Normal, OK Characters Appear In Nimrod
October 3, 2008
Two characters from my series Normal, OK appear in the Fall 2008 issue of the Nimrod International Journal of Prose and Poetry. To purchase a copy, follow this link.
Normal, OK: Peoria Jenks. Mixed media, 2007.
Peoria Jenks, 72, carries on the family tradition of bootlegging. (Opteemah County is dry.) She does not sell to “drunkards.” One day, while having her hair set, she overheard a call on the salon’s police scanner noting suspicious activity at the Slim Pickens Mo-tel. On a hunch, she went over. Onlookers say she got a shotgun from the trunk of her Dart and walked purposefully past Sherrif Ardmore into room 112. No shots were fired. Ms. Jenks reportedly walked out shaking her head and saying, “Not in my town. Not in my town.” The headline in that week’s Porcupine read “Meth Lab Seized With Help From Locals.”
You can learn more about the people of Normal by reading the book.
My series of works titled Normal, OK was part of the Art 365 exhibition sponsored by the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. Art 365 travels to Legion Arts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to open on October 15.
Art 365 Documentary Preview Online
June 16, 2008
As part of the year-long Art 365 process, filmmakers Melissa Scaramucci and Cacky Poarch produced a documentary film about the seven artists. You can see a 15-minute preview online at Google Video. If you’re new to Art 365, this is a great introduction.
The film premiered in its entirety at the Art 365 opening in Tulsa last month. There will also be a screening in Oklahoma City on July 3rd.
Click here to read more about Normal, OK, my series for Art 365.
Related: Sonarta also has footage of the Art 365 process. Part 1 is below; here are parts two, three, and four.
Legion Arts of Cedar Rapids, IA Needs You
June 16, 2008
Click here to support the Iowa Artists’ Relief Fund.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is currently underwater. One of the institutions affected by this tragedy is Legion Arts, who was kind enough to agree to host the Art 365 show this coming Fall. Right now nobody knows exactly if or how that will happen, but that’s not our most pressing concern.
Legion Arts has set up an emergency fund to help Iowa artists whose lives and work have been affected by the flooding. Please give if you can, especially you Oklahoma artists: Legion Arts is like our OVAC. We need the help of support systems like these to make our unique, talented, relevant voices heard.
The above photo, taken by CRArtist, is titled June 12, 2008 (2). It is part of this Flickr set titled Flood of 2008.
Related: The Simple Dollar lists seven things you can do right now to help flood victims.
Last Chance: Art 365 in Tulsa
June 11, 2008
Lawton Amarillo, acrylic, ink and collage on canvas, 2007.
This Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are the last days that the Art 365 show will be on display in Tulsa.
My project, Normal, OK, is showing at Liggett Studios, 308 S Kenosha Ave. Betsy Barnum’s introspective self-portraits and Live4This‘ candy-coated wonderment are also at Liggett. Better get there by June 14.
One venue was not enough to hold all of the Art 365 awesomeness. Ashley Griffith’s large-scale photographic grids, Joe Daun’s kinetic sculptures, and Liz Roth’s exhaustive United States landscape survey are showing at Alexandre Hogue Gallery, University of Tulsa, 2930 E. 5th St., Tulsa (M-F 8:30-4:30) through June 27.
After this month, the Art 365 works will be put away until October, when they go on display in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Normal, OK: Stroud Drumright
May 8, 2008
Normal, OK: Stroud Drumright, graphite on wood, 2008
Stroud Drumright leads the local Boy Scout troop and plays a mean game of water polo. Occasionally he works as a rafting guide for Outward Bound. In recent years he has taken up the hobby of buying and reselling cars on eBay.
The Art 365 show, which includes my project Normal, OK, will be on display at Liggett Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from May 29 to June 14 2008.
Art 365 Closing Reception: Sat 4.26.08 in OKC
April 25, 2008
Normal, OK: Installation View, at Untitled Artspace in OKC, 2008
This Saturday, April 26, the Art 365 show will bid adieu to Oklahoma City. This closing reception, from 5–8 p.m., will also feature the show catalogue debut and a preview screening of Art 365: The Film.
Art 365, which includes my project Normal, OK, travels to Tulsa in May, and to Cedar Rapids, Iowa in October. Watch this space for more wheres and whens.
Click here to see more of Normal, OK.
Video: Action NONnews at Art 365
April 23, 2008
The unstoppable media duo NONzine was filming at the opening reception for Art 365. Here’s what they found:
Click here to read more about my project for the show, Normal, OK.
Normal, OK: The Book is Now Available!
April 3, 2008
In case folks may have missed this item on the front page:
Normal, OK is a collection of stories and portraits of characters based on place names in and around Oklahoma. It was produced in conjunction with the Art 365 project and the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition.
This book is not an exhibition catalogue. It includes images and stories that are not on display in the Art 365 gallery show.
Normal, OK: Sketch for Blaine Quay. Ink on paper, 2007.
Hardcover Edition
I have produced a hardcover edition limited to 25 copies, signed and numbered by the artist (me). Copies of the limited edition are $75 (shipping included) while supplies last. Contact me to reserve your copy. Please allow one month for printing, processing, and shipping.
Paperback Edition
The paperback edition is available via the on-demand publisher Lulu.com. Paperbacks are $25 plus shipping. Click here to order.
Click here for a taste of the Normal Folks.
Art 365 Show Reviewed in O’Colly
April 3, 2008
Nathan Poppe reviewed the Art 365 show for Oklahoma State University’s Daily O’Collegian newspaper. Click here to read.
The Art 365 show, which includes my project Normal, OK, will be up at Untitled Artspace in OKC through April 26. There will be two artist panels in April, on the 10th and the 17th. I’ll be speaking at the second panel on 4/17, along with Liz Roth and the dudes of Live4This.
Here is the full calendar of events at Untitled Artspace.
Here is more information about Art 365.
Here are more images and stories from Normal, OK.
Normal, OK Opening Reception: Done.
March 22, 2008
I’d like to extend my sincere and hearty thanks to everyone who came to the opening reception for Art 365 and saw my project Normal, OK. It’s always so encouraging to see Oklahomans supporting their local arts and artists!
The show will continue at Untitled Artspace in OKC through April 26 2008. The other artists and I will be having two panel discussions at Untitled: April 10 and April 17, both at 6:30 pm.
Here is John Brandenburg’s review of the show for the Daily Oklahoman.
During May and June, the show will move to two concurrent venues in Tulsa. During October and November it will be in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I’ll post the details when the time draws near.
Normal, OK Installation View at Untitled Artspace in Oklahoma City, March 2008. (Click for full view)