OKLAHOMA CITY — Six months ago, Micah Hart decided to dive into a one-day woodturning workshop.
On June 7, Hart’s creation, “Dancer,” was judged the finest 3-D piece submitted to festival art judges, one of four artworks to be officially recognized as the best-of-the-best of the 2025 Artesian Arts Festival (AAF).
“I am still kind of blown away,” Hart said. “There is still a little impostor syndrome there because when I entered the piece, I really wasn’t expecting anything. I was prepared to be pleasantly surprised with an honorable mention.”
“It is such a great honor to have this kind of recognition from other artists. It is affirming to me. It makes me want to get out there and continue to do the hard work and continue to grow as an artist. Now, I can’t wait to get started on my next project,” he explained.
“Dancer” is made of hackberry and crushed blue stone. It was created on a lathe and hand-finished with carving tools to give the work the appearance of a garment.
That is exactly what Hart envisioned.
The description of the work submitted to judges states, “‘Dancer’ draws from my personal experiences, both as a participant and an observer in a ceremony conducted annually to mark the new year. Beneath a black starry sky, dancers draped in white sheets move by the light of the campfires and gas lanterns. Shadows and shapes projected on these sheets flicker and dance, a foreshadowing of what is soon to come …”
Hart’s father, Nathan, is a Cheyenne Nation citizen and also a woodturner for more than 40 years.
“I am sure I picked up my interest in woodturning from my father. As a youngster, I remember his shop being scary … stuff moving 3,000 revolutions per minute gets your attention. We worked on a few projects together, and he only lives a few blocks away so if I need a specialized tool or advice, he is nearby.”
Micah Hart is a Chickasaw citizen and also serves as creative producer for the Chickasaw Nation. He resides in Oklahoma City.
“Our department travels a lot to shoot film footage of Chickasaw events and people. In fact, I was covering the Chickasaw Nation Veterans Conference when my uncle called me and said ‘Congratulations!’ He sent a photo of ‘Dancer’ winning the 3-D division award.”
Hart’s uncle is nationally recognized Chickasaw painter and sculptor Lance Straughn, who also was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2024.
His mother is renowned award-winning Chickasaw artist, historian and writer Jeannie Barbour. In 2015, Barbour was honored by then Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin with the Governor’s Arts Award in a ceremony at the state Capitol.
Indeed, Hart’s entire family is chock-full of first rate, award-winning artists so it had to rub off on him even if he has only been serious about woodturning since December 2024.
He also credits his wife, Paige, with boosting his confidence and her support. “She is my solid foundation — not just in my art, but in everything I do. I truly couldn’t have come this far without her love and support,” he said.
Hart is serious about honoring and respecting his First American heritage, culture and tradition of both Chickasaw and Cheyenne tribal nations.
He named his business after his grandfather, who was one of four principal peace chiefs of the Cheyenne Nation, according to Hart. Hart said his grandfather’s First American name, Hóma'e Ȯhmo'ȯhtávaestse, translates as “Black Beaver” in English. Hart also assumed his grandfather’s First American name and christened his artistic efforts Black Beaver Woodturning.
“The name is a combination of my Cheyenne Indian name and my Southeastern heritage with the Chickasaw Nation as well,” Hart said. “It combines the heritage of both tribal nations.”
For Hart, the talent of woodturning is both exhilarating and challenging. “I’ve made plenty of mistakes and will probably continue to make mistakes,” he said with a laugh.
He purchased most of his own equipment in December and estimates “Dancer” took approximately 40 hours to complete.
“I am fascinated by cracks that develop as the wood cures and dries,” Hart stated. Those flaws give him the artistic license to embellish the work with crusted stone — such as was used in “Dancer” — or other materials of his choice.
“When I get a chunk of wood, I examine it and envision what it can be. When I begin working on it, I let the wood tell me what it wants to be.”