Marcy Smith, a judge for the Masters Art Show, said it’s hard to judge the masters’ entries.

“You have to be very technical with the entries,” said Smith, a Muskogee artist. “These artists have already obtained recognition so we have to go deeper.”

The Five Civilized Tribes Museum Masters Art Show and Sale begins today and runs to Nov. 30.

A reception and awards ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the museum. The public is welcome to meet the Master Artists.

Master Artist Joan Hill of Muskogee said the show is a wonderful thing for artists who are more established in the career.

“It’s wonderful for the museum to give a showcase for our art,” Hill said. “The show keeps the spirit of culture alive. It is defined by the artist, and it shows the culture is alive and well and thriving and not something forgotten.”

Created in 1973, the Masters Art Show is an annual event. The title of Master Artist was given to the program by Martin Wiesendanger, who was at the time judging the seventh annual Competitive Art Show.

The title Master Artist given by the Five Civilized Tribes is an honor, said Betty Price of Oklahoma City, retired executive director of the Oklahoma Arts Council.

“There is certain criteria that has to be met to qualify as a Master candidate,” said Price, who judged the competition with Linda Griever, who owns art galleries in Muskogee and Tulsa. “You have to submit work in the Five Civilized Tribes Open Shows and then be nominated. Then the board decides.”

The title of “Master Artist” remains the highest honor the Five Civilized Tribes Museum can give an artist. A total of 35 artists have been inducted into this prestigious program.

Artists competing in this year’s show are: Troy Anderson of Siloam Springs, Ark.; Jimmie Carol Fife-Stewart of Washington; Gary France of Edmond; Joan Hill of Muskogee; Norma Howard of Stigler; Murv Jacob of Tahlequah; Gwen Coleman Lester of Claremore; Skip Rowel of Haywood; Bert Seabourn of Warr Acres; Jason Stone of Locust Grove; Virginia Stroud of Tahlequah and Dorothy Sullivan of Norman.

If you go

WHAT: 2008 Masters Art Show and Sale.

WHEN: 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 30.