60 Artists, 60 Minutes: The Shoot

Sunrise, Downtown OKC, by Flickr user Paul L. McCord Jr. Sunrise, Downtown OKC, by Flickr user Paul L. McCord, Jr. Click image to visit on Flickr.

60 Artists to Hit the Streets of Downtown

Downtown OKC – For one hour this Saturday, 60 artists will be on a mission to capture their perspective of what Downtown Oklahoma City is all about. The event is in preparation for 60 Artists : 60 Minutes, an exhibition in The Underground Invited Artists Gallery this summer.

On June 6 from 11:00 a.m. to noon, 60 people will meet on the corner of Robert S. Kerr and Robinson. Each preselected participant will receive one disposable point and shoot camera and one hour to photograph Downtown as they see it. From the 1,620 photographs taken, the best one from each roll will be selected, printed, and ultimately included in the 60 Artists : 60 Minutes exhibition on display from July 23 to October 15.

The search for artists was done via the social networking sites Facebook and Myspace, and through word of mouth. All 60 artists were selected on a first come, first served basis. The only requirement for participation is that the photographer has to live in the OKC metro area and be age eighteen and older.

“It only took 24 hours to get 60 participants,” said show curator Romy Owens. “The artists are all really excited about this show. 60 Artists : 60 Minutes offers all artists equal parameters: same time limit, same equipment and same presentation. It will be intriguing to see what they come up with.”

The Invited Artist Gallery, located in The Underground, is made possible through a sponsorship by Devon Energy Corporation. Entrances to the gallery are located at the corner of Robert S. Kerr Blvd and Robinson, and inside Leadership Square. The Invited Artists Gallery sits underneath the intersection of Robinson and Robert S. Kerr with entrances from all adjacent buildings. The Invited Artist Gallery is produced by Downtown Oklahoma Inc.

For more information on the Underground or Downtown OKC, Inc, please visit DowntownOKC.com or call 405-235-3500.

[Press release info courtesy of romy owens (contact here) and Kim Searls: (405) 818-2726.]

Read NewsOK's article about the shoot here.

Update: Another article about the shoot, from the Journal Record.

OVAC Rocks And You Should Join

I'd like to tell you all about the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition and why you should join it. It's one of the best things I have ever done for my career. No joke. The Snowball Effect

I moved to Oklahoma in 2006. At the suggestion of a friend, I joined OVAC for their bargain-basement membership fee. One of the services they offer is the Virtual Gallery, online portfolios for member artists. I sent in my portfolio on cd, and a few days later, OVAC Director Julia Kirt called me to ask if I'd participate in a group show. Gosh, twist my arm.

Local gallery owner Ashley Griffith visited that group show, saw my work, and offered me a solo show at aka gallery in Oklahoma City's historic Paseo District. Ashley and I have had an ongoing professional relationship for over 2 years; she now represents my work at home and out of state.

I have learned about numerous group shows and other opportunities through the OVAC email newsletter. (The newsletter alone is worth the membership fee.) In the years since I joined OVAC my work has been shown in galleries almost constantly. The Virtual Gallery

This is an excellent tool for galleries and collectors to connect with Oklahoma artists. Here are some stats.

Thanks to my portfolio being in the Virtual Gallery, I've been invited to give demonstrations for several artist groups, commissioned for an ambitious book illustration project by a local independent publisher, and offered group and solo shows inside and outside of Oklahoma. It also refers people to this website (which I know because I use the StatPress plugin for WordPress.)

The Art 365 Opportunity

In 2007, OVAC put out an open call. An independent curator would choose six Oklahoma artists to get one year and $10,000 each to produce a body of work. I got in.

'y' is for 'yee-haw' by Flickr user *toni.r

'y': for 'youthful exuberance...' and 'yeeee ha!' by Flickr user *toni.r. Click image to visit on Flickr.

I created Normal, OK for the Art 365 exhibit, which travelled to several venues during 2008. I also self-published a book to accompany the show. This body of work will give me a great foundation to apply for future grants and residencies. It also led directly to my next solo show, Back To Normal, this summer at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum.

The call is now open for the next Art 365 exhibit. OVAC has changed the show to include five artists who will each receive $12,000. You can't not enter!

Momentum and More

OVAC puts on a number of group shows each year, including Momentum OKC and Momentum Tulsa. These shows are for Oklahoma artists (and curators) under age 30, and is one of our state's premier showcases for young talent. Click here to read more about OVAC's annual events.

Other Resources, Including M-O-N-E-Y

OVAC offers grants to Oklahoma artists on an ongoing basis. You can apply for grant money to buy a camera, take a class, create a special project, and so much more. Learn how to apply here. I was recently awarded a Creative Projects grant to help produce my upcoming solo show.

Of course OVAC has a blog. It's an informative place where I can ask questions of my professional community, and learn about art events and opportunities. I've been interviewed for this blog. I have asked questions and seen them answered in the blog. The OVAC blog's blogroll sends traffic to my website. You can also find OVAC on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. They are all over this web thing.

If this wasn't enough information, you can always learn more by taking a workshop! I've been to several of these and I come away feeling energized and motivated.

If you're an artist in Oklahoma, OVAC is here to help you. Please join and take advantage of the services they offer. You won't regret it!

This blog post is part of Zemanta's "Blogging For a Cause" campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.

Normal, OK book now available from Amazon

It's easier than ever to get a copy of my book. Normal, OK, is now available on Amazon! Click here to order. Read more about the book here. You can also get Normal, OK from Lulu.com, or, for a limited time, from the Gaylord-Pickens Museum Store (at a discount, while supplies last!).

Many of the characters from Normal (plus some new ones!) will be on display at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum in Oklahoma City this summer. Details here.