Community Calendar

Pioneer Library System, Virtual Author Talks

Brought to you by Pioneer Library System. Now with live, virtual Author Talks, you can enjoy a broad selection of topics from bestselling authors and thought leaders every month! Explore and register for upcoming talks, and access previous recordings at pioneerlibrarysystem.org for events and author talks.

https://youtu.be/kpU-t-oVJEg

Starting February 7, 2025, Cowboy Boots: From Roundups to Runways, presented by Lucchese Bootmaker, will transport visitors on a journey through time, tracing the evolution of cowboy boots from their 19th-century origins to their modern-day status as a cultural icon. Running through May 4, 2025, this exciting temporary exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship, history and enduring appeal of these timeless boots.

The exhibition will delve into the fascinating transformation of riding boots from the 1860s — drawing inspiration from European styles and Civil War-era cavalry boots — to the revolutionary designs mass-produced by Hyer and Justin in the 1870s that shaped the cowboy boots we know and love today.

Visitors will uncover the pivotal role of cowboy boots in The American West during the cattle trail era and explore how advancements in entertainment and manufacturing catapulted them into mainstream culture by the early 20th century.

The exhibition will also feature boots from contemporary rodeo athletes, musicians, actors and other famous individuals, demonstrating how cowboy boots have transcended their origin to become a canvas for personal expression and a fashion status symbol in the 21st century.

Whether you’re a history buff, a fashion enthusiast, or simply curious, Cowboy Boots invites you to discover why, nearly 160 years after their debut, cowboy boots remain one of the most iconic and beloved pieces of footwear.

Step into a world of vibrant imagination with A Colorful Dream, an interactive exhibition by contemporary fine art photographer Adrien Broom. This family-friendly experience follows a young girl’s journey through a series of monochromatic fantasy worlds, each meticulously crafted to explore the emotions and symbolism of the full spectrum of the rainbow. Broom’s large-scale photographs, created without digital manipulation, capture the magic of these handmade sets, bringing fairy-tale-like landscapes to life.

Exclusive to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the exhibition features a site-specific installation that reimagines black not as an absence, but as the presence of all colors. This striking addition invites viewers to contemplate color in a new way, blending fantasy and reality in stunning detail.

Oklahoma Contemporary presents the first major retrospective of Oklahoma City-based artist Edgar Heap of Birds, who is known internationally for conceptual artwork that addresses Indigenous rights, sovereignty and relationships to place. Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds: HONOR SONG is a landmark for American art, for the region and for the city: the artist’s first institutional survey in his home-state of the last forty years. The exhibition spans over four decades of art production, tracing Heap of Birds’ trajectory from the 1970s to the present through colorful prints, abstract paintings, drawings, glassworks, sculptures and public works.

For more information: 405-951-0000, okcontemp.org/honorsong

Image: Edgar Heap of Birds, Neuf, 1995. The John and Susan Horseman Collection, Courtesy of the Horseman Foundation. © Edgar Heap of Birds. Image courtesy of the artist.

Family Program

Come learn and have fun together! Each of our family programs has a different natural or cultural history theme and is intended for children ages 5 and up with an adult

Let nature be your inspiration for this fun family art workshop. Enjoy a collaborative art making experience that brings families together to explore your creative side.

Registration closes on April 13, so register now!

Pioneer Library System offers virtual author talks every month. May includes How to Use Anxiety to Thrive with Dr. David Rosmarin on May 7, Writing a Brilliant, Dark, and Diabolical Thriller with Author Liann Zhang on May 14, and Rachelle Bergstein's How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us on May 21.

For more information, https://youtu.be/kpU-t-oVJEg and https://libraryc.org/pioneerlibrarysystem/upcoming

Sponsorship

Starting February 7, 2025, Cowboy Boots: From Roundups to Runways, presented by Lucchese Bootmaker, will transport visitors on a journey through time, tracing the evolution of cowboy boots from their 19th-century origins to their modern-day status as a cultural icon. Running through May 4, 2025, this exciting temporary exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship, history and enduring appeal of these timeless boots.

The exhibition will delve into the fascinating transformation of riding boots from the 1860s — drawing inspiration from European styles and Civil War-era cavalry boots — to the revolutionary designs mass-produced by Hyer and Justin in the 1870s that shaped the cowboy boots we know and love today.

Visitors will uncover the pivotal role of cowboy boots in The American West during the cattle trail era and explore how advancements in entertainment and manufacturing catapulted them into mainstream culture by the early 20th century.

The exhibition will also feature boots from contemporary rodeo athletes, musicians, actors and other famous individuals, demonstrating how cowboy boots have transcended their origin to become a canvas for personal expression and a fashion status symbol in the 21st century.

Whether you’re a history buff, a fashion enthusiast, or simply curious, Cowboy Boots invites you to discover why, nearly 160 years after their debut, cowboy boots remain one of the most iconic and beloved pieces of footwear.

Step into a world of vibrant imagination with A Colorful Dream, an interactive exhibition by contemporary fine art photographer Adrien Broom. This family-friendly experience follows a young girl’s journey through a series of monochromatic fantasy worlds, each meticulously crafted to explore the emotions and symbolism of the full spectrum of the rainbow. Broom’s large-scale photographs, created without digital manipulation, capture the magic of these handmade sets, bringing fairy-tale-like landscapes to life.

Exclusive to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the exhibition features a site-specific installation that reimagines black not as an absence, but as the presence of all colors. This striking addition invites viewers to contemplate color in a new way, blending fantasy and reality in stunning detail.

Oklahoma Contemporary presents the first major retrospective of Oklahoma City-based artist Edgar Heap of Birds, who is known internationally for conceptual artwork that addresses Indigenous rights, sovereignty and relationships to place. Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds: HONOR SONG is a landmark for American art, for the region and for the city: the artist’s first institutional survey in his home-state of the last forty years. The exhibition spans over four decades of art production, tracing Heap of Birds’ trajectory from the 1970s to the present through colorful prints, abstract paintings, drawings, glassworks, sculptures and public works.

For more information: 405-951-0000, okcontemp.org/honorsong

Image: Edgar Heap of Birds, Neuf, 1995. The John and Susan Horseman Collection, Courtesy of the Horseman Foundation. © Edgar Heap of Birds. Image courtesy of the artist.

Little Light House, Oklahoma's only tuition-free developmental center for children of all disabilities, is hosting its first event in OKC - Mahjong & Shopping! Shop exclusive pop-ups, enjoy dinner, and play Mahjong - all while raising funds for education and therapy services for kids with special needs.