NAME: Roger Hale
BIRTH PLACE: Vinita, Oklahoma
BIOGRAPHY
I inherited my talent and desire for the arts from my father “George Hale” a well known custom knife maker in Oklahoma. Most knife collectors in the southern part of the United States and some in Europe are familiar with the unique knives, tomahawks, & Native American style artifacts created by George. Arts and crafts were a way of life in the Hale household, so it was natural for me to continue the tradition. My family have produced works in taxidermy, gun smithing, wood carving, custom knife and tomahawk construction, and have made many Native American style artifacts. The early Hale family left Kentucky in the late 1800’s and came to Oklahoma via the same route taken by the Cherokee Indians 50 years earlier. George was born in the Creek Nation of Oklahoma, but does not have an Indian roll number, so we cannot legally call our work Native American made.
My art career began as a wood carver and a silver smith. After my service in the U.S. Army I began to build knives, tomahawks, and Native American type artifacts in the traditional Hale style. When I was middle age I began to paint and do more elaborate wood carvings. Some of my wood carvings were inspired by the talented artists of the Pacific Northwest. I have plans for additional new paintings in a more modernist style.
