Richard Ray Whitman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Ray Whitman
Richard Ray Whitman, 2010
Born	1949 (age 75–76) Claremore, Oklahoma, U.S.
Nationality	Muscogee (Creek) Nation, American
Education	Institute of American Indian Arts
Known for	Acting, Photography, mixed-media, film, painting
Notable work	Street Chiefs

Richard Ray Whitman (born in 1949) is a talented artist, poet, and actor. He is part of the Yuchi and Muscogee Nations. Richard Ray Whitman creates art in many different ways, including painting, photography, and film. He is officially enrolled in the Muscogee Nation and lives in Oklahoma.

Growing Up and Learning

Richard Ray Whitman was born in Claremore, Oklahoma, in 1949. His grandmother was Polly Long. Like many Yuchi people, he is also part of the Muscogee Nation. He grew up in a town called Gypsy, Oklahoma.

He went to Bristow High School. After that, he studied art at several places. These included the Institute of American Indian Arts, the California Institute of the Arts, and the Oklahoma School of Photography.

His Art Journey

Richard Ray Whitman started his art career as a painter. But he soon began to explore other types of art. He started using photography, creating art installations (large art pieces in a space), and making video art.

In 1973, he was part of a 71-day event called the occupation of Wounded Knee. During this time, he continued to create art.

Photography Work

Whitman is well-known for his black-and-white photographs. These pictures show what life is like for Native people today. One of his most famous collections is the "Street Chiefs Series" from the 1970s and 1980s.

The "Street Chiefs" photos show Native men who were experiencing homelessness. Most of these pictures were taken in downtown Oklahoma City. Whitman wanted to show the real lives of these individuals. He felt it was important to share their stories. He also wanted to connect their experiences to the history of Indian Removal. This was a time when many Native tribes were forced to move from their homes to places like Indian Territory.

From the 1980s, Whitman started adding text and computer graphics to his photos. This created a new style called collage or mixed media. His art often talks about important issues. These include the idea of homeland and being forced to leave one's land.

Video and Acting

Richard Ray Whitman also worked with his brother, Joe Dale Tate Nevaquaya. Joe Dale is a Yuchi poet. Together, they made videos to record and preserve the Yuchi language. They even worked with a French filmmaker named Pierre Lobstein in the 1990s.

Whitman also read poetry in a video called "Mazerunner: The Life and Art of T.C. Cannon." This video was shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was also shown on TV channels like Bravo and the Independent Film Channel.

Acting Roles

Richard Ray Whitman has also had a successful career as an actor. He has appeared in many films and television shows.

Film Roles

Television Roles

See Also

• List of Native American artists
• Visual arts by indigenous peoples of the Americas