Tulsa, OK

Pictured are Principal Chief A.D. Ellis, Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Susan Neal, City of Tulsa; Sandra VanZandt, Sculpture Artist and Don Walker, co-chair of the Oklahoma Centennial Commission Tulsa Committee. (Photo provided by Thompson Gouge, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Public Relations office)

Tulsa has received another Oklahoma Centennial project – a sculpture in Creek Stickball Park, 1800 S. Cheyenne Ave. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation along with the City of Tulsa, dedicated the gift from the Oklahoma Centennial Commemoration Commission. This gift is a sculpture that features three Creek youths playing stickball, which is a traditional game within the ceremonial culture of the Muscogee Creek people. The statue is titled “Not Just A Ball Game” and is the artwork of Sandra Van Zandt.

Susan Neal, City of Tulsa Director of Community Development and Education Initiatives, today joined Don Walker, co-chair of the Oklahoma Centennial Commission Tulsa Committee; and Creek Nation Chief A.D. Ellis, to dedicate the artwork by Sandra Van Zandt.

The statue in Creek Stickball Park was made possible through a $250,000 donation from the Oklahoma Centennial Commemoration Commission. Besides the sculpture, this provided park amenities including wrought iron fencing, new sidewalks, landscaping, irrigation and benches.

“This will be a place where our children and their friends can come and see our history” said Cherrah Quiett, Muscogee (Creek) National Council Representative. “It is always good to be recognized by the City of Tulsa for our Creek history,” Principal Chief A.D. Ellis added.

The city has maintained the park for years, because it was once a stickball playing ground for Native American children, now the city of Tulsa hopes this statue helps educate children today.

“It is also important for our children to understand our history, and when children know a city’s history, they can take pride in it,” said Susan Neal, the City of Tulsa Director of Community Development and Education.

Other notable works by Talala artist Van Zandt include:

• Ernest Childers Monument in front of the Veterans Administration Building in Tulsa,
• Sculpture of Kate Barnard in the Oklahoma State Capitol,
• Pistol Pete statue in Heritage Hall of the Oklahoma State University Gallagher-Iba Arena,
• Sculptures of Will Rogers in both Claremore and Oologah, and
• “The Spirit of Naval Aviation,” America’s first monument to naval aviators, at the entrance of the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Fla.