Skyline from Bricktown, Oklahoma City. Courtesy of Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Oklahoma is undeniably a cultural and artistic destination with its roots in Native American history and picturesque landscapes. It should come as no surprise that there are over 300 museums in the state, along with many arts festivals and events honoring visual, performing and culinary arts. However, with the many difficulties surrounding Covid-19, its been a time of transition.
Oklahoma is still providing inspiration and pushing for a hopeful future. Although art events have been canceled or rescheduled in the creatively rich state, many are still reaching the masses with virtual solutions.
This is the case for the celebrated and traditional Festival of the Arts that has had to cancel this year, but will be streaming past festival moments and sharing through their social media platforms. There will still be much to observe as the festival has years of footage of the many entertainers, street performers and visual artists.
The Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Gaylord-Pickens Museum is also on board with creative solutions like the “Digital Oklahoma Hall of Fame,” presented by the Chickasaw Nation. All of the limited interaction has inspired them to put together a free digital platform to tell Oklahoma’s story through curated content. This includes educational projects and engaging activities. Virtual art exhibits include Beyond the Portraits: Artists and Their Subjects, a story of the museum’s portraits gallery.
Other events, such as the Paseo Arts Festival in its 44th year of celebration, have been rescheduled for Labor Day weekend in September. Paseo is Oklahoma’s oldest district and is home to a variety of artists and art galleries. The festival helps support the art events in the area throughout the year. More than 75 visual artists participate, along with live music and performances.
Paseo’s website boasts some calendar events for June, such as their First Friday Gallery Walk, which will commence upon better health conditions. Businesses stay open late, galleries exhibit new work and some have themed events and entertainment.
Continue browsing this special section to get a taste of additional art endeavors and updated events like the Prix de West art exhibition and sale by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. You’ll also hear from artists like Helen F. Howerton, who remain strong and inspired.
“Many talented, professional artists call Oklahoma home,” Howerton says. “The pandemic has caused visual artists a real loss in revenue, not creativity. We are looking forward to a revitalization of all the arts and collectors can be confident in purchasing original paintings and sculpture that capture the essence of an artist’s universe.”
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National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Men’s Club, oil, 20 x 8", by William Acheff.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Fiesta Day in Cerrillos, oil on linen, 54 x 40", by Kang Cho.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Fall is in the Air, bronze, 21 x 22", by T.D. Kelsey.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73111,
(405) 478-2250 | info@nationalcowboymuseum.org
www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum hosts a prestigious invitational art exhibition of more than 300 Western paintings and sculpture by the finest contemporary Western artists in the nation with art seminars, receptions and awards.
The exhibiting artists bring a diversity of styles to this significant art exhibition and sale. Works range from historical pieces that reflect the early days of the West, to more contemporary and impressionistic works of art. Landscapes, wildlife and illustrative scenes are always highlighted in the exhibition.
Traditionally the highlight of the museum’s summer exhibition schedule, the show has been postponed this year until the fall in support of the nationwide effort to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The 48th Annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale will be on display from August 1 through September 13, 2020, with the sale taking place September 12.
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Cherokee Art Market, Painting Herself to Life, mixed media, 16 x 20", by Roy Boney Jr.
Cherokee Art Market, “I’m Flying Away,” said the turtle, watercolor and ink, 12 x 9", by Boy Boney Jr.
15th Annual Cherokee Art Market
Sequoyah Convention Center
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino,
777 W. Cherokee Street, Catoosa, OK 74015,
(918) 384-6990, www.cherokeeartmarket.com
As one of the largest Native American art shows in the state and one of the finest Native American art markets in the country, the 15th annual Cherokee Art Market is a must-see for art enthusiasts and collectors.
More than 50 tribes will be represented at the two-day event, which features the work of 150 elite Native American artists, including Cherokee Nation citizen Roy Boney Jr.
“The Cherokee Art Market has created a unique and immersive atmosphere with artists from across the U.S. that both inspires and pushes you to better your work each and every year,” Boney says. “It’s also helped put a spotlight on the vibrant Native art scene flourishing in Oklahoma.”
As a Cherokee artist, a lot of Boney’s work is focused on sharing Cherokee language, history and culture. Boney adds, “I’m inspired by family stories and enjoy illustrating things I heard about growing up. Painting Herself to Life is one of my favorite pieces thus far. The contemporary piece is influenced by my passion for animation and modern Cherokee culture.”
This year’s show will be in full swing October 10 and 11, 2020. Please visit the website for additional information.
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Helen F. Howerton, T-Bone, acrylic on canvas, 14 x 11"Helen F. Howerton
(918) 494-4994, www.howertonart.com
hfhowerton@att.net
Art has always been the focus for painter Helen E. Howerton. A Native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, she knew at 8 years old that her life would revolve around creating art. After earning a BFA degree, she designed Oklahoma State University education extension publications, sold advertising and custom illustration, and co-owned two galleries. Turning to full time painting in the 1980‘s, she hasn’t looked back.
“My paintings are nature inspired,” Howerton explains. “They’re visualized in dreams, then researched and drawn. Color theme and composition are selected after that. It’s amazing, taking a two-dimensional surface, then creating a three-dimensional image that relates to the collector. Being an artist is a blessing and an obsession!”
Howerton also finds inspiration from travels to national parks in the United States, Canada, Europe and Germany. Venturing into her own backyard conjures images of birds and other wildlife into realized paintings. In addition, Howerton also produces canine portraiture and takes commissioned work.
Howerton’s paintings been included in numerous Gallery and Museum exhibitions. She’s currently represented by RS Hanna Gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas.
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Shirley Quaid, No News, oil, 16 x 20”
Shirley Quaid
(405) 788-5062, shirleyquaid@shirleyquaid.com
www.shirleyquaid.com
“It seems that the Old West has been part of my life from childhood,” says oil painter Shirley Quaid. “Black-and-white Westerns were always on the television and books about pioneers were my choice of reading material. I loved hearing tales of hardship and triumph.”
Quaid is inspired to show how cultural differences really don’t matter as there are so many similarities from love of family, care for elders and religious sensibilities. She paints from pictures because “a running horse or active children are not going to pose!” She explains. “I rely on memories of when and how the photos were taken.”
Some chose to see the hardships in the 1800’s (Quaid’s favorite time period) and she acknowledges those challenges and the downright evil that occurred. However, she chooses to depict the positive and goodness of the human spirit.
“I hope that my collectors will accept my efforts as a work of art depicting an important time in our history.”
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