Tulsa ART-DECO Museum?

[TheArtist]

I don't have the luxury of attending the meetings that would answer my questions regarding the "Deco" Museum.... So thought I would ask them here.

The Museum will qualify as a 501 C 3, by Right. All Museums do.
Does the venture have someone working on Grant monies? to cover start-up cost, etc.? ....or... is that being covered by fund raisers and private donations?

The other question is this venture being centered around the "Goddess of Oil"  statue? or am I just getting that from the logo?

No offense... but that sort of thing might turn away some very straight laced donors.

Came across the following on the internet...

Nice picture... kinda Gothic.


http://www.goddessofoil.com

Though people liked the Goddess of Oil idea, I had a feeling it was going to be a long hard slog to get her built and at the same time whenever I mentioned the idea of an Art-Deco Museum, it always got an enthusiastic response with people wanting to help. So, when I started coming up with an idea for the museum logo, used what I had and came to the conclusion that I would  likely get the statue built, or just the figure used, as something to go along with the museum than just as the statue alone. Plus I feel more excited as being a part of the museum project myself.  So havent given up on the  Goddess of Oil, just using her in a different fashion and folding her into this larger project.

As for turning away some of the more straight laced donors... I think with her in this "deco" format, it gives people a visual cue that renders her not as "frightening" lol. It works to have the nude in this context,,, and I think once it gets seen more, and people "get used to it", it will be fine. I dont think anyone would think much about it, if it had been built 70 years ago and we had been living with it every day since like the nudes you see in great cities all over the world. I hope the image is striking, classic, and for Tulsa perhaps a bit edgy. It couldn't hurt Tulsa or its image to have something like that.  Plus, from what I can tell, people who usually have a lot of money, this kind of thing doesnt phase them one bit. They often have nude sculptures and paintings in their own homes and gardens.   

For now we will be under the Arts and Humanities council, so checks wont be written to us, they will go to them with a note that its for the Tulsa Art-Deco Museum. Once we have some funds, we can then pay to start up our own 501 C 3 and other things that we will have to pay for to be all independently legal and such. Grant monies, havent even talked about that yet. There is SO much to do.

The website should be up soon. Will post ticket pricing for the Deco Ball.  We have picked out a menu, have a dance act already booked, looking for another and still working on nailing down the band and musical acts. Have some neat ideas for party games as well. We will have a fun art-deco exhibit in the reception area to browse through.

One interesting item. I was meeting with a client this last week.  Saw a couple of large, old timey, car models on a shelf and commented on how I and a "group of friends" were getting together to try and create an Art-Deco Museum for Tulsa. The client said, "Well, if you like those "the cars" take a look at this....." I was led upstairs in this huge house to discover that the top floor had room after room, display case, after display case, shelf after shelf of antique 1920s, 30s, and 40s, model cars, trains, trucks, tractors, etc. They have practically an entire museum worth of absolutely wonderful stuff up there. I was blown away.  These were beautiful old,  large size, often over a foot in size, models. I am not a car buff and such,  but it was a joy to see all the different designs and the deco influence in so many of them. 

I have run into so many different people that have wonderful collections in this city of deco related stuff that could go into this museum. We will have no problem getting an incredibly vast collection of items on loan to display. And they all seem excited about the possibility. But yes, we have some hard work to do up front to get the formal, legal and financial process, board, insurance, etc. nailed down.  And of course a space. Hopefully with a bit of money in hand from the fundraiser, we can have a little more leeway on what spaces downtown or in the Brady District, we can get.   

I know I havent been posting much on the museum and ball lately. But things are moving along. Will have much more to post in a couple of weeks. 

[TheArtist]

           Hello all

                     A lot has happened since my last post.  Our most pressing matter, the Deco Ball has had some changes.  Namely, the date.  We were due to sign contracts and set the date this week with the Mayo, but have come to the realization that we may have been trying to do too much, too quickly. I would have liked to have had the Ball happen before the Holidays, but started to realize that in order to do so we might end up rushing things too much and thus compromise the quality of our event.  First impressions count and we want to make sure our first event is well done.  So, as it stands we are shifting the Ball to February.  This will give us the time we truly need to get things better organized, make sure the website is up, promotional material top notch, get sponsors, and sell more tickets.

                   So now we will do a little regroup and continue working on building our "awareness campaign" for the museum and the Deco Ball, and adding to our list of connections, supporters and friends. 

                    Here is a great article on our efforts in the Urban Tulsa. (ignore the Nov. date for the Ball lol.) http://www.urbantulsa.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A28289

                    Also, if you wish to get a sneak peak of some of the pages that will be part of the websites description of the museum you can see them here.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/tulsaartist/sets/72157622498904901/     Click on the "slideshow" function and then use your "space" key to pause then move from one page to the next. Takes a second or two to get the knack of using the space key so that you dont have the thumbnails covering up the wording.  The website domain is going to be http://www.decopolis.org

[SXSW]

I saw the Urban Tulsa article, very cool and great exposure for the museum.  I was thinking you might try contacting the architecture schools at either OU, OSU, or Arkansas and tell them your plans.  A design and space program for the Art Deco museum utilizing an existing Art Deco building downtown would make an excellent 4th or 5th year project for architecture and/or interior design students and could really inject some student creativity into your project.  Just an idea, if you need any contact info. at OU let me know.

[Conan71]

I saw the Urban Tulsa article, very cool and great exposure for the museum.  I was thinking you might try contacting the architecture schools at either OU, OSU, or Arkansas and tell them your plans.  A design and space program for the Art Deco museum utilizing an existing Art Deco building downtown would make an excellent 4th or 5th year project for architecture and/or interior design students and could really inject some student creativity into your project.  Just an idea, if you need any contact info. at OU let me know.

SXSW, just sent you a PM.

[TheArtist]

I saw the Urban Tulsa article, very cool and great exposure for the museum.  I was thinking you might try contacting the architecture schools at either OU, OSU, or Arkansas and tell them your plans.  A design and space program for the Art Deco museum utilizing an existing Art Deco building downtown would make an excellent 4th or 5th year project for architecture and/or interior design students and could really inject some student creativity into your project.  Just an idea, if you need any contact info. at OU let me know.

Sounds like a fantastic idea. Was thinking of doing some renderings myself, but if someone else could help, that would be great too. Some nice renderings will help people understand what the museum can be like.

I also want to create a set of characters that will be associated with the museum (aka Mickey Mouse/Disney)   Lindy Hopper will be a young girl, lives in a small town outside of Tulsa then goes to the big city of Tulsa.  Her friend Flapper (a scissor-tail flycatcher) will go with her, she will meet a little ruffian (haven't figured out his name yet) and Dapper Dog.   I will use their stories and adventures to teach kids (and adults) about the 20s and 30s, they will meet famous people of the day (perhaps run into them at the Mayo) etc. They can be used in story books, coloring books, be video "tour guides" in the museum, sell toys of them in the gift shop, etc.

There is so much potential with art deco and this time period, its kind of amazing that someone hasn't tapped into it big-time already. I hope to quickly exploit that and claim it for Tulsa. It was recommended to me that I should also call the museum the National Art Deco Museum. There isn't another Art Deco Museum in the states, so go ahead and claim that title and make it ours. 

[pfox]

I attended an exhibition a few years back  in San Fransisco honoring the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes...and most of the Art Deco exhibits there centered around objects; dishes, tea sets, furniture, everyday items...of course architecture was represented as well, but not to the extent I would have imagined.  I guess my point is, these objects will take time and money to gather, but what Tulsa is known for is Art Deco Architecture.  Will your concept be focused on Architecture primarily, or will you try to have a more holistic approach to the genre?

Forgive me if I missed it, but where are you having your "Ball"?  I may know a place....

Patrick

[TheArtist]

I attended an exhibition a few years back  in San Fransisco honoring the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes...and most of the Art Deco exhibits there centered around objects; dishes, tea sets, furniture, everyday items...of course architecture was represented as well, but not to the extent I would have imagined.  I guess my point is, these objects will take time and money to gather, but what Tulsa is known for is Art Deco Architecture.  Will your concept be focused on Architecture primarily, or will you try to have a more holistic approach to the genre?

Forgive me if I missed it, but where are you having your "Ball"?  I may know a place....

Patrick

Yes we will have "objects".  It is hoped that a lot of collectors around town will help by having items on loan to the museum.  I have already met some wonderful collectors of art deco pieces and those who have some Tulsa art deco, architectural artifacts.   I do want to take a broad approach to this museum concept.  I know we are not going to have a large collection of the "finest examples" of art deco artwork at first to put in the "Fine Arts Gallery" section of the museum.   There is so much else we can do that will allow people to see and enjoy the wonderful array of art deco art. For instance, with idea of showcasing how people lived during that era, we can recreate the architecture and add in furnishings and every day items of less than perfect "museum" quality.  We can always upgrade as things move along, but the main point to me is to show the look, the feel, the time period, the history and artistry in an enjoyable and engaging manner.

Its not just about a smattering of objects d'art, but the entire era, the world in which art deco played a part. You could have a room of the time period for instance that had no art deco in it, but our particular slant will be to show a room, actually 2 entire homes, from that time having as many items as possible in the art deco style. Perhaps no home would have actually had every item be art deco in style, (not just the typewriter but the ribbon case as well, toothbrush and toothpaste package, fireplace mantle and screen and tools ,furniture, fixtures, toys, utensils, appliances, etc.) but thats not the point lol.  

In this respect, the museum will be both about the 20s and 30s, and art deco. This will broaden what we can do. Advertisements and movies from the era, dance and music, all are part of this world. Many of the Ziegfield follies and Busby Berkleley films had a decidedly art deco look and style to the backgrounds, costumes, etc.  

Essentially we will be creating a slightly, fantastically imagined, world in which everything is of the era, and all art deco.


 We have moved the date of the ball to February in order to have more time to make sure our first event is something done well.  Currently we are looking to have the event in the Mayo Hotel. We will nail down an exact date soon.  If you have any ideas, would love to hear them.  

[pfox]

For what it is worth...The Mayo is fantastic, but it is not Art Deco.

This lobby, however, is...

[TheArtist]

How much ya want for it? 

[SXSW]

I just saw the interview in Oklahoma Magazine, very nice!  Any new possibilities for a museum location yet?

You even gave a shout out to TNF!  "I had been involved as a board member of Tulsa Now and their aims of working to make Tulsa a better city, but I wanted to find a project that I could take on as my own".

[Conan71]

I just saw the interview in Oklahoma Magazine, very nice!  Any new possibilities for a museum location yet?

You even gave a shout out to TNF!  "I had been involved as a board member of Tulsa Now and their aims of working to make Tulsa a better city, but I wanted to find a project that I could take on as my own".

You are, of course, coming to the Deco Ball on the 27th, yes?

[SXSW]

You are, of course, coming to the Deco Ball on the 27th, yes?

Unfortunately no, I have the first of two weekend classes that constitute 3 of the 6 hours I lack to finish my Master's.  I was hoping it wouldn't conflict when the date was moved...

Once I'm in Tulsa full-time, hopefully soon, I'd like to get more involved.  Until then, good luck William and everyone involved in bringing this museum to reality. 

[TheArtist]

  If you havent checked out our new facebook page for the DECOPOLIS and Deco Ball, here it is...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tulsa-OK/DECOPOLIS-Tulsa-Art-Deco-Museum/251010291730?ref=ts

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=254441702117&ref=mf

Become a friend if you arent already, and of course tell your friends about us as well.

Here is our facebook photo album with our vision for the museum...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3552280&id=251010291730






Here is the Oklahoma Magazine article....

http://www.okmag.com/currentissue/index.cfm?

[Conan71]

Great job, William!

[TheArtist]

I just saw the interview in Oklahoma Magazine, very nice!  Any new possibilities for a museum location yet?

None yet.  A lot of my focus lately has been on getting our first fundraiser off the ground.  Though this first event is kind of a small "starter event" for us, helping us learn the ropes and pushing us to make progress on several fronts,,, its still taken up a fair bit of my time lol.  But I have heard some great suggesions for some things we can do until we get our first space.  We can showcase temporary exhibits in local art galleries.  We could even do some wonderful window displays downtown.  Rex Ball recently sent me an article showing how in another city some organizations had done window displays and exhibits in unused spaces at their local mall. There are all kinds of things our museum can do until we get a permanent space so that we can have a presence, be visible and share some fun and interesting Art Deco exhibits.  Doing these "practice" things will also enable us the time to grow and nurture our organization, raise more money, gather together different collectors and collections, start building a collection of our own, etc. so that when we do get a more permanent space, we will be just that much further along in being able to make really good use of it.