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The Cultural Engagement Center (CEC) at 91���� Tonkawa is hosting an artist reception for Ted Moore on Feb. 14.

The reception will showcase Moore’s artwork depicting Native American imagery in acrylic paint.

The reception is in the CEC on Thursday, Feb. 14 from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Cookies and tea will be served at the reception.

Moore considers himself to be a Native American artist based in Fairfax and the Grayhorse Pa-Su-Li community, who strongly upholds his Native traditions not only through his artwork, but also through his longtime participation in the annual Osage Ceremonial Dances. Ted also upholds his Otoe-Missouria traditions and the Pawnee Kitkehaki Ceremonial dance. He is a member and advisor to the Osage Grayhorse District Dance Committee, and served as a tail dancer for more than a decade. He enjoys bringing together his artistic talents and respect for Native heritage in his paintings.

“We dance to remember our ancestors,” he says, “and now we continue to dance into today’s lifetime with our young dancers who will continue the dance and traditions into the future. Our annual dances bring us all together to remember our grandparents and parents; we enjoy good fellowship, like a family reunion, and love to watch the little ones come up in our dance circle.”

Moore is employed with the 91���� (NOC) in Tonkawa as the Native American Student Success Specialist. He manages the NOC Cultural Engagement Center in charge of sponsoring Native American cultural events/activities for NOC students and the community. Ted leads the mentoring services of Native students through the assistance of ten Native Mentors/Coaches. The goal of the mentoring services is to assist NOC Native students to succeed and complete college.

His mission at NOC is to assist Native students “to succeed in college; to succeed in life; have honor and pride in living our Native culture; foster love for family, relatives and friends; and being close to our Creator.”

Moore’s past work experience includes helping to establish and then serving as Development Director for the statewide Native Arts Circle nonprofit agency in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. He also worked as the Lead Teacher for the St. Paul School District Indian Education program; and then served as the Art teacher and Curriculum Development Specialist at the World Cultures and American Indian Magnet School in St. Paul, Minnesota.

He has a Master of Education (M.Ed.), a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Painting (BFA) and is a certified K-12 Art Education Teacher in the State of Oklahoma.

The art exhibit will be on display through March 15.

Cultural activities are part of NOC’s Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institute (NASNTI) grant entitled “Merging Tradition and Technology: Engaging Native American and Low Income Students to Complete College.” The project’s three initiatives are to expand access to high-demand, high-quality courses, develop and improve online services, and develop support for Native American student success.