Tulsa Art Studio Tour Preview Exhibit

[OVAC]

The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition will host a free reception and exhibition to kick off the Tulsa Art Studio Tour, April 3 from 6-9 p.m. at the Circle Cinema. The event will include an exhibition and auction of celebrity-artist collaborations and artwork from the Tulsa Art Studio Tour. The exhibition will be on view April 3 – May 27.

In honor of this year's tour, each artist was paired with a figure in the Tulsa community to create a piece that represented elements of the artists' vision and the other's idea and aesthetic. These works of art will be auctioned off, with half the proceeds going to the charity of the celebrity's choice. Collaborations include:

•   Paul Nosak, star of the Nosak Raw reality series and owner of Nosak Tree service, and W. Maurice Clyma, woodturning.
•   Kristin Dickerson, Channel 8 morning show reporter with Yiren and James Gallagher, painting and photography.
•   Shane Fernandez, vice president of McFarland Davies Architects and chair of Tulsa Young Professionals, and Darshan Phillips and Aaron Whisner of Live4This, graphic design and painting.
•   Mikey Coy, ceramics, with Judge Mark Barcus.
•   Chef Michael Fusco and Elizabeth Downing, photography.
•   Kathy Taylor, Mayor of Tulsa, and Shan Goshorn, photography and painting.
•   Glenda Silvey, KOTV Noon Show anchor, and the Artists at La Maison – Lou Hodgson, oil painting; Mark Lackey, oil and watercolor; Janet Duvall, pastels; Annette Ellis, oil painting; and Tom Richardson, oil painting.
•   Jason Ashley Wright, Tulsa World Scene writer, and Sharyl Landis, mixed media and beadwork
•   Renee and Robert Reed, painting, with Chuck Cissel, musician

This event will kick off the Art Studio Tour itself, which will take place April 12th-13th from 12-5 p.m. Each local Tulsa artist will open the doors to their studios and offer a rare glimpse into the world of working artists. In addition to the collaborative piece, each artist will exhibit one work representative of their particular style so that visitors can choose which studios they would like to visit.

The artists on this year's tour represent a range of media, stages in their careers, and types of studios. Painters, sculptors, photographers, woodturners and beadworkers will show their workspace, pieces in progress, and work from past and future exhibitions. The artists will be available to answer questions, talk about any aspect of their art, and discuss their creative inspirations and what life is like as an artist.

Tickets to the tour include a map and are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are available at Dwelling Spaces, 119 S. Detroit during business hours or at Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis, the days of the Tour. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.TulsaArtStudioTour.org, or by phone at (405) 232-6991. For more information about the Tulsa Art Studio Tour, visit www.TulsaArtStudioTour.org.