Bicentennial Park welcomes new sculpture honoring Muscogee stickball tradition

On Friday, September 11, Macon-Bibb County will celebrate the unveiling of a new sculpture at Bicentennial Park (350 Olive Street) at 4:00 p.m., honoring Muscogee culture and the tradition of stickball.

The sculpture, Cepvnkv - Mvskoke Stickball Player, was created by Muscogee/Seminole jeweler, sculptor, and designer Kenneth Johnson. Stickball is a traditional Indigenous game that has been played for recreation and ceremony and historically served as an alternative to war. The game is related to modern-day lacrosse.

The sculpture was inspired by Netche Gray, a Muscogee tribal member from Oklahoma and World War I veteran. Gray, whose nickname was Cepvnkv (pronounced chee-bun-guh), was a respected culture bearer who knew many traditional songs and led Stomp Dances throughout his life.

"Netche is the inspiration for this bronze because I had the opportunity to meet him and ask his family members questions and learn more about him," says Johnson. "He was a stickball player who had the right to wear the tiger tail, an element of significance while playing stickball. It was an honor given by others, not something you could choose for yourself."

Gray stood 6 feet, 4 inches tall in life, while his bronze likeness stands 7 feet, 3 inches tall.

Cepvnkv - Mvskoke Stickball Player will join another of Johnson's works already at Bicentennial Park, ECKE - Mother Ground. The Muscogee-created marble sculpture honors Indigenous presence and history and is oriented west toward the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's headquarters in Oklahoma. Together, the works add to the park's recognition of the Muscogee people, their history, culture, and enduring connection to this land.

Following the unveiling, citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation will play a traditional stickball game at Bicentennial Park, giving attendees an opportunity to see the tradition represented by the sculpture come to life. Everyone is invited to attend the unveiling and stay to watch the game.

The unveiling will also help kick off a weekend celebrating Indigenous culture and heritage in Macon-Bibb County. The Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration will take place September 12 and 13 at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. The free event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day and brings Indigenous people from across the Southeast together to share their cultures, traditions, art, music, dance, storytelling, and more.

Kenneth Johnson is an acclaimed Muscogee/Seminole jeweler, sculptor, and designer known for his exceptional Indigenous art crafted from precious metals, gemstones, bronze, and carved stone. Blending cultural storytelling with masterful craftsmanship, his work honors the enduring legacy and resilience of Native peoples.

In 2025, Johnson's sculpture Continuum received 1st Place, Best in Class, and the Innovation Award at the Heard Museum's Indian Fair & Market. The piece also won top honors at the 2024 SWAIA Indian Market and the Mvskoke Art Market. His earlier bronze works, Genesis and Journey, earned 1st Place and the Mvskoke Heritage Award in 2023. Johnson's Feather Dance, a large-scale installation at Council Oak Comprehensive Healthcare in Tulsa, OK, celebrates Muscogee unity and healing. His jewelry has appeared at high-profile events including the Grammys and Critics Choice Awards and is worn by notable figures such as Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Sonia Sotomayor.