Jimmie Carole Fife Stewart facts for kids

Jimmie Carole Fife Stewart (born in 1940) is a talented artist. She is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Jimmie is known for her paintings and fashion designs. She also worked as an art teacher.

After finishing school, she became a teacher. She later worked for a company called Fine Arts Diversified. In 1979, she returned to teaching in Washington, Oklahoma. Jimmie Carole Fife Stewart is mostly known for her paintings. She uses watercolors or acrylic paints. Her art has been shown in many places. This includes the southwestern United States and South America. She has won many awards for her artworks. In 1997, the Five Civilized Tribes Museum named her a Master Artist.

Early Life and Family

Jimmie Carole Fife was born in 1940. Her birthplace was Dustin, Oklahoma. Her parents were Carmen (Griffin) and James Fife. She was the oldest child in her family. She grew up on her grandfather's land. This land was near the border of Hughes and Okfuskee counties.

Jimmie came from a family of artists and teachers. Her grandfather carved wood and stone. Her father drew with colored pencils and chalk. Her mother was a teacher. She also made traditional crafts. These crafts included medallions and quilts.

Artistic Family

All of Jimmie's eight siblings were involved in art. Her brother, Bill Sunday Fife, was a carver and draftsman. He also became a principal chief of the Muscogee Creek Nation. Her sisters, Sharon, Phyllis, and Sandy, started a company. It was called Fife Collection, Inc. They made modern fashion. They used designs and methods from the Southeastern Woodlands peoples. Her sister Robin Elaine created embroidery.

Education Journey

Jimmie attended the Graham School in Weleetka, Oklahoma. From 1954 to 1958, she studied at Chilocco Indian School. Between 1960 and 1961, she went to the University of Arizona. There, she studied in the Southwest Indian Art Project. In 1963, she earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts. She received this degree from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Art Career and Achievements

After graduating, Jimmie began teaching in Dustin. She also started her advanced studies. She eventually earned a master's degree in Education. She taught for six years in Oklahoma and Texas. Then, she moved to Oklahoma City. From 1972 to 1978, she worked for Fine Arts Diversified.

Jimmie married Robert N. Stewart. In 1979, they moved to Washington, Oklahoma. There, she went back to teaching. She also continued creating her art. The couple had two daughters, Kelley and Maya Stewart. Maya is a fashion accessories designer. She has worked with her mother on projects.

Inspiring Other Artists

In 1968, Jimmie won an award. It was at the Annual Five Civilized Tribes Museum Art Show. The fact that a woman won inspired other artists. Virginia Stroud (Cherokee/Muscogee Creek) decided to team up with other women artists. This group included Mary Adair (Cherokee Nation) and Jean Bales (Iowa). They wanted to support each other's work.

Stroud said Jimmie motivated their group. They created the Daughters of the Earth exhibition. This show traveled for three years (1985–1988). It toured in the United States and Europe.

Exhibitions and Style

While teaching, Jimmie Fife-Stewart showed her art in many places. This included the Scottsdale National Indian Art Exhibition. She also showed her work at exhibitions by the U.S. Department of the Interior. She was one of 28 artists chosen to tour South America. She and her sisters have also shown their work at the Santa Fe Indian Market.

Jimmie Fife-Stewart often uses acrylic paints, watercolors, or pen and ink. She is best known for her Flatstyle paintings. Since the 1970s, she has also worked with her sisters. They created the Fife Collection. Their work was shown in 1979. It was at the Southern Plains Indian Museum in Anadarko, Oklahoma. In 1981, she and Phyllis showed their fashion designs. This was at the Indian Paintbrush Gallery in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

In 1983, Jimmie and Phyllis were featured artists. They were part of a TV production. It was called The Folklore of the Muscogee People. In 2019, Fife-Stewart was featured in an exhibition. It was at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum. The show was called Women of the Five Civilized Tribes.

Museum Collections and Honors

Jimmie Fife-Stewart's 1968 work, New Barber, is in a museum. It is part of the permanent collection at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She also has art in the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Her 1977 painting, The Earth is Our Mother, is at the Daybreak Star Cultural Center in Seattle.

Jimmie has won many awards. In 1975, she won the Grand Prize. This was at the 9th Annual Five Civilized Tribes Museum Art Show. She also took First Place in the 11th Annual show in 1977. In 1985, she was added to the Chilocco Indian School's Hall of Fame.

In 1997, Fife-Stewart was named a "Master Artist." This honor came from the Five Civilized Tribes Museum. It is the highest award given by the museum. Artists must be nominated and judged to receive it. By 2008, only 35 artists had earned this title. Master Artists can show their work in the annual Masters Art Show.