Jesse Ed Davis

Natural Anthem

A career-spanning exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Jesse Ed Davis, legendary rock ‘n’ roll musician and member of the Native American Music Hall of Fame is now open to the public at the Bob Dylan Center.

Like Dylan, Davis was a fearless and uncompromising artist, steadfastly dedicated to his craft and thriving as a collaborator with fellow musicians such as Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, John Lennon, Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Leonard Cohen, Rod Stewart and Dylan himself. Unlike Dylan, however, Davis’ significance as a musician, songwriter and, notably, Native American artist has been unjustly neglected since his passing in 1988, an oversight the exhibit aims to correct.

This project was supported in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.

I knew Jesse as a fellow musician and always appreciated his artistry, his innovation and vision in a time of cultural shift for Native people and this country. I am thrilled to bring his work to wider attention through this exhibit at the Bob Dylan Center, where my work as Artist-in-Residence is centered around artistry of all sorts and the specifics of the Native experience — especially that of gifted spirits like Jesse.

Joy Harjo

three-time U.S. Poet Laureate, Bob Dylan Center’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence