Arts | Oklahoma Gazette

Orange issues

Piper Kerman, author of Orange Is the New Black, speaks at Oklahoma City University on Tuesday.

Piper Kerman, bestselling author of Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison, will deliver a free lecture hosted by Oklahoma City University (OCU) on Tuesday.

By Joshua Blanco Sep 20, 2018

Piper Kerman Orange Is the New Black Oklahoma City University Martha Jean Lemon Distinguished Speaker Series incarceration justice reform Amy Cataldi Netflix Jenji Kohan

Renegade architect

An exhibit at OU explores the transformative legacy of organic architect Bruce Goff.

The Bavinger House in Norman was one of 10 buildings designed by architect Bruce Goff to be designated on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, but the building was unceremoniously torn down in 2016.

By Jacob Threadgill Sep 19, 2018

Renegades Norman's Bavinger House Bridget Burke OU Libraries Fred David Shellabarger Albert Yanda Arn Henderson Donald McDonald John Hurtig Norman Froelich Jim Gardner Bruce Goff

Bubonic rock

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma’s When We’re Gone sets a morality play to a pop-punk score.

Beginning Sept. 29, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma will introduce the world premiere of When We’re Gone, a coming-of-age musical with a pop-punk twist.

By Joshua Blanco Sep 19, 2018

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma When We're Gone pop-punk musical New Works Initiative Michael Baron Kat Metcalfe Matthew Alvin Brown John Furey Alana Jacoby Scotty Arnold Yale Institute for Music Theater New York University Bubonic plague The Summoning of Everyman Van Hughes

COVER Fun factor

Factory Obscura is Oklahoma’s first collaborative art experience and promises visitors a second immersive experience with Beyond.

A multitalented artist is currently seeking a home in Oklahoma City.

By Nazarene Harris Sep 14, 2018

Factory Obscura Beyond immersive art Laura Massenat Laurent Massenat Thomas Thompson Kelsey Karper Tammy Greenman Hugh Meade Alena Snyder Kaylyn Cavett Kaalen O’Bannon

Added texture

Brightmusic Chamber Ensemble’s first performance of the season focuses on an often-ignored instrument.

What’s the difference between a radio and a viola?

By Jeremy Martin Sep 14, 2018

Brightmusic Chamber Ensemble Jesus Castro-Bilbi Amy I-Lin Cheng Voilà: Viola! St. Paul’s Cathedral Miles Hoffman American Chamber Players A Minute With Miles Mark Neumann Lowell Liebermann Max Bruch Aaron Berofsky Sergei Rachmaninoff Sergei Taneyev

Heat conductor

Alexander Mickelthwate announces his first full season as Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s music director.

Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s 2018-19 season sounds off Saturday with a classic selection featuring Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor conducted by a new leader in music director Alexander Mickelthwate.

By Krystal Yoseph Sep 12, 2018

Oklahoma City Philharmonic Alexander Mickelthwate Joel Levine Civic Center Music Hall Ludwig van Beethoven Tan Dun Sergei Prokofiev Gustav Holst Simone Porter Jennifer Higdon Yolanda Kondonassis Brian Eno Leonard Bernstein Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Jerod Impich-chaachaaha’ Tate Claude Debussy Maurice Ravel Astor Piazzolla James Feddeck Stewart Goodyear Franz Schubert Sergei Rachmaninoff Dmitri Shostakovich George Gershwin Franz Liszt Johann and Richard Strauss Antonio Vivaldi Johannes Brahms Melinda Doolittle Nikki Renée Daniels The Philharmonic Pops Chorale The Mistletoes The Hot Sardines Paul Simon John Williams

Brain traffic

Alexis Austin’s exhibit at OCCC was inspired by things in everyday life.

Alexis Austin stood in a gallery filled with her paintings, looking at them.

By Jeremy Martin Sep 12, 2018

Alexis Austin Oklahoma City Community College Visual and Performing Center Welcome to the Traffic Jam oklahoma city art exhibition

Open book

E. Scott Jones reconciles his faith and sexuality in his new memoir.

Sept. 4, Literati Press released the memoir of Rev. Dr. E. Scott Jones, an openly gay pastor serving as senior minister of First Central Congregational Church in Omaha, Nebraska.

By Joshua Blanco Sep 6, 2018

Literati Press E. Scott Jones gay pastor First Central Congregational Church Open: A Memoir of Faith Family and Sexuality in the Heartland Southern Baptist Miami Oklahoma Baptist University University of Oklahoma Charles Martin Sally Kern Flashpoint The Paseo Plunge

Painting people

Red Earth Art Center showcases favorites from its permanent collection.

Rather than rain-coated roses or bristly kitten noses, Red Earth Art Center is pairing some of its long-held works with new acquisitions for an exhibition titled A Few of Our Favorite Things. “Within the past year, we’ve had numerous individuals in the community that have contacted us with artwork they have had in their private collections that they gifted to our art center,” said Red Earth co-director Eric Oesch.

By Jeremy Martin Sep 5, 2018

Red Earth Art Center Eric Oesch native american artists favorite things Spencer Asah James Auchiah Jack Hokeah Stephen Mopope Monroe Tsatoke and Lois Bougetah Smoky

Operatic sci-fi

Painted Sky Opera takes cues from modern sci-fi and performs a classic Italian opera.

Drawing inspiration from a 1927 silent film and a 21st-century young adult sci-fi novel, Painted Sky Opera will present a controversial 19th-century Italian opera based on a banned French play.

By Jeremy Martin Sep 5, 2018

Daniel Scofield Rigoletto Painted Sky Opera Rob Glaubitz Verdi opera J. Warren Mitchell Jessica Jones

Motel tales

Carpenter Square Theatre’s latest production is made up of seven short plays set in a motel.

Seven tales unfold at Carpenter Square Theatre this September in The Gorges Motel.

By Daniel Bokemper Aug 29, 2018

Carpenter Square Theatre The Gorges Motel Rhonda Clark Vikki Simer

Aesthetic passion

Mainsite Contemporary Art’s latest exhibitors share a passion for art but veer in different directions artistically.

Mainsite Contemporary Art is currently showcasing the work of Debby Kaspari, Don Holladay and Christopher Ryan Mackie, three local artists who differ significantly in their creative approaches.

By Joshua Blanco Aug 29, 2018

Mainsite Contemporary Art Debby Kaspari Don Holladay Christopher Ryan Mackie en plein air landscapes painting figurative painting abstract painting collage lithographs etchings sculpture

Weekend Pride

Norman hosts its first-ever LGBTQ+ Pride Festival with a weekend of activities and a Sunday parade.

When planning for Norman’s first LGBTQ+ Pride Festival began, organizers intentionally eschewed a traditional June date during national Pride month because a majority of University of Oklahoma (OU) students are not in session.

By Jacob Threadgill Aug 24, 2018

Norman Pride Festival Norman Pride Andrew Coulter Norman LGBT Pride parade

Virtually flying

A Gazette reporter battles his ego inside iFly’s wind tunnel to sample a virtual reality fight.

Editor’s note: Oklahoma Gazette reporter Ben Luschen was invited to sample iFly Oklahoma City Indoor Skydiving’s virtual reality flight option.

By Ben Luschen Aug 24, 2018

Ben Luschen iFly Indoor Skydiving virtual reality iFly Oklahoma City indoor skydiving

Divine comedy

Pollard Theatre Company opens its new season with An Act of God.

Pollard Theatre Company opens its 32nd season Friday with An Act of God, a thought-provoking comedy directed by Timothy Stewart.

By Joshua Blanco Aug 22, 2018

Pollard Theatre Company An Act of God David Javerbaum The Daily Show with Jon Stewart @TheTweetofGod W. Jerome Stevenson Brenda Williams

20th-century treasure

An exhibit at National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum takes a closer look at the influence of Native American artists

Sept. 1, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum opens one of its most meaningful and illustrious exhibitions to date.

By Daniel Bokemper Aug 22, 2018

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum art American Indian Artists: 20th Century Masters Native American art Eric Singleton Maryhill Museum of Art Steve Grafe Oscar Brousse Jacobson Edith Mahier Kiowa Six University of Oklahoma Santa Fe Indian School T.C. Cannon Kevin Red Star Frank Big Bear Jerome Tiger Fred Beaver Patrick Desjarlait

Laugh passport

Jewel Box Theatre’s The Foreigner earns the laughter with both words and actions.

There are comedies, and then there is the “laugh fest,” a distinctive sub-genre that leaves the audience in stitches from laughter.

By Ian Jayne Aug 15, 2018

Jewel Box Theatre Chuck Tweed Larry Shue The Foreigner Barrett Davidson Jan Garrett

Smashing success

Chaos Studio brings experiential art to an up-and-coming district.

Creation and destruction go hand in hand, not so much two sides of the same coin as essential stages of an unending cycle.

By Eric Miller Aug 8, 2018

chaos studio iron works district jennifer mayo

Wild life

Two exhibits exploring birds, animals and insects debut at JRB Art at the Elms.

A Paseo Arts District gallery will be filled with winged insects this month.

By Jeremy Martin Aug 3, 2018

Paseo District JRB Art at the Elms Christie Hackler Heather Gorham Joy Reed Belt Beyond Art series Wandering Silhouettes IM/mortal: A Migratory Experiment First Friday Gallery Walk

New growth

Tim Kenney’s late-in-life shift toward art earns a new exhibit in Norman.

A chance call from his nephew in Santa Fe, New Mexico, led Norman resident Tim Kenney into an unusual career path at age 52: abstract impressionist painter.

By Jacob Threadgill Aug 2, 2018

Tim Kenney visual art painting The Depot Nancy McClellan New Mexico Santa Fe LeRoy Neiman Peter Max Carol Armstrong Pat Matthews Marshall Noice Rick Fry Norman Parkinson’s disease

Shine through

Visual art and poetry exist as one in Angie LaPaglia’s Shameless exhibition.

In a literal sense, poetry can be seen as just another way to organize words on a page.

By Ben Luschen Aug 1, 2018

poetry Angie LaPaglia visual art The Paseo Plunge First Friday Gallery Art Walk Paseo District Nasty Women Current Studio literature poems

High culture

Armstrong Auditorium’s Performing Arts Series celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Nearly 20 years ago, the Philadelphia Church of God started its Performing Arts Series in an attempt to elevate the cultural landscape of Edmond without preaching or proselytizing.

By Jeremy Martin Jul 26, 2018

Armstrong International Cultural Foundation Armstrong Auditorium Edmond Undefeated: The Story of Isaiah and Hezekiah