As we keep moving closer to spring, we hope that the winter season has been kind to you and you’ve been able to get out and enjoy all the art life has to offer. Of course, art doesn’t just happen at the hands of people; nature has an abundance of creative energy that gifts us every day. Soon, the hills will be taken over with dogwood blooms, and the fall decay will give way to fresh ground cover, including our coveted wild onions!
And while all that is happening, River & Word will be busy preparing for upcoming events, including our 2nd gallery show. But, more on that in a moment.
Documentaries at the Gallery
First, let’s visit the docuseries in-house poet Shelley Nation has brought into our space. We hosted the first of a twelve-part series in January. Thank you to our patrons who joined us for the viewing of Eternal Song. Part one was a preview of shows to come.
Our second viewing will take place on February 18 and dives a bit deeper into the impact of colonialism and the struggle to keep indigenous culture intact. To explore this, we will visit the Aboriginal communities of Australia. It looks like an impactful show is in store for us. We hope you will bring a friend and join us.
Poetry Night Success
Last week our poetry night featured David Jennings, and it makes our hearts swell that attendance and participation have been overwhelmingly positive for our first two poets here at River & Word. We hope to maintain the momentum when our next special guest, Claire Maracle, joins us on March 4. Claire is not just a published poet, but she’s an activist poet, which makes her an incredible human being. She co-founded Poetic Justice, a non-profit that brings creative writing to incarcerated women across the United States. If you’re reading this, you know art is healing, and in hosting Claire we celebrate her and the women she has helped.
Shared Ground: Land, People, and Life in Oklahoma
Now back to that upcoming gallery opening. This is hot off the presses, and you’re the first to learn who the featured artists will be.
We welcome Virgil Lampton and his large, expressive landscapes. Virgil is a retired University of Tulsa Professor of Art who lives in the community of Verdigris, about 20 miles northeast of Tulsa. He still teaches children and adults in that community, but not just painting–he teaches pottery, too. We look forward to his bringing some of his latest earthenware with him as well.
If you go further north from Virgil, you’ll cruise right into Claremore, and that’s where our next artist comes from. Gwen Coleman Lester is an award-winning Choctaw artist whose paintings tell the stories of indigenous life and community. Her work is illustrative and compassionate. Family, community, and culture are recurring themes in Gwen’s paintings, and it’s an honor to welcome her to share that with our patrons.
Last, we have invited our friend George Fulk to show paintings from his latest publication, “More Cherokee County Birds.” George has completed a majority of the paintings featured in the book, but he had a couple of guest artists working with him as well. I worked on this book with George, doing some print formatting and light editing, and I have to say that what George is doing is important to conservation. You just have to see it, and I’m sure he will have some editions on hand at the opening for you to peruse.
You may also see new works by Kathy Tibbits and myself. Join us at 6PM on Friday, March 6, for delicious food, engaging art, and creative community.
Online Shopping Supports River & Word
One last thing. We’ve opened an online store on our website selling t-shirts and mugs. Your order is shipped directly to you, so you don’t even have to stop in! Check it out: https://riverandwordarts.com/shop/
We’re also adding a small gift shop inside the gallery. We should have it ready before the next opening.
We look forward to seeing YOU at one or all of the following dates, and all dates between!
- February 18: Docuseries
- March 4: Poetry Series
- March 6: Gallery Opening
Until we meet again.
Kellie & Shelley
