Philbrook to open satellite facility downtown.

[Kenosha]

I'll bet we will hear something regarding the proposed contemporary facility soon.  I'll also be willing to bet that the Kaiser Found. has something to do with that as well.

KOTV report video

[sgrizzle]

I like the brady rendering and the tribune expansion. I would hope something like the matthews rendering could happen as drawn.

[PonderInc]

The Tulsa World article made it sound like the Kaiser Foundation is purchasing the entire building.  This is false.

I spoke with Ken Busby, Executive Director of the Arts and Humanities Council today, and he gave me permission to post the following information on the TulsaNow forum:

From Ken:
"As you read the article, it implies that the George Kaiser Family Foundation is purchasing the entire warehouse to develop a multi-purpose art center. Ken Levit assures me that other than the 15,000 square feet that they are donating to Philbrook to house the Adkins collection, they have no definitive plans for its use -- and wish to develop it in concert with our visual arts center.

I have a meeting next week, on July 25 with Rand Suffolk, the director of Philbrook, and Annie Van Hanken from the Kaiser Foundation to discuss collaborative endeavors.  This meeting was set up three weeks ago.  And I understood that any announcement about the Adkins collection and our visual arts center would come after this meeting.

This article created great consternation for those familiar with our project, and Kathy and I have received numerous calls and e-mails from artists, the media, etc., inquiring if our project is going forward or if the Kaiser Foundation is taking over the entire project.  Ken Levit apologized profusely, stating that they only learned about the press conference and story on Friday -- and that David Boren was driving the timetable and agenda.

Our attorney on this project, Michael Graves, has just sent me a lease agreement between the Council and the Tulsa Development Authority to review, putting the West Half of the Mathews Warehouse under our control.  After the Executive Committee reviews this contract, we will sign it and move forward.

The Advisory Board for the visual arts center will meet this Friday, July 20, and we will review this information with them.

From the beginning, as is incumbent in our mission, the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa has maintained an effort to work with other arts organizations to make the arts accessible for all Tulsans. As you know, we are actively working with these entities to partner in all components of the visual arts center and will continue to do so with the belief that this opportunity to create an entire city block dedicated to arts programming in the Brady Arts District will be a win-win for everyone involved.

Kathy and I would be happy to visit with you about any concerns or suggestions.  We plan to move forward with our project over the next ten months, working through the various stages of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation planning grant that we received, and focusing on setting the stage for a successful capital campaign.

Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support."

My own personal commentary (not Ken's): Perhaps Boren was in a hurry to announce some good news related to OU after last weeks news of NCAA sanctions and major violations by the OU football team...?  So like the Boomers/Sooners (I get them confused), he decided to "jump the gun" with this news release?

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by Okie2

I'm just curious why the collection was not donated to the Gilcrease museum. The collection fits with the purpose of Gilcrease, and Mr. Atkins several years ago stated that he intended to give it to the Gilcrease museum. But now a few months after the mayor announced the need of a major reorganization of Gilcrease due to it being in disarray, the Gilcrease has missed out on a major donation. Things are not looking good for the museum.

I know that this collection is small in comparison to the Gilcrease collection, and may not have gotten as much notice. But due to the high quality of the collections it would still have been displayed in a prominent way... The whole thing is puzzling too me, like there is something we are not being told.

Just watched a news clip on KOTV-6.  In it they stated that they requested and got proposals from several museums. Some of which, like Tucsons proposal, would have put the collection in a historic building in central Tucson. We are apparently fortunate that OSU and Philbrook put together the winning proposal. (Not that they didn't have a bit of home turf advantage to begin with) However this OSU Philbrook proposal is a good one.

As for Gilcrease, I really think they need to be shook up a bit. It is a world class museum, let me rephrase that, it is a world class collection of art and artifacts in a mediocre facility run by "too many cooks in the kitchen". Unless they were planning a major expansion to hold this collection it could get lost and shuffled away. I have heard it said that Gilcrease has more western art and artifacts in its basement than most museums have in total.

Gilcrease needs a major overhaul. The first thing you notice when visiting is the parking lot. Sad, sad, sad. Then you walk up to a very uninspiring, out-dated, structure. The interior is well kept but there are sections that you can tell where the art appears to be put into rooms that really werent intended to be used for art. The over all plan appears to be, and indeed is, an assortment of rambling additions.

The collection at Gilcrease is to me the finest collection of art in the state, and probably the greatest collection of western art in the world, but is sorely let down by its home. Its not a terrible facility, but that collection in a great facility could be stunning in its quality, scope, and magnitude. It would easily rival any museum in the region and put to shame the american indian museum on the mall in DC, which has an impressive facility, but a comparative pittance of art and artifacts.

http://www.kotv.com/e-clips/?id=7277

[Okie2]

I agree with your assessment. The Gilcrease is a world-class "collection" and a mediocre facility. A museum building should reflect the quality of the collection that resides inside, and the Gilcrease building simply does not do that. But it's a shame that a collection valued at over a billion dollars is mostly in storage. In listening to David Boren talk about Mr. Atkins' wishes, one thing quoted Mr. Atkins saying was he didn't want the collection to sit in storage. That may be the main reason Gilcrease didn't get the collection. I do wish that Tulsa build a facility that would truly be "world class".

[cannon_fodder]

I agree with your assessment of the Gilcrease facility.  It certainly is adequate for displaying things, the grounds are fantastic, and the views amazing.  But the building does not present the same sense of awe that the collection does.

I suppose given their mission of collecting, preserving and sharing American Indian art and heritage, they choose to invest in the collection over the building.

[RecycleMichael]

It is a great place to have a dinner party, reception, etc. I have been to many a fine affair in the Vista Room.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I agree with your assessment of the Gilcrease facility.  It certainly is adequate for displaying things, the grounds are fantastic, and the views amazing.  But the building does not present the same sense of awe that the collection does.

I suppose given their mission of collecting, preserving and sharing American Indian art and heritage, they choose to invest in the collection over the building.

"THEY choose to invest in the collection over the building."  Perhaps it needs to be a WE should invest in a good building that better displays this wonderful collection. However the voice and push for such an initiative would most suitably start with them, if they were so inclined.