a levelheaded, cool-as-a-cucumber world traveler and vegetarian. And not just the trendy kind, either—a real-life, lifelong, vegetarian-vegan hybrid in the flesh. My disbelief isn’t really rooted in the fact that she’s a vegetarian, but in the fact that my brother had matched up with one in the first place. And moreover, that they’ve been such a great fit. Match they did, however, and it wasn’t long before the unlikely pair fell in love—opposing diets and all. Now, as Thanksgiving inches its way closer, the women of the family (I know—gender roles. Another column…) have been left trying to answer the inevitable question that comes with the welcoming of any guest with a specialized diet: what the hell is this girl gonna eat at Thanksgiving? We’ve always been a family of fairly simple tastes: we like threeway style chili, hibachi grills, Chex Mix with extra Cheezits, chicken and noodles, the usual. I went through a vegetarian phase when

16 // FOOD & DRINK

I was in high school, right about the time my dad joined Jungle Jim’s Pig Posse—aka, the Episcopal church barbecue team. They were undefeated for a whole summer, and meat assumed the majority of our family’s dinner table. My dad and I didn’t talk much over those weeks. These days, I’m back on meat with a newfound enthusiasm. I’ll willingly preach the gospel of pastured poultry, grass-finished beef, and rotational grazing to any poor schmuck who’ll listen. Still, I’m as much a fan of meatless Mondays as the next eco-minded diner, and I keep my vegan and vegetarian pin-board pretty full with new recipes. But I’d take ethically raised meat over tofurkey any day, and I feel fairly certain the rest of the Shepherd family would, too. My dad doesn’t “get” Greek yogurt. My mom thinks fancy food is stupid. My brother loves Wendy’s. Our lovely vegetarian’s entrance into our mild-palated, taste-traditional, meat-n-potatoes kind of clan raises an interesting question: how do you marry tastes when you marry? As far as vegetarians go, I’d say she’s the best. She’s steadfast in her choices and doesn’t give a single shit if you participate or not. She never guilts the meat-eaters for indulging, and doesn’t seem to

get bent out of shape over ignorant comments about vegetarianism—even when they come from those close to her. She can make any menu work, and is always a gracious guest. If there were a table of barbecue set before her and a side of bacon-infused green beans, I’m pretty sure she’d take the beans and be grateful. Or fill up on water. But we aren’t trying to punish this girl, nor do we want to feed her some flavorless mystery “meat” mush, as if from the trough of one of the pigs she so firmly elects not to eat. And we want her first Thanksgiving with our family to be the first of many, and nothing short of comfortable and wonderful. But let’s be frank: it’s really tough to make stuffing taste good without chicken stock. And chicken stock is basically just liquid chicken (yum). Yikes. But there’s more. We’re also big bacon people. We put it on everything. Namely, our green bean casserole. And consider the gravy: it’s absolutely dripping with drippings. Sorry! Here’s some apple cider vinegar for your potatoes instead. The stuffing’s basically born from the rubble of the turkey, and is infused with the aforementioned liquid chicken. We like the wiggly cranberry sauce from the can,

and I’m pretty sure nothing in the world could stay so perfectly cylindrical without the help of gelatin. Same deal with the marshmallows on top of the sweet potato casserole. Hi, welcome to our home, hope you like horse hooves. And clearly, this girl’s not gonna be eating the bird. I don’t blame her; roasted turkey’s a bit dry and weird for my taste, too. So where does that leave us? Rolls. Finally, a bastion of Thanksgiving, and the possibility that all is not lost. Deviled eggs (she’s a bit more selective than a straight up vegetarian, but not quite a vegan. The eggs should play well). The pickles from the relish tray. Potatoes. We’re doing a salad, which I can color up with bright, beautiful veggies and nuts. Chocolate mousse and all the pie. Not a speck of protein in sight, but really, not a bad menu overall. Still, I’ve been looking into alternatives. Martha’s got more than a few extravagant, carte blanche recipes for vegetarians in her Thanksgiving section, including cauliflower soup, butternut squash lasagna, and sautéed dates. I might even get ambitious and try for some roasted stuffed squash boats. Who knows how they’ll turn out; hopefully well, but if not, here’s hoping we’ll have a few more Thanksgivings to get it right. a

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


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THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

FOOD & DRINK // 17


citybites

Tulsa’s new food truck court on E. 11th St. between S. Atlanta Ave. and Lewis Pl. | GREG BOLLINGER

Mother Road grub Get your food truck fix with Fuel 66 by ANGELA EVANS

T

ulsans love their food trucks and each year welcome at least a dozen new mobile eateries. Aside from Food Truck Wednesdays at Guthrie Green, trucks have largely lacked a place to regularly set up shop (save for the occasional agreement with a kind business owner—Fur Shop and Lone Wolf, for instance). Because of this, tracking down a favorite food truck can be difficult for its fans. Now, several business owners are bridging that gap with Tulsa’s first food truck court and biergarten on Route 66. Robert Carnoske and Chad Wilcox, owners of MASA food truck, and J.L. Lewis, owner of the former Leon’s on Brookside, along with investors Chris and Elizabeth Ellison, have combined forces to outfit an old Route 66 gas station as a food truck paradise: Fuel 66, which just opened this week. Located on E. 11th Street between S. Atlanta Ave. and Lewis Place, Fuel 66 bridges the

18 // FOOD & DRINK

gap between TU and downtown. Surrounded by a fence line, the vintage gas station “yard” can accommodate three to four trucks and has picnic tables with umbrellas, fire pits, games, a small stage, and indoor restrooms. A huge awning with a long, radiant heater tucked inside extends from one side of the building. A second awning will be built soon. The patio area under the awning can be enclosed on colder days so the park can remain open year-round. Housed inside the repurposed gas station, 45 bar stools surround a bar top constructed from the flooring of the old Rose Bowl Lanes, and a long wooden community table with chairs fills the middle of the room. The full bar will have up to 15 regional, national, and international beers on tap along with cocktails and a selection of canned beers and wines. Two service windows on either side of the bar allow easy service for guests seated outside.

Carnoske has the first month of trucks scheduled and plans on rotating different trucks throughout each month. “To keep it from getting stale, I’m trying to mix them up as much as possible, bringing some new ones into the fold,” he said. “And now trucks will have a place they can be two or three time a month that’s a cool setting. Their customers are going to love it as much as they love the food truck.” The calendar will be out a month or so in advance so food truck fanatics can plan accordingly. The group is hoping to draw more folks out to this historic strip of road. “We’re really playing hard on Route 66. You wouldn’t believe the number of people travelling it, but here in Tulsa we get skipped over,” Lewis said. “They go to Blue Whale, skip us and then go to POPS. It would be really great if we could bring those dollars back over here.”

Resting on the southern edge of Kendall-Whittier, Fuel 66 is yet another mark of growth in the area. Businesses like the Campbell Hotel, 918 Coffee, Marshall Brewing Co. and Dead Armadillo already call the area home, and new shops and restaurants are in the works. “There’s a lot of development going on down here—property has been purchased, people have the ideas, some of the concepts are even there—but we’re the first ones going in,” Carnoske said. “We feel a little bit of pressure. A lot of what is going to go on in this area depends on how we do. People are watching us and we are up for the challenge.” Fuel 66 is open for lunch and dinner six days a week, and closed on Monday. As they grow into the space, they plan on doing monthly events, like car shows, pet adoption days, and booking bands for the weekends. The line-up of trucks and events will be posted regularly on the Fuel 66 Facebook page. a

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


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THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

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102 EAST BRADY STREET 918.574.2710 THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

Luke Constable serving Manhattans at Palace Café | LIZ BLOOD

Manhattans two ways

T

his year marks Langdon Publishing’s 30th in business. That’s a long haul, and though the Voice has only been around for the last three years of it, we’re proud to be part of the family. So, in honor of LP’s pearl anniversary, I bought myself pearls. Kidding. On the recommendation of publishers Jim Langdon and Juley Roffers, I set out to try one of their favorite cocktails in town: a Manhattan at Palace Café. “We order them like a Wisconsinite does—made with brandy,” Juley said. “Jim orders his on the rocks, but they are really best (and prettier) straight up—my opinion.” Per their recommendation, I asked for the bartender named Luke, who is from Wisconsin. As it turns out, it was Luke who I asked, and he seemed a little surprised that I knew his name—so I encourage you to go do the same. (Let’s make Luke Tulsa-famous!) Palace Café is quiet and comfy. The thick, leather-seated bar stools have high backs, and

the booths are even cozier. My friend and I snugged up to the bar (under the glow of election coverage on the TV) and ordered one Manhattan made with Maker’s Mark bourbon and one with VSOP brandy, trading sips and commenting on the differences. Truly, they’re pretty similar—booze-forward, sweet, and simple. Both she and I were pleasantly surprised that the one made with Brandy wasn’t too sweet, though it was lighter. Manhattans are an easy favorite because they’re just that—easy to make, easy to drink. At two and a half ounces of bourbon (or brandy), an ounce of sweet vermouth, and two dashes of bitters, you could quickly throw one together at home. But I suggest stepping out—in this case, to Palace Café. Tell Luke we sent you. a

In “Down the Hatch,” assistant editor Liz Blood offers a look inside Tulsa’s many bars, pubs, saloons and gin joints. Send suggestions for future columns to liz@langdonpublishing.com or @lizblood on Twitter. FOOD & DRINK // 21


Mni Wiconi D I S PAT C H F R O M S TA N D I N G R O C K BY LIZ BLOOD PHOTOS BY JOSEPH RUSHMORE


(Left) Gibby, from Pawnee, Oklahoma, looks out over Oceti Sakowin camp at Standing Rock at dusk. He has camped there for nearly two and a half months. (Above) Campers sit on “Facebook Hill,” one of the few spots in Oceti Sakowin one can receive cell service.

I cut northwest through the flat farmland of South Dakota, past small tractor dealerships and gleaming silver grain silos. Grass and wheat fields slowly gave way to velvety golden hills, dappled by royal blue lakes. Soon, the Missouri River appeared—a rich azure snaking through the land, flowing south toward the Mississippi River on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. An hour north, thousands have gathered at Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation—my destination—over the last several months to protect the river, protesting construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Oceti Sakowin (pronounced oh-chet-ee sack-oh-ween), meaning “Seven Council Fires,” is the main camp of the Standing Rock protests. Citizens from between 200 and 500 Indian nations have set up camp at Oceti Sakowin this year; flags from the nations whipped in the wind on poles lining Crazy Horse Avenue, the camp’s main artery. The pipeline, owned by Energy Transfer Partners—a division of the same company that almost bought Tulsa’s Williams Companies before the price of oil plummeted— has a proposed route from the Bakken and Three Forks crude oil production areas in North Dakota 1,172 miles to Patoka, Illinois. If completed, it will carry 470,000570,000 barrels (19-23 million gallons) per day. Direct protest efforts began this past March and have ramped up in recent months. Camps on the Sioux reservation and surrounding federal land were

as small as a few people, to start, and have grown to populations of over 9,000, according to Kalyn Free, an Choctaw citizen and environmental and Indian lawyer in Tulsa who visited Standing Rock in October. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe and tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of other Native Americans, indigenous people from around the world, and non-native allies, see DAPL as an immediate threat to farming and drinking water, ecosystems, wildlife and food sources surrounding the Missouri River and its tributaries. On November 4, the Army Corps of Engineers asked that DAPL halt its construction. Rumors of a 30-day pause in construction as a result of negotiations between the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Corps circulated Oceti Sakowin camp. The Corps, however, said it was only a proposal. At present, Energy Transfer Partners is in the process of constructing the drill pad for drilling underneath Lake Oahe, but has not yet received the easement from the Corps. The drill has been delivered. “This Bakken pipeline is no different than the Keystone XL pipeline,” said Dallas Goldtooth, organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network’s Keep It in the Ground campaign. “It threatens the sacred waters of the Missouri, it threatens the very sensitive waters of the Ogallala Aquifer … it is attempting to lock our country into more fossil fuel dependency … We must keep this oil in the ground for the benefit of all future generations.”

The current camp exists on federal land that was originally promised to the Sioux under the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie. “Honor the treaties” and “Mni Wiconi” (“water is life”) are common rallying cries. By now, millions of people connected via Facebook have seen pictures and video of Native and non-Native protesters (who call themselves water protectors) at Standing Rock clashing with police and DAPL security. Frequently, these posts use the hashtags #noDAPL or #standingrock. Many of the images are disturbing— showing nonviolent protesters being beaten with batons, shot at with rubber bullets, attacked by dogs, faced with Humvees and long range acoustic devices (LRADs), and tear gassed and maced by heavily-armed officers wearing riot gear and gas masks. The press has been slow to catch up, though smaller reporting outfits like Unicorn Riot and Eco Watch have been keeping close tabs for months. In the wake of several mass arrests (including the arrest of 141 protesters on October 28) and a surge in police presence, national media coverage has increased. As I entered the camp early in the afternoon on November 3, I steeled myself for what I imagined would be daily, violent clashes between protesters and police. What I found was different.

roads are dirt and camp floors for the most part are tamped-down fields. Soon after arriving, I participated in a direct action training, during which newbies were given the rundown on camp operations. “How many of you are from the northwest?” the trainer asked the group—about 80 people clustered in a small wooden building. A few people raised their hands. “Ok, how many of you are from the east coast?” More hands. “Alright, how many of you are police officers?” The group laughed. He took us through the camp’s direct action principles: We are protectors, not protesters. We are peaceful and prayerful. Isms have no place here. We are nonviolent. Respect locals. No weapons, or what could be considered a weapon. Property damage doesn’t get us closer to the goal. All campers must get orientation. Direct action training for all who want to be in action. No children in potentially dangerous situations. We keep each other accountable. This is a ceremony, act accordingly.

Oceti Sakowin is nestled beneath Highway 1806, and flanked by Missouri River tributaries and hilly fields of long grass. Its

Oceti Sakowin is a place of prayer and ceremony. Its residents are asked to practice FEATURED // 23


Horses and riders near the entrance of Oceti Sakowin just before a camp-wide prayer ceremony on Nov. 5. Riders ranged in age from young children to elders.

the seven Lakota values: prayer, respect, compassion, honesty, generosity, humility, and wisdom. Each day, before sunrise, campers awaken to prayer and songs, broadcast over a loudspeaker. Then, a question is posed: “what are you here for?” Throughout the day, circles of men sing and drum, sage is smudged. At the center of camp, a steady flow of people kneel at the perpetually burning Sacred Fire to offer blessings and prayers. They greet each other with Mni Wiconi, “water is life.” The same day I arrived, over 500 clergy of various faiths from around the country came to engage in a direct action prayer walk. One of the clergy members was Joseph Boyd, intern minister at Tulsa’s All Souls Unitarian Church, who traveled with two congregants, Deborah and Elizabeth, and his wife, Jennifer. I joined them at their camp that evening. “We walked down to the bridge, past the burned van and formed a circle,” Boyd said. “Many clergy and lay members sat up on the hill. All these clergy with their stoles, crosses, rakusus—that was the police’s view. There were easily 30 cop cars, and snipers of course. As soon as we started at 9 a.m. the helicopter started to go over us, back and forth, back and forth. You see it almost all day and night.” Deborah gestured to floodlights on a hilltop just to the northeast of camp. “And you see those lights?” she asked. “They shine those into camp all night.” “John Floberg, who led the clergy, went to the site before we did the walk,” Boyd 24 // FEATURED

said. “He said that, immediately, a police officer approached him with an M-16 and a bull horn and said ‘What do you want?’” As we talked, roaming horses grazed on grass and announcements from the loudspeaker echoed throughout the camp. “When we heard about Standing Rock, for me it was a call to be here—and not just for clergy, but for all people of conscience,” Boyd said. For many, Native and not, that call has meant leaving work, home, friends, and family to support the protests at Standing Rock, and the issues they represent—Indian rights (and by extension, human rights), and environmental responsibility. “Before we came here I had a really limited idea that this was a regional and native issue,” Boyd continued. “It is, and it’s not. Seeing the Missouri River [first] in Kansas City opened me up, like—wow, this isn’t just in North Dakota, a place I’ve never been. It impacts all of us.” “I spoke with two young men,” said Elizabeth, another All Souls member. “Both of them had been arrested. They were told they were blocking the road and needed to get off. So they moved to the shoulders. One of them was praying. To be arrested for sitting on the side of the road, or sitting and praying on the side of the road—it seems like it couldn’t happen in our country. “Indigenous people are treated secondary to their resources. The resources are what is considered important …Their rights and homes are not respected. Their

burial grounds are not respected. It’s about the resource.” “Yes, we’re all here because of DAPL going through burial grounds and sacred land,” Boyd said. “But this is bigger than that. This is a place of prayer, which I interpret as a place of intention, something that is really lost in our culture. It’s something the church is supposed to help people to do, but Standing Rock is doing it in a way that is very effective. “This is all ceremony. It’s not just about a service on Sunday morning; it’s a way of life. It’s a way of being in relationship with the land, to each other, and in very simple ways—sharing meals, talking around a fire.” As the sun set, song and dance began around the camp. Dancers participating in round dance songs held hands and invited non-Native allies to join in. They step-stepped around the drumming singers, smiling and praying, faces lit by fire or solar-powered heaters until it was time to sleep. The next morning, campers were at work early, crewing up for jobs at the volunteer tent. Some trained in nonviolent direct action or cooked in the camp kitchens. Others offered therapy, massage, and medical assistance to those who needed it. In preparation for the coming weather, the camp holds winterization community meetings twice daily in the meeting hall, a large army-green tent with wood stoves. In the three days I was there, three yurts were built—one of which is now a midwife cen-

ter—and several teepees and a geodesic dome were erected. Multiple small homes and buildings were under construction. At a winterization meeting, one visitor, a man running for the Ohio state legislature, suggested maps of the camp be posted so people would know where to go rather than having to ask around. “We’ve done that,” said Johnnie, the meeting facilitator. “And then we’ve had infiltrators … For now we’ll do things the old way. People have to visit with one another.” “Everything we do here is a prayer,” he continued. “How we greet each other, how we share, how we walk.”

The majority of the direct actions at Standing Rock that have resulted in violence and arrests were prayer walks. What that looks like to an outsider is this: a large group of people walking with intention together, in prayer, towards a sacred site, the barricade on the highway, the river. When DAPL construction plowed through Sioux burial grounds on September 3, the protesters were on a prayer walk. Gibby, an Absentee-Shawnee and Eucha Native from Pawnee, OK, who has been “adopted” into the Pawnee tribe, first went to Standing Rock over Labor Day weekend. He was there when the burial grounds were destroyed. “Labor Day, it was warm. Everybody was walking around with a real good feeling,” he said. “Everybody here was in prayer


mode … That was when the dogs attacked. We just went up there to pray, up to the road where they were going to dig. Past the bridge, up the hill. It’s a pretty awesome site to see—everybody with their banners, supporting the water, saying Mni Wiconi, ‘water is life.’ Someone came running back and said they were bulldozing. The whole crowd ran up the road and [DAPL] was still working. They hit burial sites. Old folks’ stuff. The way it all went down—you saw the first two people in there and then those bros jumped in front of the bulldozers. One got slammed. Women and children went through the fence trying to stop them. It was emotional. Everyone was crying. “Why would you do that? Bulldozing their land, tearing it up, no regard to anything. And the dogs, the attack dogs, the same day. That’ll be instilled in my mind forever. It changed me. For one, it changed my decision to stay home. I left [for Oklahoma] on Tuesday after Labor Day. When I got home it wasn’t a matter of decision making. I washed my clothes, got everything I needed, left my summer gear, and came back.” Gibby is part of a large group of Native Americans and campers who are settling in for the winter, or longer. He estimates he’s met 50 Oklahomans since he’s been at Standing Rock. Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. is one of many who made the trip from Oklahoma. “Oklahomans should care about this because in this country we have growing dependence on fossil fuels even tough we have issues with climate change,” Hoskin said. “These issues require us to look at alternative energy sources. And irrespective of whether we have pipelines, communities ought to have a voice on where those go and what resources they impact. As pipelines come through Oklahoma in and near communities, what’s happening in Standing Rock ought to be a wake up call. It can happen here.” On the Friday night Gibby and I spoke, a large influx of campers, many non-Native, descended on Oceti Sakowin. By Saturday afternoon, the camp would run out of community water. “I’m here ‘til it stops,” he said. “I got grandbabies and that was one of my main things when I came up here … I want them to have fresh water. I want them to live in a world not full of disease and greed.” “See all these cars?” Gibby asked, gesturing to a line of vehicles on the highway waiting to enter camp. “If they’re not about it-about it, they’ll be gone Sunday. “There’s a lot of people here to take pictures of the front. It’s not about that. It’s really not. We’re here to stop it, not to be famous on Facebook. If you come here to pray, pray. If you come to help the medics, help the medics. If you come to be at the front, get up at the front … It’s not always an action, it’s a prayer walk. We go down there and pray—and not just for the water, but for everybody. Even the officers. All those people over there? We know they’re doing their jobs.

“This is a worldwide thing. It’s not just for us in America. There are kids dying over diamonds in Africa. It’s because of profit. But none of us are going to get money if we stop that pipeline. The money isn’t there for us … As long as we’ve got clean water to drink, we’ll be fine.” Gibby has been camping with the Pawnee for much of his stay at Standing Rock, and next to his camp is an Oglala Lakota (or Oglala Sioux) camp. They often cook for Gibby and his friends and family. Historically the two tribes were enemies, warring and raiding one another. That they are camping together and eating together is historic. “This has never happened before,” he said. “Us staying on their land, sharing meals.” Oceti Sakowin is historic for other reasons, too. On Saturday, November 5, the camp held a prayer ceremony. The elders of the camp decided there would not be a direct action, or a prayer walk—seen by the outside as protest marches—ending in a clash with police. The Army Corps of Engineers had also asked that tribal leaders help “diffuse tensions between demonstrators and law enforcement.” The prayerful action was held in a field—the seven Sioux clans were gathered together, via representatives from each tribe. Armin, a Nakota Sioux from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, told me this type of gathering hasn’t happened since the days of Sitting Bull, a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux chief who died in 1890. Upwards of 1500 people encircled the elders, drummers, and singers. Using no microphone, one leader told the crowd of how the Sioux were once considered the greatest light cavalry in the world, until their horses were stripped from them. While horses are a symbol of the tribe’s strength, he said, they are also a symbol of its collective cultural trauma. “Today,” he continued, “the horses come as healers.” Minutes later, on Highway 1806 above us, nearly 40 horses and riders rode into camp, through the flags lining Crazy Horse Avenue, and joined us in the field, ending inside the circle. As the drummers sang, the riders rode around them. The ceremony continued with prayers, songs, and speeches from elders and leaders. Near the end, another procession made its way down from the highway: a group of teenagers that ran for nine days over an estimated 1400 miles, some from Arizona and some from New Mexico. One of them, a Hopi-Navajo boy, spoke. “150 years ago my people were forced to walk over 400 miles to Fort Sumner. We were not forced this time,” he said. “We chose.” Meanwhile, snipers poised on the hilltops beyond the camp. DAPL and police flew a security plane and helicopter overhead, looping around Oceti Sakowin, as they do each day and night, partially—but not fully—drowning out the drum and song. a

Men sing and drum—a nightly ritual—in a geodesic dome with heaters and lights powered by solar panels.

Joseph Boyd, intern minister at All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, joined over 500 other leaders of faith in a call to clergy at Standing Rock on Nov. 3.

A small girl watches Indian drummers sing at the Tulsa Stands with Standing Rock rally in Veteran’s Park on Nov. 10.

FEATURED // 25


DEBATE ON A PLANE

Filmmaker Sterlin Harjo has a surprising conversation on his way to Standing Rock by STERLIN HARJO WHAT KIND OF WARRIOR AM I? How had I not suspected her? I was so busy deflecting shade being thrown at me from oil execs and Dakota Access Pipeline workers waiting at the boarding gate that I didn’t even notice the middle-aged woman with dyed auburn hair. This seemingly nice, quiet woman in loose yoga pants had not raised any alarms whatsoever. It was my first test. I failed. I saw her clutching her purse as she walked down the aisle towards me. We made eye contact, the kind that says “Looks like we’re sitting together.” We were both a little relieved, for I wasn’t the wild-eyed Indian with two braids that she was afraid of sitting by and she wasn’t the khaki’d oil exec that I was avoiding. She seemed harmless. I let her in to the window seat, and she unwrapped a piece of gum and put it in her mouth. She didn’t look at me but she didn’t look out the window, either. I tried to give her room to get comfortable. She snapped herself into the seat. Ok, just push play on your headphones and zone out. 26 // FEATURED

When she spoke she didn’t look at me, she looked down towards her knees like someone in confession. She asked the one question I wanted to avoid. “So, do you live in Bismarck?” she said. I stammered, then decided to give as little information as possible. “Uh… nope. I’m here for work.” Yeah, that sounded good. “Oh, what do you do?” Damn. “Well, I’m a filmmaker. I’m a part of this national project where filmmakers from across the country film a day in the life of the election. So, I’m filming in Cannonball.” I said Cannonball instead of Standing Rock. It was an attempt to give her an out. That way, if she was not in support of the water protectors and what they stand for she could easily accept my answer and move on to some other topic, saving us both the headache of having to debate our beliefs on the hour-and-a-half flight to Bismarck. “Now, what in the world could be going on at Cannonball on

election day?” she asked. Still not looking at me. I began to get nervous; maybe it was worse than I thought. She seemed to be digging. Maybe she didn’t want an “out.” Maybe she wanted in. Way in. “Well, I’m filming people that are in the middle of the pipeline dispute at Standing Rock.” “Which people?” she quipped in that way that says, “I know the answer, but I’m gonna make you say it to me.” Holy shit. “The people that are against the Dakota Access Pipeline.” I felt relief. Maybe I was the one in confession. She nodded her head, still never looking at me. Things fell cold. I tried to weigh out my options and ultimately decided to try and bridge the gap. I was going to be beside her for the next hour, I had to find some sort of common ground. “What about you? Going home?” I asked. She perked up, “Yes, I’m getting back from North Carolina.”

“That’s nice. Vacation?” I replied. She glanced at me. A glance that, I know now, was one of dark pleasure. I had fallen into her trap. Like Frodo and the giant spider in the “Lord of The Rings,” I was about to be wrapped in her unrelenting web. “No, actually, I was with a group of other congressman’s wives. We went to speak with female voters in North Carolina to campaign for Donald Trump. My husband is Kevin Cramer, the congressman of North Dakota.” She looked at me and held it. I swallowed my gum. My mouth went dry. How did this happen? Of all the folks that I could’ve sat by on a flight to Standing Rock I’m next to Republican Congressman Kevin Cramer’s wife. Kevin Cramer the climate change denier, Kevin Cramer who wants Planned Parenthood abolished, Kevin Cramer who wants less regulations on drilling, Kevin Cramer who helped draft Donald Trump’s energy bill. That Kevin Cramer.

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


View of floodlights, DAPL construction, security and snipers in the hills beyond the Missouri River and Oceti Sakowin camp. | JOSEPH RUSHMORE

“Ah … ok.” Was all I could conjure. Now we both knew we were on completely different sides of the political spectrum. Things went cold between us again. Recklessly, I doubled down on my bridge-building attempt. “You know, I grew up in rural Oklahoma, I have a lot of friends in the oil industry. So, I have friends on both sides of the issue. My plan for this project is to stay away from the politics of it all and just follow people in regards to the election. The bad and good of the oil industry is too big to get into for this.” Breathe. She replied with the sharpness of a surgeon’s scalpel, “Well, what could be bad about the oil industry?” You’ve got to be kidding me. I found my gum, turns out I didn’t swallow it. Just chew. Wipe the sweat from your forehead. Answer the question. Deciding to stay away from the politics, I opted to take a more personal approach. I replied, “Well, for one it seems like the oil industry only supports the people at the top. The big wigs. I’ve seen friends lose their jobs and have to scramble to provide for their families. There doesn’t seem to be anything in place for the workers. No support for them when the bottom falls out.”

Her answer, “Yes. We all need to be better at saving. I have to save. They need to save as well.” She’s tough. She seemed like she wanted a fight. I decided to dig in. This was becoming a battle. “I’ve always wanted to ask this, and I sincerely want to know. Do you think we can keep taking things out of the Earth without putting anything back in? You think there won’t be problems? Like not even in a hundred years, but say in five hundred years? You think there won’t be damage to our planet?” Nodding as if she’d been asked this before, she said, “I believe the good Lord has put it there for us to use.” It felt like the air left my lungs. I replied, “So, you think God is cool with us doing it even if it has a negative effect on the earth?” She said, “I truly do.” I let out a slight chuckle and said, “We should probably change the subject then.” We both went silent. My chest felt hollow, breathing became laborious. Lines had been drawn in the sand. This is the issue. The one, big, glaring issue. It is a complete divide in a way of being, a way of existing on this planet. I thought of all the wars fought over the centuries, of all the atrocities that humans have inflicted upon themselves; war, slavery, genocide.

THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

All of them justified through an interpretation of what being a human is, an interpretation of what makes me better than you, or me better than that. An interpretation that breaks any harmony between humans and the natural world around us. An interpretation spawned from flawed human beings. No politician, religion, status update, meme, or conversation on a plane can change something so rooted in our fellow humans. If you think it’s ok to harm someone or something as big to our existence as the earth, in order to have more for yourself, then there is no changing you. Nothing can stand in your way; not God, armies, animals, the earth, and certainly not other humans. I thought of the Trail of Tears, I thought of pictures of Chief Spotted Elk (Big Foot) frozen dead at the Wounded Knee massacre in 1890, I thought of those old pictures of black folks hanging from trees, I thought of pictures of the Holocaust, I thought of my grandpa getting hit with shrapnel in World War II, I thought of pictures of Indian children with short hair and school uniforms in front of boarding schools, I thought of wars fought in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, I thought of any number of environmental catastrophes throughout time, and I thought of the friends that I saw maced by militarized police and

private security teams at Standing Rock for trying to protect our water from being polluted. I thought of all these things. All of them seemingly unconnected, but at that moment, to me, they told one story. We spoke again, not anymore about oil or Standing Rock. We talked about our kids, about her daughter’s wedding video business, my film career, anything but our ideals that separated us like day and night. Both of us want happiness, but we totally disagree on how one should go about getting it. I told her bye and good luck. As I rented a car I saw her talking with her family. She was laughing with them, and I imagined that she just told the story of the silly Indian she sat next to that thinks there are issues with the oil industry. Just like later when I would laugh and tell my friends that I sat next to a right-wing congressman’s wife who thinks God put oil in the earth for us to use for as long as we want. I rented a Jeep and drove another hour to Standing Rock. As I pulled into the entrance and passed the hundreds of flags planted by different tribes from across the nation, I began to hear familiar sounds of the drum and singers coming from the main fire. I rolled down my window. The singing got louder, and I began to breathe again. a FEATURED // 27


This shirt is one of many Oklahoma-related gifts sold at Ida Red Boutique COURTESY

theholidays

#SHOPSMALL Hundreds of Tulsa businesses participate in Small Business Saturday by LAURA DENNIS

N

ovember 26 welcomes back the seventh annual Small Business Saturday and its accompanying #shopsmall hashtag in an effort to rally support for local business communities. Launched by American Express in 2010, the shopping day began as a marketing campaign to boost the credit card company’s small-business merchant sales. Today, the initiative is acknowledged on a local and nationwide level that gives well-deserved exposure to small businesses between the madness that is Black Friday and Cyber Monday. American Express initially drove popularity for the small business venture by offering monetary incentives—up to a $25 statement credit—to consumers for purchases made at local businesses with their Amex card on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. In 2013, the incentive dwindled to $10 and eventually vanished all together in 2015. American Express reasoned on its website that the offer had served its purpose: It was motivating consumers to #shopsmall and therefore boosting local business communities. Since withdrawing its consumer incentive in 2015, American Express has relied largely on small business owners and national media attention to continue promoting Small Business Saturday. The combined efforts have gained the #shopsmall movement support of elected officials from all 50 states, and in 2015 it received formal recognition from the Senate, which made it an official U.S. holiday. And despite the decrease in shopping incentives over the last few years, campaign support and consumer awareness for Small Business Saturday have risen yearly since 2010, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. As Small Business Saturday continues to gain momentum, the newest holiday shopping trend is giving Black Friday a run for its money. In 2015, NFIB reported more than a 10 percent drop in sales on the Friday after Thanksgiving. But while the latest trends show shoppers prefer to avoid the early morning crowds and chaos that accompany Black Friday sales, they also reflect a growing consumer loyalty to the local business community. And Small Business Saturday encourages just that. In 2015, shoppers spent an estimated $16.2 billion at small independent business-

28 // ARTS & CULTURE

es—a 14 percent rise from 2014. Additionally, 95 million consumers shopped at small businesses on Small Business Saturday, an increase of eight percent for 2015, according to a survey conducted by NFIB and American Express. The need for local and nationwide support in small business communities is exactly what the #shopsmall effort intended to meet. This time of year is vital for independent business owners because of potential sales revenue inextricably linked with the numerous culturally ingrained shopping days that follow Thanksgiving. And while big businesses have the necessary monetary and economical resources to advertise and provide shoppers with the best deals and discounts, small mom-andpop shops have to get creative when it comes to reaching consumers looking for a steal. And that’s where Small Business Saturday makes all the difference. The #shopsmall campaign caters to the advertising needs of small business owners with free marketing through the use of social media platforms. The aim is to convince shoppers they can invest in their local communities and still enjoy the perks of holiday deals and discounts while they boast of their efforts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Tulsan and Ida Red boutique owner Angelene Wright says the “small” shopping generated through this stratagem benefits the economy and helps keep tax dollars in the local community. It doesn’t hurt that the ease with which independent stores can participate in the #shopsmall holiday gives local businesses a jump-start on holiday sales without the need for costly advertising. Circle Cinema, Garden Deva and Hideaway Pizza—to name a few—are among the now hundreds of independent businesses looking to benefit the Tulsa community with the #shopsmall initiative. It’s clear that Small Business Saturday brings a sense of togetherness to local communities. Wright has participated in the #shopsmall campaign every year since it started and says the small business holiday has been a great blessing to her and her business. “We love the community involvement,” Wright says. “Every year it warms our hearts to see people come into the store with a special initiative to shop local and support the stores that they love.” a

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


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THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

SHOP LOCAL // 29


sportsreport

Destination kicks

In its 11th year, the Williams Route 66 Marathon continues to grow by JOHN TRANCHINA

I

n its 11th year, the Williams Route 66 Marathon has grown into a huge event, and is gaining widespread recognition as a prime destination for runners across the nation and even the world. The marathon, along with a half-marathon and a relay, takes place Sunday, Nov. 20, finishing at Guthrie Green in downtown Tulsa, and will feature runners from all 50 states, and 15 foreign countries. Including the 5K Run and Walk, a one-mile “Fun Run” and a Mascot Dash all on Saturday, Nov. 19, over 13,000 participants will take to the Tulsa streets. The first Route 66 Marathon event in 2006 featured about 3,000 runners. “Obviously, bringing people to Tulsa from all over the world, it’s really important to us,” said race executive director Kim Hann. “We’ve changed their perception of what Tulsa is for the positive. Tulsa’s a great city and it’s a big part of our mission to help everybody realize just how great Tulsa really is and why people should come here and why companies should come here and invest in our city. We’ve been named a best destination race.” Dave Darcey is one of just 10 runners to have participated in all 10 prior Route 66 Marathons and he will be out there again on Nov. 20 for number 11. As an experienced marathon runner, he is happy to see how Route 66 has grown into a highlight race for national running clubs like the Marathon Maniacs (which has a minimum requirement of completing two marathons within a 16-day span or three within 90 days) and the 50 States Club (which requires 30 // ARTS & CULTURE

The Williams Route 66 Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 20 | COURTESY

finishing marathons in at least 10 different states to join). “That’s one of the things that most excites me, just seeing how many out-of-town visitors come in to Tulsa,” said Darcey, 55, who also happens to be the vice president over strategy and market intelligence for Williams and is in charge of the company’s sponsorship of the event. “It feels like this marathon is a major stop for the Marathon Maniacs – they keep coming back and that’s pretty cool. I’m really proud of Tulsa and how we’ve made this a destination run.” It has also turned into a fun event for Tulsans not actually running. All along the race route, mass gatherings of spectators and well-wishers root on the runners, and the participants do appreciate the support. “I think we’ve got a route that pretty much showcases the best of

Tulsa, and that’s neat just seeing the excitement down there,” said Darcey, whose best Route 66 finish came in 2009 at age 48 when he completed the course in 3:55:08 and came in 295th. “The refreshments that we get in some of the neighborhoods, whether it’s the Jagermeister shots or the Jell-o shots – maybe Tulsa has a drinking problem here, but it’s fun. The neighborhood just south of the University of Tulsa and the neighborhood along Cincinnati around 26th, those are some neighborhoods that really come out and make it fun for the runners with their pit stops.” The continual increase in participation over the years has translated into an even larger amount of money the race raises for five local charities. As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, the Route 66 Marathon donates all profits, which this year will be split

between the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, the Folds of Honor Foundation (an Owasso-based group that provides scholarships to spouses or children of soldiers killed or disabled in service to America), Tulsa Habitat for Humanity, the Tulsa Area United Way, and the Tulsa Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). “We allow our participants to fund-raise for entry,” Hann said. “Last year, we raised, with our participants, over $75,000 directly to our charities. “We’re a zero-waste event, so everything that we don’t use is either donated or re-used. It’s part of our sustainability effort. It’s a huge component for us to be able to give back to our community.” The city also benefits greatly by all the money brought in by all the out-of-towners. “We have an average of over $5 million economic impact on the city,” Hann said. “Participants, especially out-of-state participants, will typically come in on Thursday or Friday, and stay through Monday – so that’s everything from hotels to restaurants to shopping, visits to museums, just spending money in Tulsa through the entire weekend.” Also included in the Route 66 Marathon’s web of events is the Health, Fitness & Sustainability Expo at the Cox Business Center downtown on Friday, Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., which has over 100 vendors and is free to the public. a

For more information, visit route66marathon.com.

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


UPCOMING EVENTS

November

@ the PAC

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2-30 Pop Impressionism John Hammer / PAC Gallery 7 Tulsa Festival Ringers PAC Trust Brown Bag It 8-23 A Christmas Carol American Theatre Company 10-23 The Nutcracker Tulsa Ballet 15-16 Christmas Cabaret Sheridan Road Vocal Ensemble 16-18 Elf Jr. Theatre Tulsa Family

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TU is an EEO/AA Institution.

GILCREASE.ORG THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

ARTS & CULTURE // 31


artspot

CURATING FOR A PEOPLE Renovating the Osage Nation Museum by AMANDA RUYLE

OSAGE NATION MUSEUM 819 Grandview Ave., Pawhuska, OK 918.287.5441 Hallie Winter, director and curator of the Osage Nation Museum | COURTESY

T

he faces of The Osage Ten, replicas of the original busts commissioned by the Smithsonian in the early 20th century, stare out from behind the glass in three side-by-side cases at the Osage Nation Museum (ONM) in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Their features are so intimately defined that the viewer instantly feels a connection to and familiarity with the men and women depicted. The faces look like many Oklahomans—it’s easy to imagine them standing next to you, telling you the story of the Osage people as you make your way through the museum. The ONM is the oldest tribeowned museum in the United States, housed in a small stone building built by the WPA in 1938. When Hallie Winter took the position as curator in 2015 she did so in order to give back to her people. An Osage woman born in Oklahoma but raised in Buffalo, New York, Winter saw the opportunity to make the ONM a “premier destination to experience Osage art and culture.” With a vision and the support of her tribe, she set to work. Winter began by using her expertise and experience as a museum professional to oversee a massive renovation in order to be32 // ARTS & CULTURE

gin working towards becoming accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. These renovations include updates and redesigns of exhibit, gallery and work spaces, instituting a “best practices for object care” and developing various outreach programs designed to expand the impact of the museum within the larger community. The front gallery is open and bright, and home to the permanent collection, with objects changing periodically. “We wanted to tell the history of the Osage Nation, so we’ve tried to do that … through our objects and informational text panels,” Winter said. Beginning with The Osage Ten, and moving through the Osage origin story and through pre-history to present day, ONM objects have been carefully selected and displayed to tell the story of a vibrant people who were forced to adapt to Eurocentric ways of living, but who never lost their culture. Moving around the gallery space, visitors encounter photos of and information about organized attempts to convert Osage children by sending them to Christian boarding schools, juxtaposed with objects telling the history and importance of Osage spiritualism to the Osage people;

beautiful and intricate examples of traditional Osage art including fingerweaving, ribbonwork and beadwork and a case holding materials related to “the history of Osage warfare,” including a war shield, a War Mothers blanket and a World War II uniform worn by an Osage Veteran. At the far end of the display cases lining the walls sits an easy chair and a shelf full of photo albums. Within the photo albums are photographs of the original allotees from the Osage Allotment Act of 1906, along with the name of each allotee, as well as the museum’s collections of photographs. Visitors are invited to sit and thumb through the photos, creating an intimate connection to the history of the Osage people. The second gallery, where temporary exhibits are displayed, rotates every four months. Ensuring present day Osage artists are recognized and celebrated is as much a priority to Winter as cataloging the past. “We wanted to start highlighting our Osage artists and become an incubator for them,” Winter said. “We do have an open call for artists, it’s open year round and any Osage artist can submit … and we aren’t talking about art in just the fine arts sense, but

also traditional arts … bead work, moccasins, regalia, all of that. We want to show the diversity of our artists.” Currently on display in the second gallery is the Carl Ponca retrospective. Carl Ponca was former curator of the ONM and an accomplished artist in his own right—a painter, sculptor, sketch artist, glass blower, arts advocate and educator, museum curator and inventor who spent his life creating art that was reflective of his life as an Osage and the “land his ancestors walked on.” Future planned temporary exhibitions include PHOTO/SYNTHESIS in the spring of 2017, which will feature portraits of Native Americans past and present by photographers Edward Curtis and Will Wilson. Maintaining this connection to her ancestors, as well as celebrating the modern accomplishments of the Osage people is fundamental to what drives Winter. “We are not a vanishing people. We are current, we are thriving, we are important, and even though we’ve been historically forced to adapt to what some may say are European ways or colonization, we still hold our traditions and our customs dear to our heart and we try to promote our culture as much as possible.” a

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


SYNCRETIC: TULSA ARTIST FELLOWSHIP

December 2, 2016 – January 22, 2017 Curated by Dr. Louise Siddons in partnership with Tulsa Artist Fellowship Opening Reception: December 2, 2016 | 6-9pm Curator Talk: December 3, 2016 | 1-2:30pm Panel Discussion: January 12, 2017 | 6-7:30pm

From left: Sign of Age, by Eric Sall | Their Wooden Wings, by Alice Leora Briggs | Silhouetted Constellations on Body, by Monty Little

COURTYARD THEATER PRESENTS

1 in 5

Oklahoma kids lives with secondhand smoke.

December 1st & 2nd at 7:00pm Performed at Jenks Church

Secondhand smoke increases kids’ risk for · Respiratory infections · Earaches · Asthma · More missed school days · Serious long-term health issues Protect all kids from secondhand smoke by making their world smokefree.

TOBACCO IS STILL A PROBLEM IN OKLAHOMA. Jenks Church Ticket Prices 1529 W. 49th St. General Admission: $5.00 in Jenks, OK

THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

For More Information Go to courtyardtheatre.org

ARTS & CULTURE // 33


thehaps

Two Spirits: Sexuality, Gender, and the Murder of Fred Martinez Thursday, Nov. 17, 6 p.m.

A

s part of the G. William Rice Dialogue on Justice, Equity, and Inclusion, The Native American Law Student Association and OutLaws present this special screening of the 2009 documentary "Two Spirits," which interweaves the tragic story of a mother's loss of her son with a revealing look at a time when the many Native American cultures held places of honor for people of integrated genders. Following the screening there will be a panel discussion on civil rights issues facing the LGBT and Native American communities. Speakers include John Hawk Co-Cke’, leader of the Tulsa Tow-Spirit Society, Sharon Queen, facilitator for the Gender Support Program at Oklahomans for Equality, and Geri Wisner, attorney specializing in Indian Law.

Circle Cinema, facebook.com/NALSAatTU

HOLIDAY THEATER

WINTER FUN

Buddy, the tallest elf in the North Pole, brings his holiday crusade to the PAC’s Chapman Music Hall in Elf: The Musical. Nov. 15-20, $25-$65, tulsapac.com

Ice skating under the downtown skyline and carriage rides return to the BOK Center for Tulsa Winterfest. Nov. 25-Jan. 15, tulsawinterfest.com

FUNDRAISER

WEIRD FILM

Things will get sweet and sudsy at Living Arts’ Champagne and Chocolate Gala fundraiser, which features a wearable art fashion show and desserts by several Tulsa chefs and restaurants. Nov. 19, 6 p.m.-11 p.m., livingarts.org

Circle Cinema hosts the Oklahoma premier screening of Let Me Make You a Martyr—shot in Tulsa and starring Marilyn Manson as a hitman. Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m., $12, circlecinema.com

RUN

LIGHTS

The Route 66 Marathon returns with a 5K, fun run, and Mascot Dash on Nov. 19, and the marathon, half-marathon, and marathon relay on Nov. 20. Begins and ends in Downtown Tulsa, route66marathon.com

Watch Tulsa light up in the progressive downtown lighting tour Glow! The tour begins at 5:30 p.m. at John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park. Nov. 27, downtowntulsaok.com

LIGHTS

DRINK

Celebrate the holidays at Philbrook Festival, with tens of thousands of lights in the gardens, and gingerbread houses and special events inside. Nov. 19-Dec. 31, $5-$9, festival.philbrook.org

Sample eggnog from over 15 Brady District businesses to decide who will reign supreme at the 4th annual First Lady of Brady Nog Off, benefitting Emerson Elementary. Nov. 27, 6 p.m., $50, Living Arts, thebradyartsdistrict.com

34 // ARTS & CULTURE

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

ARTS & CULTURE // 35


thehaps

THANKSGIVING

BAR CRAWL

The Leftover Last Waltz is one of our favorite holiday traditions. Watch The Band’s classic 1978 film, eat a Thanksgiving dinner provided by several local restaurants. Nov. 27, 6 p.m., $25-$28, Cain’s Ballroom, theleftoverlastwaltz.com

Turn to the dark side of the holidays for the Krampus Walk and Bar Crawl. Collect Krampus Coins from bars in the Brady and Blue Dome Districts, beginning and ending at Inner Circle Vodka Bar. Dec. 3, 8 p.m.-2 a.m., tulsakrampuswalk.com

SHOP LOCAL

DANCE

Stroll through pop up shops from over a dozen local makers at Christmas in Kendall-Whittier. Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., facebook.com/kendallwhittierpopupshops

Take a glimpse into the work of Tulsa Modern Movement at the TuMM Gathering & Works-inProgress Showing. See on-the-spot choregraphy, while noshing on cheese and wine. Dec. 4, 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Flyloft, tummdance.org

BEST OF THE REST EVENTS Ziegler’s Customer Appreciation Day //

Ziegler’s thanks customers old and new with 20% off everything in the store, a performance by Desi & Cody and complimentary street tacos from Calaveras. // 11/17, 8 a.m., Ziegler Art & Frame, zieglerart.com Fall Home Expo // Find everything you need to prepare for the changing seasons and holidays. // 11/18, Expo Square - Exchange Center, $5-$6, fallhomeexpo.com An Affair of the Heart // Browse

hundreds of retailers at one of the largest arts and crafts in the country. // 11/18-20, Expo Square - River Spirit Expo, $8, heartoftulsa.com Ellis Paul Songwriting Workshop //

Following a performance at WGC on 11/18, folk singer Ellis Paul will hold a special songwriting workshop. // 11/19, 2 p.m., Woody Guthrie Center, woodyguthriecenter.org Castle Christmas // The Castle of

Muskogee transforms into a winter wonderland, with thousands of decorative lights, holiday merchants, and more. // 11/24-12/30, The Castle of Muskogee, okcastle.com The Fur Shop’s 3rd Anniversary Weekend Carnival Party // The Fur Shop will cel-

ebrate its birthday with local circus sideshow as well as beer events, live music, and food trucks. // 11/25-26, The Fur Shop, $5, furshoptulsa.com Oklahoma Changing World Prize: Samantha Elauf // Woody Guthrie Cen-

ter will present the Oklahoma Changing World Prize to Samantha Elauf, whose lawsuit against Abercrombie & Fitch for refusing to hire a muslim woman went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in Elauf’s favor. // 12/4, 6 p.m., Woody Guthrie Center, woodyguthriecenter.org 36 // ARTS & CULTURE

Christkindlmarkt // the German-Amer-

ican Society of Tulsa presents this market, which features imported gifts, food, and traditional German holiday activities. // 12/2-12/4, German American Society of Tulsa, gastulsa.org John Hammer: Pop Impressionism //

End of the Day: Danny Day’s Retirement Bash // Pat Hobbs stars in this

one-man cabaret written by Tulsan Machele Miller Dill, which spans the 50 year career of Danny Day, bon vivant and community theatre icon extraordinaire. // 11/18-20, American Theatre Company - ATC Studios,

John Hammer’s works depict familiar faces from the pop culture lexicon in a vibrant and colorful impressionist style. // 12/2-12/30, Tulsa Performing Arts Center - PAC Gallery, tulsapac. com/index.asp

Ramona Quimby // Celebrate the

Your Amazing Brain: A Mind-Blowing Evening // Celebrated science writer

Cirque Dreams Holidaze // Cirque Dreams perform amazing and gravity-defying acts of skill and daring with a holiday twist. // 11/29-30, 7:30 p.m., Tulsa Performing Arts Center - Chapman Music Hall, $25-$75, tulsapac.com/index.asp

Erik Vance will discuss his book “Suggestible You,” which explores the worlds of placebos, hypnosis, false memories, and neurology. // 12/6, 7 p.m., OU-Tulsa, booksmarttulsa.com

PERFORMING ARTS Kelli O’Hara // Oklahoma native Kelli

O’Hara has dazzled audiences in recent revivals of “South Pacific,” “The Pa jama Game,” and “The King and I.” She returns to her home state for an intimate recital. // 11/20, 3 p.m., Tulsa Performing Arts Center - John H. Williams Theatre, $100-$150, tulsapac. com/index.asp Annie // This production of the Broadway classic “Annie” is directed by Martin Charnin, the show’s original lyricist and director. // 11/29, 7:30 p.m., Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, brokenarrowpac.com The Haus of Mimosa’s Holiday Spectacular on Ice! // Following their previous sold-

out appearance, the ladies of Haus of Mimosa return to MixCo for three performances: Drag Brunch at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and a Drag Christmas Dinner. Email mixcotulsa@gmail.com. // 12/4, MixCo, $45-$50, mixcotulsa.com

100th birthday of revered children’s author Beverly Cleary with a theatrical adaptation of her classic book. // 11/18-25, Tulsa Spotlight Theatre, spotlighttheatre.org

Tulsa Pops: Home for the Holidays // Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Oratorio Chorus, and area high school choirs come together for a night of holiday favorites. // 12/2-4, Tulsa Performing Arts Center - Chapman Music Hall, $15-$70, tulsapac.com/index.asp

TU Volleyball vs SMU // 11/16, 6 p.m.,

Reynolds Center, tulsahurricane.com Tulsa Oilers vs Rapid City // 11/16, BOK

Center, $16-$56, bokcenter.com Tulsa Oilers vs Rapid City // 11/18, 7 p.m.,

BOK Center, $16-$56, tulsaoilers.com TU Volleyball vs Memphis //

11/18, 7 p.m., Reynolds Center, tulsahurricane.com Extreme Fight Night 338 // 11/19, 7 p.m., River Spirit Casino - Paradise Cove, $42-$102, riverspirittulsa.com Tulsa Oilers vs Allen Americans // 11/20, 4 p.m., BOK Center, $16-$56, tulsaoilers.com TU Football vs Cincinnati // 11/25, Skelly

Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium, $15$55, tulsahurricane.com Tulsa Oilers vs Wichita Thunder //

11/26, 7 p.m., BOK Center, $17-$57, tulsaoilers.com Tulsa Oilers vs Allen Americans // 11/29, 7 p.m., BOK Center, $16-$56, tulsaoilers.com Legacy Fighting Championship //

COMEDY Tim Northern, T.J. Clark, Dianna Jarvis, De’Marrio Oates, Billy Bazar // 11/18,

The Blackbird on Pearl, $7-$10, facebook.com/Blackbirdtulsa Stand Up Comedy // 11/21, The Venue

12/2, 8 p.m., Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - The Joint, $42-$74, hardrockcasinotulsa.com World of Wrestling Flo Kickoff Classic //

11/18-11/19, Expo Square - Pavilion, $4$30, worldofwrestling-roller.com USA BMX Grand Nationals // 11/24-11/27,

Shrine, $5, tulsashrine.com Brian Regan // 12/4, Cox Business Center, $37.50-$45.50, coxcentertulsa.com Stand Up Comedy //12/5, The Venue

Shrine, tulsashrine.com

SPORTS

Expo Square - River Spirit Expo, $10, usabmx.com US Team Roping Champhionships Oil Capital Stampede // 12/2-12/4, Expo

Square - Ford Truck Coliseum, ustrc.com Ruts n’ Guts // Two days of cyclocross racing in BA! // 12/3-12/4, Chisolm Trail South Park, facebook.com/RutsnGuts

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


HONORING Steve Liggett’s final Champagne and Chocolate Gala as Living Arts’ Artistic Director.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2016 PATRON PARTY 6-8P; GALA 8-11P 307 E M.B. BRADY ST. CHAMPAGNECHOCOLATETULSA.ORG

You can help fill the plates of so many people in our community this holiday season. Your donation could go twice as far, thanks to the generosity of the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

“For those of you who have never been in this position and don’t know what it feels like, and you still give, thank you even more.” -Kendra, Emergency Infant Services

VISIT OKFOODBANK.ORG THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

ARTS & CULTURE // 37


musicnotes

Long-distance labor of love The Phoenix Bros. drop new EP by MARY NOBLE

T

he Phoenix Bros. duo Jimmy Morales and Dillon Hargrave debuted their new EP Firehaus on November 5 at Chimera. I went as a blank canvas—hadn’t heard the album, hadn’t yet spoken with them about it. As a happy coincidence, that same night Chimera also unveiled their new venue expansion—the past year’s labor of love. I walked through the front entrance and scoured the restaurant for the recently constructed space. Common sense led me to a hallway by the bathrooms that served as a corridor to the venue. As I got closer, the intensity of the bass boomed louder and louder. The room was dark, illuminated only by visuals projected onto the wall, and a multicolored light fixture. The images flashed in seamless accompaniment to the electronic music, captivating everyone in attendance. The light fixture sat in a corner of the room with the sole purpose of providing light to a large kinetic sculpture and possible star of the show. Built by Tulsa artist Smidge, the structure consisted of a collection of PVC pipes anchored into a cement base. Stuffed animals were tied onto the ends of every pipe, swaying back and forth like tree limbs when pulled towards the floor and let go. So, the premier of Firehaus was more than a show, it was an experience—meticulously planned and executed by the electronic music duo, an artistic collaboration sprung from friendship. “Jimmy and I met around 2003 while we were both students at Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences (TSAS). The mascot was the phoenix, hence the name: Phoenix Bros.,” said Hargrave in a Face38 // MUSIC

Firehaus, The Phoenix Bros.’ new EP | COURTESY

book chat. Electronic communication between The Phoenix Bros. is a must since Morales moved to Washington two years ago. The concept of Firehaus was born in August, 2015 when Hargrave recorded a vinyl brunch at Chimera, hosted by writer John Wooley. “The album came about by Dillon doing a podcast at Chimera,” Morales said. “He recorded it and shared it with me saying, ‘you could make an album from all the samples in this podcast, it’s that good.’ So we did!” The set list from Wooley’s vinyl brunch included a varied collection of rare tracks from the 50s and 60s, providing Firehaus with a musical landscape rich in feeling and tone. “I think what attracted me to that was the fact that it was a very

stylized sound from pretty obscure records so I thought the chance of anyone using those samples was pretty slim, and I think something that attracted Jimmy and I both was working on something that’s unique,” Hargrave said. In addition to the podcast, Firehaus contains some samples from previous work as well as a vocalsand-sax feature from prolific jazz singer Annie Ellicott on the title track. “I reached out to [Ellicott] to see if she would be interested and she agreed to take a swing at it,” Hargrave said. “I didn’t really have a clear vision beyond that. So we went to the studio where she records and we spent the afternoon playing around with it.” Firehaus was the first long distance project completed by The Phoenix Bros. and was done

entirely through Facebook messenger and Google Drive. When asked about the challenges involved in creating an album so far apart, Hargrave said, “…One of the disadvantages is not really having that hands on studio time with each other to brainstorm and play with different sounds and textures. That’s something I missed with this project.” While the duo misses having studio time, they said the process of creating an album is much more streamlined when far apart, forcing them to make decisions based on what they’ve learned about each other through the years. “When D says make it a little more funky, it’s really easy to know what that means and just implement it on his behalf,” Morales said. The amount of trust and faith the duo has in each other and their capabilities as producers has made for an enjoyable experience that either would do again. “We didn’t speak to each other I don’t think at all except for a video chat we had the day of the release,” Hargrave said. “I can read his voice when I hear it, but it’s a whole different thing to see somebody you haven’t seen or heard speak in so long, and to have it happen for the first time on the day of the release I think is rather remarkable in its own right.” While The Phoenix Bros. do not have live shows planned for the near future, they have expressed an interest in pursuing spots at festivals this coming summer. a

Firehaus is available on beatport.com and Spotify.

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


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MELVIN SEALS DEC 10

ANDY FRASCO DEC 16

NAPPY ROOTS DEC 29

THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

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MUSIC // 39


The master has left our dimension. Farewell, Leon. APRIL 2, 1942 - NOVEMBER 13, 2016 PHOTO BY DON NIX


musiclistings Wed // Nov 16 Billy and Renee’s – Wednesday Night Thing Open Mic w/ Sidney Chase Mercury Lounge – Travis Linville Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Eicher Wednesdays – ($10) On the Rocks – Don White Soul City – Shrimp n’ Grits w/ Papa Foster’s Creole Trio Soundpony – *Adult Books, La Panther Happens The Blackbird on Pearl – Brandon Clark’s Whiskey Wednesday The Colony – Tom Skinner’s Science Project The Fur Shop – Bruiser Queen, The Fabulous Minx

Thurs // Nov 17 Cain’s Ballroom – CAM, Adam Sanders – ($15-$69) Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Cabin Creek – Darrel Cole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Reverse Reaction, Travis Kidd Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - The Joint – John Michael Montgomery, Collin Raye – ($35-$45) Hunt Club – Ego Culture Mercury Lounge – Paul Benjaman River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – Ayngel & John Soul City – The Writer’s Block Songwriters Night Soundpony – *And There Stand Empires, Culture Cinematic The Colony – Honky Tonk Happy Hour w/ Jacob Tovar The Venue Shrine – Afroman – ($10-$15) Utopia Bar & Lounge – DJ MO

Fri // Nov 18 American Legion Post 308 – Double “00” Buck Ed’s Hurricane Lounge – Kelli Lynn and the Skillet Lickers Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Cabin Creek – Kinsey Sadler Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Stars, Sweet Caroline Hunt Club – We the Ghost River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – Chris Hyde Band River Spirit Casino - Margaritaville Stage – Brent Giddens Soul City – Grazzhopper, Whiskey Misters – ($10) Soundpony – We Make Shapes, Daniels The Colony – Wink Burcham The Fur Shop – Get Fired, Breakfast, The Busty Brunettes The Phoenix – The Radio Broadcast The Run – The Rumor The Venue Shrine – Fall Jam w/ Swan Lake Gentleman’s Society, The Feelers, Sunday Moan – ($5) Vanguard – Groovement – ($10) Woody Guthrie Center – *Ellis Paul – ($25) Yeti – TFM, Biscuits and Groovy

Sat // Nov 19 Billy and Renee’s – Screaming Red Mutiny, Order of Magnitude Cain’s Ballroom – Battle of the Bands – ($10-$12) Downtown Lounge – BlindSight20/20, Machine in the Mountain, And Now, Violent Victim Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Stars, The Hi-Fidelics Hunt Club – Smunty Voje Mercury Lounge – Jack Grelle River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – Fuzed River Spirit Casino - Margaritaville Stage – Chris Hyde Band Soul City – Brunch w/ Mark Bruner – ($10) Soundpony – Latino Cinco The Blackbird on Pearl – Tennessee Jet

The Colony – *The Grits The Fur Shop – *The Shame EP release w/ American Dischord, The Penny Mob – ($5) The Venue Shrine – *Dearly Beloved - A Tribute to Prince – ($10) Vanguard – Elizabeth Cook, Jesse Aycock Band, Lauren Barth – ($12-$15) Woody’s Corner Bar – Wayne Garner Yeti – For the Wolf, Ethera, Outline In Color

Sun // Nov 20 Mercury Lounge – Brandon Clark Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Annie Ellicott – ($5-$20) Soul City – Mark Gibson – ($10) Soundpony – Attic ted The Colony – Paul Benjaman’s Sunday Nite Thing Utopia Bar & Lounge – DJ MO Vanguard – Lee Dewyze, Leslie Dinicola – ($15-$50)

Mon // Nov 21 Mercury Lounge – Chloe Johns Soundpony – Jucifer The Blackbird on Pearl – Open Mic w/ Steve Jones The Colony – Singer/Songwriter Night Yeti – The Situation: Open Mic

Tues // Nov 22 Cain’s Ballroom – Young Thug, 21 Savage – ($35$100) Gypsy Coffee House – Tuesday Night Open Mic Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Runnin’ On Empty Mercury Lounge – Wink Burcham Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Depot Jazz and Blues Jams Soul City – Tuesday Bluesday w/ Dustin Pittsley The Blackbird on Pearl – The Pearl Jam The Colony – Seth Lee Jones & Cooper Waugh Yeti – Writers Night

Wed // Nov 23 Billy and Renee’s – Wednesday Night Thing Open Mic w/ Sidney Chase Mercury Lounge – Travis Linville Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Eicher Wednesdays – ($10) Soul City – Shrimp n’ Grits w/ Papa Foster’s Creole Trio The Blackbird on Pearl – Brandon Clark’s Whiskey Wednesday The Colony – Tom Skinner’s Science Project The Venue Shrine – Hedpe – ($14-$18)

Thurs // Nov 24 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Cabin Creek – Great Big Biscuit Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Scott Ellison, Scott Eastman Mercury Lounge – Paul Benjaman Soul City – The Writer’s Block Songwriters Night Soundpony – Afistaface The Colony – An Evening with Jared Tyler The Venue Shrine – Higher Education w/ Dustin Pittsley & Jesse Aycock – ($5) Utopia Bar & Lounge – DJ MO Whiskey Dog – Cole Lynch

Fri // Nov 25 American Legion Post 308 – Wiskey Bent Cain’s Ballroom – Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Cody Canada & The Departed – ($18-$33) Fassler Hall – *Henna Roso ft. Brandee – ($5 or a donation of non-perishable food items) Four Aces Tavern – Shotz Gypsy Coffee House – Marilyn McCulloch

THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Cabin Creek – River’s Edge Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – Paralandra, Darren Ray Hunt Club – BC and the Big Rig Mercury Lounge – Dan Johnson and the Salt Cedar Rebels Nightingale Theater – *Steph Simon & The Rowlands “Live from the Tisdale” w/ Written Quincey, Adrian “Buddy Rodriguez” Jackson, Patrick Gray, Ali Shaw – ($15-$20) Soundpony – *Steph Simon The Colony – Hosty Vanguard – My So Called Band – ($10) Yeti – Hannah Wolff, The Young Vines

Sat // Nov 26 Cain’s Ballroom – *Cancer Sucks Concert w/ Pop Evil – ($20-$23) Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Cabin Creek – James Muns Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – FM Live, Travis Kidd Hunt Club – November Soul City – Brunch w/ Mark Bruner – ($10) Soul City – Hurricane Mason – ($10) Soundpony – Sweet Baby Jaysus The Colony – *Gogo Plumbay The Venue Shrine – The Schwag – ($10) Vanguard – Holiday Indie Jam w/ The Wrecks – ($10-$13)

Sun // Nov 27 Cain’s Ballroom – *The Leftover Last Waltz III – ($25-$28) Mercury Lounge – Brandon Clark Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Cabaret Show by Andrew Zapata and Carly Hayes – ($5-$20) Soul City – Mark Gibson – ($10) The Blackbird on Pearl – *Mike Dillon Band, Mike Dee and Stone Trio – ($8) The Colony – Paul Benjaman’s Sunday Nite Thing Utopia Bar & Lounge – DJ MO

Mon // Nov 28 Cain’s Ballroom – Mac Miller, Soulection feat. The Whooligan, ClockworkDJ – ($31-$46) Mercury Lounge – Chloe Johns The Blackbird on Pearl – Open Mic w/ Steve Jones The Colony – Singer/Songwriter Night Yeti – The Situation: Open Mic

Tues // Nov 29 Gypsy Coffee House – Tuesday Night Open Mic Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Riffs – James Muns Mercury Lounge – Wink Burcham Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Depot Jazz and Blues Jams Soul City – Tuesday Bluesday w/ Dustin Pittsley The Blackbird on Pearl – The Pearl Jam The Colony – Seth Lee Jones & Cooper Waugh Yeti – Writers Night

Wed // Nov 30 Billy and Renee’s – Wednesday Night Thing Open Mic w/ Sidney Chase Cain’s Ballroom – Slander, NGHTMRE, Habstrakt, KRNE – ($23-$38) Mercury Lounge – Travis Linville Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Eicher Wednesdays – ($10) On the Rocks – Don White Soul City – Shrimp n’ Grits w/ Papa Foster’s Creole Trio The Blackbird on Pearl – Brandon Clark’s Whiskey Wednesday The Colony – Tom Skinner’s Science Project

Thurs // Dec 1 BOK Center – Trans-Siberian Orchestra – ($37.50$75.50) Cain’s Ballroom – Dan + Shay, Walker Hayes – ($2240) Hunt Club – Erin O’Dowd and Chloe Johns Mercury Lounge – Paul Benjaman Soul City – The Writer’s Block Songwriters Night Soundpony – Animal Library, X-Ray Mary, The Fabulous Minx The Colony – Honky Tonk Happy Hour w/ Jacob Tovar Utopia Bar & Lounge – DJ MO Vanguard – Jeffrey Lewis & Los Bolts, The Mules, Vagittarius – ($10)

Fri // Dec 2 Hunt Club – Hosty Mercury Lounge – Brandon Jenkins Roosters Cocktails – Cole Lynch Soul City – Randy Brumley and the Distractions – ($10) Soundpony – Lessons in Fresh The Venue Shrine – *Wayne “The Train” Hancock CD Release Party – ($10-$15) Yeti – *Joe Myside and The Sorrow record release w/ The Penny Mob, Rue Snider, Johnny Bad Seed and the Rotten Apples

Sat // Dec 3 BOK Center – Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant w/ Tulsa Symphony, Jordan Smith – ($39.50-$125) Cain’s Ballroom – Riverfield Rocks – ($15) Cimarron Bar – Seven Day Crash Hunt Club – Native Strange, Roots of Thought Mercury Lounge – *Freak Juice, Sons of the Dust Soul City – Brunch w/ Mark Bruner – ($10) Soul City – *Scissortails CD Release – ($10) Soundpony – Soul Night The Fur Shop – Splatter, The 13th Victim The Venue Shrine – Crowbar, Goatwhore, Lillake, Smoke Offering, Less Than Human, Forever in Disgust – ($16-$20) Vanguard – Justin Adams, Jesse Joice – ($10)

Sun // Dec 4 Hunt Club – For the Love of Ace Eversole Mercury Lounge – Brandon Clark Soul City – Mark Gibson – ($10) The Colony – Paul Benjaman’s Sunday Nite Thing Utopia Bar & Lounge – DJ MO

Mon // Dec 5 Brady Theater – *Weezer, Judah & The Lion, The Moth & The Flame – ($49.50) Cain’s Ballroom – *The Wood Brothers, Ben Sollee – ($20-$35) Mercury Lounge – Chloe Johns The Blackbird on Pearl – Open Mic w/ Steve Jones The Colony – Singer/Songwriter Night Yeti – The Situation: Open Mic

Tues // Dec 6 Cain’s Ballroom – Steve Vai – ($28-$250) Gypsy Coffee House – Tuesday Night Open Mic Mercury Lounge – Wink Burcham Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Depot Jazz and Blues Jams Soul City – Tuesday Bluesday w/ Dustin Pittsley The Blackbird on Pearl – Mike Zito The Blackbird on Pearl – The Pearl Jam Yeti – Writers Night

MUSIC // 41


“Arrival” is now playing everywhere.

filmphiles

Amy Adams in “Arrival” | COURTESY

Universal language ‘Arrival’ is a haunting meditation on the nature of communication by JOE O’SHANSKY have something embarrassing to admit. Despite the acclaim heaped upon the fi lms of Denis Villeneuve by critics and friends alike, I haven’t seen anything from the Canadian writer and director since 2010’s “Incendies” (a moving and emotional, if vaguely remembered, experience). His subsequent trifecta of praised features—“Prisoners,” “Enemy,” and “Sicario”—somehow still remain on my to-do list.

I

Tulsa’s independent and non-profit art-house theatre, showing independent, foreign, and documentary films.

42 // FILM & TV

Which is another way of saying that I don’t have any basis of comparison for his latest, “Arrival”— not just to his past work (though Villeneuve’s never gone full sci-fi) but even within the science fiction genre. Aside from Robert Zemeckis’s “Contact,” to which this film might be considered a very distant cousin, I haven’t seen anything quite like it before. Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams), a renowned linguist at a prestigious university, is approached by Col. Weber (Forest Whitaker) after the arrival of twelve apparently extraterrestrial ships that levitate ominously above locations across the globe. The 1500 foot-tall elliptical objects, dubbed “shells,” pretty much have everyone freaked out. Weber enlists Banks and another scientist, Dr. Ian Donnelly (Jeremey Renner), to come to the Montana site, where the military is taking the cautious approach by sharing all their information with the international community and attempting to establish a dialogue with the visitors—in lieu of just trying to blow them out of the sky. However, the longer the mystery of

alien presence persists, the itchier their trigger fingers get. Banks and Donnelly make significant breakthroughs in communicating with the aliens. But their unknown motives and the myriad threats they could pose to humanity fuel a paranoia in which cooler heads seem unlikely to prevail. As a commentary on human nature, “Arrival” alludes to the Babel-like divisions of humanity and how miscommunication can have disastrous results—be it with interstellar beings or just amongst our own reactionary, flawed selves. Hey, we’ve all been there. As it goes on, the movie gets mind-bending. The alien language, which is tied to their non-linear sense of time, and how Banks and Donnelly bridge that gulf of understanding, are fascinating concepts at the heart of the film, which unveils its secrets slowly, peeling away onion layers to inform the story with ever deeper levels of meaning. Suffice to say the less you know going in, the better. For what it’s worth, I haven’t revealed much that you couldn’t get out of the trailer.

Adams is the emotional soul of the film. Renner delivers as well, though I never really buy him as a nice guy. Whitaker and Michael Stuhlbarg (“Blue Jasmine”) bring their typical gravitas to the roles. Framed by the gorgeous, pleasingly chilly compositions of cinematographer Bradford Young (“Selma”), the confidence and ease of Villeneuve’s deliberate direction make for something of a slow burn fi lm in the best of ways. The tension builds, aided by the creepy sound design and atonal score from Jóhann Jóhannsson. It’s the kind of story that keeps your gears spinning, never quite sure of which direction it’s headed next—anxious not only to discover the breadth of the mystery, but also the fate of the characters caught within it. Underneath them all is another story that mirrors Louise and Ian’s gradual cognizance of the visitor’s language and true intentions. Where those two thematic and narrative arcs meet—the frailty of love and its correlation with the awe of first contact—are the essence of why “Arrival” is so haunting. a

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


DELICATE EMPATHY

“Moonlight” opens at Circle Cinema Nov. 18. André Holland and Trevante Rhodes in “Moonlight” | COURTESY

‘Moonlight’ is deeply-felt filmmaking by JEFF HUSTON ASI DE F ROM A S INGL E experimental encounter on a nighttime beach, “Moonlight” isn’t about the liberation of one’s sexual longings, nor is it about their repression (though perhaps to a degree). It’s an intimate portrait of how one young man self-identifies despite the contrary cultural forces swirling around him, and the struggle to reconcile it all. It packs a quiet, vulnerable power. For writer/director Barry Jenkins, it seems, to approach gay identity by concentrating on sexuality would be reductive. That’s the implicit takeaway of a movie that’s not pushing an agenda. It is, instead, the journey of man looking to understand himself, much more than simply express himself. “Moonlight” is a narrative triptych about a gay African-American male from a drug-infested Miami slum, with each third focusing on one phase of life: as a boy, as a teenager, and as a young man. Jenkins eschews the melodrama common to these kinds of stories. Each chapter is gently rendered, with the contemplative patience of David Gordon Green’s early work. The first two acts explore very specific formative seasons, and the third is the result. His name is Chiron. The first chapter, when he’s a boy, is an elegy of gay awakening and fatherless youth. Chiron’s self-identity doesn’t emerge as desires but feelings, impressions, and questions. He lives with his single mother, but an area drug boss named Juan becomes a father figure. Juan’s interest in Chiron is genuine, heartfelt, not a predatory recruitment. Rather than being a corruptive influence on the boy, Chiron’s sense of isolation has a transformative, softening effect on Juan. The paternal care Juan

extends is perhaps a subconscious act of penance toward the community he’s helped destroy. Mahershala Ali (Netflix’s “House of Cards” and “Luke Cage”) transcends his character’s archetype, in a portrayal that’s fully, beautifully, sorrowfully human. As Chiron’s mother, Naomie Harris wields a tragic arc, unrecognizable from her recent turns as Moneypenny in Daniel Craig’s Bond films. Both Ali and Harris seem destined for Oscar nods. The second act finds Chiron as a teenager, and at a worse place. His environment has not defeated him, but he’s losing; yet he also stands resolute (if not victorious) in the face of heartbreak and betrayal. The final act isn’t necessarily an end, and doesn’t offer a clean resolution, but it is about the prospect of healing and reconciliation, and the conversations that don’t often happen but need to. Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes share the role of Chiron, respectively, as the boy, the teenager, and the man. Each one movingly embodies Chiron’s existential pain born of severed relational moorings, in a collective portrayal so complete it feels unprecedented. This is a deeply-felt piece of filmmaking, unfolding like diary entries, dramatized rather than told. Its delicate empathy draws you in, hypnotically conveyed through Nicholas Britell’s mournful score. Jenkins’ goals are personal, but his themes are accessible and universal. He doesn’t even seem to be considering his audience, but that lack of self-consciousness is a virtue. He’s not looking to be heard, affirmed, or applauded. “Moonlight” never strains to make a statement, but reveals a man (and a filmmaker) searching for peace and catharsis. a

THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

A BRIEF RUNDOWN OF WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE CIRCLE CINEMA BY JEFF HUSTON

NALSA, OutLaws, and the G. William Rice Dialogue on Justice, Equity, and Inclusion, a Q&A panel with Oklahoma-based Native American LGBTQ activists and legal experts follows the screening. FREE ADMISSION (Thurs. Nov. 17, 6 p.m.)

OPENING NOV. 18

WE ARE X

MOONLIGHT

See adjacent review. Rated R.

TOWER

This documentary mixes archival footage with rotoscopic animation to tell the story of America’s first mass school shooting, when a sniper killed 16 people and wounded dozens of others on August 1, 1966 from the top floor of the University of Texas Tower.

From the producers of the Oscar-winning “Searching For Sugar Man,” this documentary is about the world’s biggest and most successful rock band you’ve never heard of: X Japan. It’s a transcendent chronicle of the band’s exhilarating and tumultuous three decade run, capped by a reunion concert in Madison Square Garden. (Fri. Nov. 18 & Sat. Nov. 19, 10 p.m.)

LETTERS FROM CHICAGO OPENING NOV. 23

LOVING

The dramatic true story of a persecuted interracial couple in the late 1950s American segregated south. Jailed and eventually banished for marrying and then starting a family, this is the account of Richard and Mildred Loving’s fight for their civil rights. From director Jeff Nichols (“Mud,” “Take Shelter”). Rated PG-13.

THE EAGLE HUNTRESS

Eagle hunting is a centuries old Kazakh Mongolian tradition passed down from fathers to sons. This documentary follows the story of Aishol-pan, a 13-year old girl who looks to become the first-ever female eagle hunter, and the father who believes in her. Narrated by Daisy Ridley (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”). Rated G.

A stirring documentary about Gustav Frank, a Jew who fled Germany with his wife Lore in 1939 only to return in 1945 as an American solider. There, he discovered his entire family had been killed in the Holocaust. The film uses photos taken by Gustav that document the destruction of his beloved hometown. Berlin filmmaker Sibylle Tiedemann will be in attendance for a Q&A. (Sat. Nov. 19, at 2 p.m.)

THE SEARCHERS (1956)

A 60th Anniversary screening of John Ford’s landmark western, starring John Wayne in his most iconic and complex role. In association with the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle, Tulsa-based OFCC critics will conduct a post-screening panel discussion and Q&A with the audience. (Sun. Nov. 20, 1 p.m.)

LET ME MAKE YOU A MARTYR SPECIAL EVENTS

TWO SPIRITS: SEXUALITY, GENDER, AND THE MURDER OF FRED MARTINEZ A documentary that examines the murder of Fred Martinez, a Native American transgender teenager. Co-hosted by

Shot in Tulsa and around Oklahoma, this grimy revenge thriller unfolds as two adopted siblings hatch a plot to take down their abusive crime boss father. An unrecognizable Marilyn Manson co-stars as a Native American hit man. (Sat. Nov. 26, 9:30 p.m.)

FILM & TV // 43


popradar

Common sentience

HBO’s ‘Westworld’ is full of potential, but slow living up to it by MATT CAUTHRON

H

BO made a big bet on “Westworld,” the epic, sci-fi-western, A.I.-robot mystery-thriller that currently lives in its coveted Sunday night showcase slot. With the network nearing the home stretch of “Game of Thrones” (its most popular program ever), and hot on the heels of the unceremonious death of “Vinyl” (perhaps its most spectacular failure ever), HBO needed “Westworld” to land in a big way, and they spared no expense to make sure it did. But with AMC and FX, not to mention Netflix and Amazon, challenging for the prestige television throne once dominated by HBO, a second-straight high-profile flop could’ve had bigger repercussions than a simple financial setback. A miss here and there can be swept under the rug. A genuine losing streak is hard to shake, within and without. So the network needed a new tentpole crowd-pleaser, a zeitgeist-dwelling behemoth. And with solid ratings for its (very good) pilot and fairly widespread critical acclaim, “Westworld” seemed poised to carry that mantle. Unfortunately, after coming out guns blazing, the show has since pulled in the reins, content to spin its wheels like the gears in the park’s ubiquitous player piano. In fact, the show has taken so much time to set up its world and its rules that a development at the end of the sixth episode feels like the kind of inciting incident that should occur at the end of the pilot to really set the series in motion. Adapted from Michael Crichton’s 1973 film, “Westworld” is 44 // FILM & TV

James Marsden and Evan Rachel Wood in “Westworld” | COURTESY

set in a futuristic Old West theme park where artificially intelligent, hyper-realistic androids known as “hosts” satisfy the hedonistic pleasures of the park’s well-to-do visitors—which mostly means either having sex with them or being killed by them, though sometimes it’s both. True to HBO’s formula for prestige drama, the production values are breathtaking and the heavyweight cast includes a couple of Oscar winners: Ed Harris as the enigmatic Man in Black and Sir Anthony Hopkins as the park’s eccentric mastermind Robert Ford. But these revered thespians, sadly, get precious little of interest to do. Hopkins’s mysterious park chief is reasonably compelling because we’re always wondering just what he’s up to, but you’d think he’d be up to more after six hours of story. Poor Harris’s wily veteran park visitor is a growling, swaggering

cliché, hot on the trail of a MacGuffin. The best thing about the show, by quite a wide margin, is a pair of hosts—the rancher’s daughter Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) and the brothel madam Maeve (Thandie Newton). Both are routinely abused by the park’s visitors (and sometimes its staff), only to have their memories reset each day. But both—thanks to some code tinkering by Ford— are beginning to remember. This revelation leads to the aforementioned development, the one that should’ve come much sooner, and this may well be what transforms “Westworld” from a pretty good show to the truly great savior HBO needs it to be. But it also highlights a difficult obstacle the show must overcome. Wood and Newton are magnificent in their roles, and that goes a long way, but so far it’s a tad difficult as a viewer to fully invest in

the feelings of robots—ones we’re told don’t actually have feelings— no matter how human they look and act. That’s why the slow-burning realization that they’re approaching something resembling real sentience is a good sign. Not to get overly philosophical, but if they acquire both agency and memory, they’re essentially indistinguishable from real people. And that raises the stakes immeasurably for the audience. “Westworld’s” solid pilot ratings have dipped thanks to the return of “The Walking Dead,” but HBO recently renewed it for a second season. Creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy should go have lunch with Damon Lindelof, co-creator and showrunner of “Lost” and “The Leftovers.” They’d do well to pick his brain about “Lost,” hear about his regrets over getting too bogged down in mysteries and mythology, hopefully learn a thing or two about avoiding that fate. And they could glean inspiration from “The Leftovers,” which survived a wildly uneven first season before Lindelof and company deftly retooled it, fixed what wasn’t working, doubled down on what was, and came back in season two with the best drama on television. Unfortunately, “The Leftovers” had already lost too much of its modest audience by the time it got great, and it’s set to end with a shortened final season. But now that “Westworld” is revving up its narrative engine, hope remains that it can finish strong this season, make some creative adjustments during the break, and come back a true contender for the crown soon to be relinquished by “Game of Thrones.” a

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


THE FUZZ THE TULSA VOICE SPOTLIGHTS: TULSA SPCA

2910 Mohawk Blvd. | MON, TUES, THURS, FRI & SAT, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 918.428.7722

JOLIE and ARDEN arrived at the Tulsa SPCA in August 2016. Although their exact ages and breeds are unknown, certain are their friendly and loving personalities. Jolie is a fan of most other dogs, loves people and is always up for an outdoor adventure. Arden adores people, but she is picky about his dog friends. Come meet Jolie and Arden today!

The Tulsa SPCA has been helping animals in our area since 1913. The shelter never euthanizes for space and happily rescues animals from high-kill shelters. They also accept owner surrenders, rescues from cruelty investigations, hoarding, and puppy mill situations. Animals live on-site or with foster parents until they’re adopted. All SPCA animals are micro-chipped, vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and treated with preventatives. Learn about volunteering, fostering, upcoming events, adoptions, and their low-cost vaccination clinic at tulsaspca.org.

TOMMY is a 3-year-old basset hound mix. This cute pup was among more than 20 others rescued from a hoarding situation. He is friendly with other dogs and children. Although Tommy loves his toys, he also enjoys a good midday nap on comfortable furniture. If you are looking for an all-around family dog that enjoys playtime and snuggles, Tommy is the one for you!

MONTGOMERY is an 8-month-old, declawed, snowshoe mix. He is a handsome cat, and he knows it. Friendly, fluffy and loving, Montgomery would make an excellent addition to any felineloving home. Enough cannot be said about this boy’s sweet and endearing personality.

APACHE WARRIOR PRINCESS is a 2-year-old domestic longhair mix. Although her name screams high maintenance, her laid back and observant personality proves otherwise. Her hobbies consist of napping and cuddling in assorted boxes. She loves people and likes to play but prefers a medium- to low-energy home with someone who needs a reading partner more than a playmate. This gentle girl is ready to fill your home with love.

Your dog will be thankful! $2 from every box of Give Treats purchased goes to the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals.

STUFFED TURKEY TOY

ASSORTED THANKSGIVING BAKERY TREATS HIS AND HERS PLAID FLEECE JACKETS

FREE PET PHOTOS WITH SANTA SUNDAY, NOV. 4 11am - 1pm

NOV 26

PA S S P O R T

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H E A LT H I E R F O O D S • G O U R M E T T R E AT S • TOY S • B E D S • A P PA R E L • ACC E S S O R I E S THE TULSA VOICE // November 16 – December 6, 2016

ETC. // 45


free will astrology by ROB BREZSNY

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21):

Does the word “revolution” have any useful meaning? Or has it been invoked by so many fanatics with such melodramatic agendas that it has lost its value? In accordance with your astrological omens, I suggest we give it another chance. I think it deserves a cozy spot in your life during the next few months. As for what exactly that entails, let’s call on author Rebecca Solnit for inspiration. She says, “I still think the [real] revolution is to make the world safe for poetry, meandering, for the frail and vulnerable, the rare and obscure, the impractical and local and small.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “We all have ghosts inside us, and it’s better when they speak than when they don’t,” wrote author Siri Hustvedt. The good news, Sagittarius, is that in recent weeks your personal ghosts have been discoursing at length. They have offered their interpretation of your life’s central mysteries and have provided twists on old stories you thought you had all figured out. The bad news is that they don’t seem to want to shut up. Also, less than 25% of what they have been asserting is actually true or useful. But here’s the fantastic news: Those ghosts have delivered everything you need to know for now, and will obey if you tell them to take an extended vacation. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In the film Bruce Almighty, Morgan Freeman plays the role of God, and Capricorn actor Jim Carrey is a frustrated reporter named Bruce Nolan. After Nolan bemoans his rocky fate and blames it on God’s ineptitude, the Supreme Being reaches out by phone. (His number is 716-776-2323.) A series of conversations and negotiations ensues, leading Nolan on roller-coaster adventures that ultimately result in a mostly happy ending. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you Capricorns will have an unusually high chance of making fruitful contact with a Higher Power or Illuminating Source in the coming weeks. I doubt that 716-776-2323 is the right contact information. But if you trust your intuition, I bet you’ll make the connection. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Some spiders are both construction workers and artists. The webs they spin are not just strong and functional, but also feature decorative elements called “stabilimenta.” These may be as simple as zigzags or as complex as spiral whorls. Biologists say the stabilimenta draw prey to specific locations, help the spider hide, and render the overall stability of the web more robust. As you enter the web-building phase of your cycle, Aquarius, I suggest that you include your own version of attractive stabilimenta. Your purpose, of course, is not to catch prey, but to bolster your network and invigorate your support system. Be artful as well as practical. (Thanks to Mother Nature Network’s Jaymi Heimbuch for info on stabilimenta.) PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “Aren’t there parts of ourselves that are just better left unfed?” asked Piscean author David Foster Wallace. I propose that we make that one of your two keynotes during the next four weeks. Here’s a second keynote: As you become more and more skilled at not fueling the parts of yourself that are better left unfed, you will have a growing knack for identifying the parts of yourself that should be well-fed. Feed them with care and artistry! ARIES (March 21-April 19): There is a 97 percent chance that you will NOT engage in the following activities within the next 30 days: naked skydiving, tight-rope walking between two skyscrapers, getting drunk on a mountaintop, taking ayahuasca with Peruvian shamans in a remote rural hut, or dancing ecstatically in a muddy pit of snakes. However, I suspect that you will be involved in almost equally exotic exploits — although less risky ones — that will require you to summon more pluck and improvisational skill than you knew you had. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The Onion, my favorite news source, reported that “It’s perfectly natural for people to fantasize about sandwiches other than the one currently in their hands.” You shouldn’t feel shame, the article said, if you’re enjoying a hoagie but suddenly feel an inexplicable yearning for a BLT or pastrami on rye. While I appreci-

Place the numbers 1 through 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.

NOVICE

ate this reassuring counsel, I don’t think it applies to you in the coming weeks. In my opinion, you have a sacred duty to be unwaveringly faithful, both in your imagination and your actual behavior — as much for your own sake as for others’. I advise you to cultivate an up-to-date affection for and commitment to what you actually have, and not indulge in obsessive fantasies about “what ifs.” GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I hesitate to deliver the contents of this horoscope without a disclaimer. Unless you are an extremely ethical person with a vivid streak of empathy, you might be prone to abuse the information I’m about to present. So please ignore it unless you can responsibly employ the concepts of benevolent mischief and tricky blessings and cathartic shenanigans. Ready? Here’s your oracle: Now is a favorable time for grayer truths, wilder leaps of the imagination, more useful bullshit, funnier enigmas, and more outlandish stories seasoned with crazy wisdom. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Kavachi is an underwater volcano in the Southwest Pacific Ocean. It erupts periodically, and in general makes the surrounding water so hot and acidic that human divers must avoid it. And yet some hardy species live there, including crabs, jellyfish, stingrays, and sharks. What adaptations and strategies enable them to thrive in such an extreme environment? Scientists don’t know. I’m going to draw a comparison between you and the resourceful creatures living near Kavachi. In the coming weeks, I bet you’ll flourish in circumstances that normal people might find daunting. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Seventeenth-century British people used the now-obsolete word “firktytoodle.” It meant “cuddling and snuggling accompanied by leisurely experiments in smooching, fondling, licking, and sweet dirty talk.” The coming weeks will be prime time for you to carry out extensive experiments in this activity. But here’s an interesting question: Will the near future also be a favorable phase for record levels of orgasmic release? The answer: maybe, but IF AND ONLY if you pursue firkytoodle as an end in itself; IF AND ONLY IF you relish the teasing and playing as if they were ultimate rewards, and don’t relegate them to being merely preliminary acts for pleasures that are supposedly bigger and better. P.S. These same principles apply not just to your intimate connections, but to everything else in your life, as well. Enjoying the journey is as important as reaching a destination.

MASTER

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Here’s an experiment worth trying: Reach back into the past to find a remedy for what’s bugging you now. In other words, seek out on an old, perhaps even partially forgotten influence to resolve a current dilemma that has resisted your efforts to master it. This is one time when it may make good sense to temporarily resurrect a lost dream. You could energize your future by drawing inspiration from possibilities that might have been but never were. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): By the time he died at the age of 87 in 1983, free thinker Buckminster Fuller had licensed his inventions to more than 100 companies. But along the way, he often had to be patient as he waited for the world to be ready for his visionary creations. He was ahead of his time, dreaming up things that would be needed before anyone knew they’d be needed. I encourage you to be like him in the coming weeks, Libra. Try to anticipate the future. Generate possibilities that people are not yet ripe to accept, but will eventually be ready to embrace.

Though sometimes it’s impossible to do the right thing, doing the half-right thing may be a viable option. t h i s w e e k ’ s h o m e w o r k // T E S T I F Y AT F R E E W I L L A S T R O L O G Y. C O M . 46 // ETC.

November 16 – December 6, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE


ACROSS 1 Snatch by force 5 Desert Storm missiles 10 Install a sidewalk 14 Jazz ensemble 19 Lead the life of a nomad 20 Quibble 21 Alpine goat 22 Letter-shaped skyscraper support 23 Fan fixation 24 Fellini’s “La ___ Vita” 25 Covering for a rain delay 26 Electric car maker 27 Something every young father should know (Part 1) 31 Pharmacist’s concerns 32 Top-of-the-line 33 Pivot around a pole 34 Zebra’s mom 35 Some black sheep 36 Sounds of dismay 37 “___ my brother’s keeper?” 40 Underdog’s triumph 43 Like a good villain 44 Munchen mister 45 Do a cashier’s job 46 ___ Francisco 47 It comes before midnight 50 From the world’s largest continent 52 Shout from a patriotic American 53 Certain fruit plantations 55 DEA agents 56 TKO declarer 57 Greyhound vehicle 58 Stir-fryers 59 Sundial number

60 Something every young father should know (Part 2) 69 Is in the plural? 70 Walkway over water 71 Munchkin kin 72 Curtain supporter 73 Broken-arm holder 76 Staircase railing 80 New York, in D.C. 81 Like some terriers 83 First light of day 85 It’s nothing 86 Fleet from far, far away 87 Iditarod need 88 Very proper 89 Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby ___” 91 Queens, in chess 92 Not domesticated 93 Like the Grinch 94 Missing, but not in action 96 Two-wheeled horse carriage 97 Change color, as leaves 98 Crooner Frank 102 Something every young father should know (Part 3) 108 At full speed, on the water 109 Inauguration recitation 110 Still up for grabs 111 Persia, now 112 Already spoken for 113 Nonwindy side, nautically 114 French wine valley 115 City in Norway 116 Manicurist’s board 117 Bird over a beach 118 Mammy Yokum’s lil’ son 119 Quite inquisitive DOWN 1 Coffee machine setting

2 Bronco buster’s venue 3 Openly declares 4 Crone 5 Not nearly as happy 6 La ___, Wisconsin 7 Tangerine-grapefruit hybrid 8 It brings a tear to your eye 9 Displaying indecision 10 Climber’s spikes 11 Diminish in intensity 12 Exceedingly 13 Film box info 14 7-Down, for one 15 Needing slimming 16 Interlock, as gears 17 Indonesian island 18 Arabian Sea nation 28 Striped chalcedony 29 Christmas season 30 Conservative opening? 35 Neither under nor over 36 Nobel-winning Mother 37 A tablet maker 38 He eulogized Julius 39 Stops that put you up 40 Exorbitant interest rate 41 Midnight stroll 42 Fly in the ointment 43 Well-known Peron 44 Japanese poem with 17 syllables 45 One step 48 Crumbum 49 “While” beginning of yore 50 Pond jumper 51 Scratch ‘n’ ___ 54 Washstand pitchers 57 Scottish town 59 One not doing anything

61 Hair on animal necks 62 Showed mercy toward, in a way 63 Had health problems 64 Clan vs. clan battle 65 “Nevermind” on a computer menu 66 Sumatra simian 67 Date night option 68 Singing sensation born May 5, 1988 73 Like one leg of a triathlon 74 Subject of a biography 75 Dietary supplement 76 Greedy farm animal 77 Large, hairy spider 78 Make a shambles of 79 Escort’s offering 82 Culinary choice 84 In the middle of 88 Sprite of Persian folklore 90 Sound of a trumpet 92 Sound from a horse 93 Bird that lays speckled eggs 94 Not asea 95 Frankfurter 96 One getting a lift on snow 97 Strength of a chemical solution 99 Sculpted chest? 100 Coins of 111-Across 101 Be a pest 102 Winslet of Hollywood 103 Mosque official 104 Wedding reception feature 105 Cabbage cousin 106 Persnickety one 107 One of a human pair

Universal sUnday Crossword daddy issUes By Timothy e. Parker

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