May 24 Friday
Multiple Voices is the first public artwork in the United States by Eva Schlegel, the Austria-based artist known for engineering steel and mirrors into spectacular, architectonic sculptures. Working with materials similar to the arts center’s new building,
Schlegel created a series of polished and translucent surfaces that catch and reflect light and parts of the surrounding environment, encouraging visitors to gather, play and learn.
Poems by Steve Bellin-Oka, Kimberly Blaeser and Joy Harjo appear in blurred form on glass panels, registering each poem as part of the sculpture, but rendered cryptic to the viewer.
For more information: 405-951-0000, okcontemp.org/EvaSchlegel
Image: Rendering of Eva Schlegel's Multiple Voices at Oklahoma Contemporary. Rendering: Damjan Minovski, Architectural team: Valerie Messini.
Experience HOME1947: Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy! This immersive exhibition explores the lives and stories of the millions displaced in 1947 during the creation of two new independent nation-states, India and Pakistan. Through a series of short films, virtual reality, photographs, sound installations and more, HOME1947 recreates the long-lost sights, sounds and smells of what millions once called home. Visit okcontemp.org for gallery hours.
For more information: 405-951-0000, okcontemp.org/HOME1947
Image: Video still, Beila, 2017. © Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy. Photo courtesy of SOC Films.
May 25 Saturday
Qu’aint (quilt + paint) is a collaborative group of six Oklahoma artists - quilters and painters.
The Uncovering | Qu’aint Exhibition features contemporary art quilts and paintings that are inspired by the two art form’s commonalities.
The Qu’aint collective’s conversations surrounding a maker’s use of shape, color, line and texture informed the 18 pieces in this exhibition.
Featured artists include:Sarah AtleeBrenda EsslingerElizabeth RichardsAnn SolinskiAgnes StadlerJason Wilson
"Magnificent Beauty: Georgia O’Keeffe and the Art of the Flower" examines explorations of flowers in painting and photography by O’Keeffe and Imogen Cunningham, highlighting their unique interpretations of the traditional subject matter.
O’Keeffe redefined the tradition of floral still-life painting by incorporating techniques of photography (a relatively new medium in the early twentieth century) into her works, choosing to depict the subject cropped and at close range to focus on color and form. While Cunningham also portrayed flowers in close-up, her photographs instead call attention to the play of light and shadow as well as the subject’s intricate details, captured with precision. Magnificent Beauty demonstrates how each artist transformed the traditional subject with a modernist, and at times abstracted, take on the natural world.
The Paseo Arts Festival is an annual event that is free to the public and the largest fundraiser of the year for the Paseo Arts Association, which takes place every Memorial Day weekend in the heart of the Paseo Arts District in Oklahoma City. The festival attracts over 60,000 visitors every year and showcases the works of over 90 juried artists from across the country. The festival provides a diverse range of art forms, including painting, sculpture, jewelry, pottery and more.
Visitors can enjoy the entertainment of over 50 live performers on two stages, including dancers, spoken word, jazz, folk and rock n' roll. They can also enjoy the food court featuring 20 food and drink vendors. With its relaxed and friendly atmosphere, the Paseo Arts Festival offers a wonderful opportunity to discover new and exciting works of art and connect with the vibrant arts community in Oklahoma City.
May 26 Sunday