OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – Chickasaw Community Bank is a striking sight from the outside, but it might be even more interesting and beautiful on the inside.
Once inside, you’re not quite certain if you’ve stepped into a bank or an art museum.
“My history is that I’ve worked in great, great buildings, but this is by far the most fantastic,” said Bill Schonacher, president and CEO of Chickasaw Community Bank.
Schonacher, who has a storied career in banking, is referring to his newest work home, Chickasaw Community Bank, which is located at 7500 W Memorial Road in far northwest Oklahoma City and is home to more than 60 original pieces in a priceless collection of art and cultural heritage.
Like the art inside it, the building is magnificent.
“The building is a work of art itself. As you notice, when you drive up, you see the giant bronze of the traditional Chickasaw warrior. But the building itself is filled with different pieces of Native art that make it really remarkable and special,” Schonacher said.
Dustin Stubblefield, vice president of Treasury Management and Business Banking at Chickasaw Community Bank, said the building and its rare artistic treasurers never cease to awe him.
“I’m kind of blown away just because the architecture that was involved. And then when you walk around from floor to floor, just seeing the artwork, it’s pretty remarkable,” Stubblefield said.
Stubblefield serves as the bank’s vice president, but he is also a member of the Chickasaw Nation, and he takes great pride in the fact that much of the art in the bank were created by Chickasaw artists.
“This piece was created in 2022 by Mike Larson. He’s actually a Chickasaw artist. This is titled The Visionary,” Stubblefield proudly said as he gave Oklahoma Business Voice a tour of the bank’s artwork.
The artwork includes blankets and rugs tastefully displayed, woven baskets and traditional tribal items displayed as art.
But not all of the art is traditional. Artist Brian Allen’s contemporary work is displayed throughout the building. You can tell its Allen’s by the black dot that appears on the art.
It is an eclectic collection.
“This is called the Prairie Pattern,” Stubblefield said. “It’s, done by Whitney Forsyth. This was done in 2023. Just a cool little story on this piece here. She came in and placed these before they were painted where she wanted them to be. And then she actually hand-painted them here on the fourth floor before she put them on the wall. So, all in all, it took her over I’d say about a week to do, start to finish, once she got here.”
Some of the art is actually part of the building itself, including sand paintings with a nod to traditional Chickasaw maps and patterns in the foyer..
Even the bank’s breakroom is a work of art. Adam Smith’s Scissortail in G-Sharp took several days to do on site.
A gorgeous piece called Waterfall, created by Paul Medina, is also featured in the bank.
“This took him a few days to do. I kind of got to watch. The process was pretty cool. He kind of set it up and hand-painted everything. So very cool piece. Very cool to to watch from start to finish,” Stubblefield said.
Art is an important part of the Chickasaw heritage.
“Art means a great deal to the Chickasaw people. It’s a tremendous, tremendous feeling to walk into this place. It’s a great feeling of pride,” Schonacher said.
