Western Perspectives: Fine Arts Blog

Masters of Influence: Charles Loloma

MOI - Friday at Lovetts Gallery from 5:00-8:00 pm

 

 

 

Dozens of artists from across the nation pay homage to a modern master of fine art, the iconic Hopi jeweler, Charles Loloma (1921-1992) in an annual juried competitive exhibit and sale, the "Masters of Influence" invitational.

On Friday evening, June 19th, from 5:00-8:00 pm, each artist will present a single work in their field, whether it be traditional oil landscape, fused glass, contemporary metal sculpture, or complex mixed-media, influenced by the undeniable mastery of this years chosen Master of Influence, Charles Loloma.

"I wish to create a relationship between the earth and myself. Sometimes we do not realize what we are kicking over. I want to make the soul come out" - Charles Loloma. We, too, hope to make the soul come out of these artists’ works.

Each year a new Master of Influence is chosen. Each year our artists will be challenged to move beyond their own style, medium, and scope of familiarity, no doubt, yielding astonishing works.

We hope you choose to be a part of this momentous exhibition, juried competition, and sale. In addition to the Best in Show and the sponsored Patron Award, we need your vote for the Collector's Choice Award.

Lovetts Gallery will host the 2009 “Masters of Influence” Juried Invitational on Friday, June 19th from 5:00 - 8:00 pm.

The exhibition will hang through July 19th. All works will be available for purchase

Third Thursday: Molly Murphy @ Philbrook Museum

Molly was this year's Best in Show recipient at the Heard Indian Market in Phoenix, AZ.  In addition to her visit to the Philbrook, Lovetts will be meeting with Molly on Friday afternoon to discuss representing her in Oklahoma!!!

Molly Murphy
Thursday, May 21, 2009
6 pm to 8 pm
Free with museum admission
 
Nationally acclaimed artist Molly Murphy takes traditional Native American art materials and techniques to a new level.  Responding to current social issues, she breaks convention to create work that’s fresh, funny, and beautiful.  Experiment with her materials, watch her process in action as she creates art on site, and then learn more about her work in a discussion.  Presented in conjunction with the Native American Art Circle.

State of the Art: Jeff Hayes on Todd Ford

Check out this great critique and interview with Todd Ford by artist and blogger Jeff Hayes.

May Guest Artist: Todd Ford

"As I was trying to sum this all up, I took another look over his paintings, and one word leapt to mind: elegant."



Todd Ford
“Stink Eye”
Oil on Canvas, 30 x 30 inches

"In terms of pure visual pleasure, Todd Ford’s paintings rank among my personal favorites."

 

(Tulsa, May. 22nd, 2009) -- Lovetts Foundation for the Arts (LFA) is proud to bring to Tulsa one of the nation’s most prominent experts on American Indian Jewelry, Diana Pardue, author of the new book “Contemporary Southwestern Jewelry.”

The public is invited to join Diana Pardue, Curator of Collections at the Heard Museum in Phoenix , as she explores the life and work of the iconic Hopi jeweler Charles Loloma.

In addition to Diana’s curatorial and academic contributions, “Loloma: A Future Contoured” will offer a unique perspective: Loloma’s work as seen not only through the well-known Heard collection, but also through the recently-acquired Adkins collection at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, OK 

“This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate one of the most important innovators in Native American art of the 20th Century. With his unique sense of design and use of such materials as gold, lapis lazuli, and fossilized ivory among other things, Loloma pushed the boundaries of traditional Native jewelry specifically and art in general. Diana Pardue offers a critical look at some of Loloma’s early work represented in the Adkins Collection, and its impact among Native artists today.” – Christina E. Burke, Curator of Native American & Non-Western Art, Philbrook Museum of Art

Lovetts Gallery will host the LFA Gallery Talk Series on Friday, May 22nd from 5-7pm.  The discussion will begin promptly at 5:30.

For additional information on Lovetts Foundation for the Arts and the Tulsa Community Foundation visit http://www.lovettsfoundation.org

For additional information on Lovetts Gallery visit http://www.lovettsgallery.com

Friday April 24th...Jewelry: No Lines, No Production...

this...is...amazing!!!

OAC: Leadership Arts, Session 2

I am preparing to head up to Bartlesville for session 2 of the state sponsored Oklahoma Leadership Arts program.  Along with 32 additional Oklahoma arts advocates, we will be focusing on Arts Education and Cultural Districts.  I am particularly looking forward to this session because I am staying in the world famous Inn at Price Tower.  In addition, we will be spending time in the museum and with curator Scott Perkins.  Unfortunately my wife and child could not make it for this trip so I plan to take a ton of photos and update my Facebook and Twitter.  If you are not currently follwing us on Facebook and Twitter, please feel free to add us (Waylon Summers)!

NWB: Jeremy Lepisto, This Friday...

Friday Evening, March 20th, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

 

N e w   W o r k s   b y :   J e r e m y   L e p i s t o

Horizons 1, 2, & 3 by Jeremy Lepisto
Blown & Enameled Glass, Fabricated Steel (Water Tower Series)

 

Nine new works by the internationally acclaimed contemporary glass sculptor Jeremy Lepisto.  Featuring works from his Water Tower, Bridge, and Building Block Series'.

 

Please stop in after work or on your way to dinner to share a glass of wine or coffee and spend a few moments with the complex blown and kilnformed works of Jeremy Lepisto.

Southwestern Indian Jewelry by Dexter Cirillo

Southwestern Indian Jewelry:  Creating New Traditions

by Dexter Cirillo

 

Last night we spent a pleasurable evening at the venerable Gilcrease Museum listening to a presentation on contemporary southwestern Native American jewelry by author Dexter Cirillo.  Currently on a book signing and speaking engagement tour, Gilcrease and Tulsa were pleased to have Dexter, who is also a native Oklahoman born in Durant, back in our state after such an extended departure.  Dexter, who holds a Ph.D. in English from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, has recently published her second book on southwestern jewelry, Southwestern Indian Jewelry: Creating New Traditions.  This particular collection encompasses more than 80 contemporary Native American jewelers from 18 tribes including familiar names like Liz Wallace, Myron Panteah, Jared Chavez (participating in our April show "Jewelry: No Lines, No Production"), Kee Yazzi, Dylan Poblano, etc.

 

Dexter introduced herself by providing a little context for the book as well as her background as a collector and author.  She then proceeded through each of the three chapters providing images on a projector as well as anecodtal information about each of the participating artists, whom she interviewed each personally.  Below are a few intersting quotes form the evening:

 

- "Southwestern Indian Jewelry is a about adornment."

-  SW Native jewelry is a "window into the ceremonial life."

-  I wanted to "celebrate Native flora in noble metals" - Liz Wallace

- "Love the metal and it will love you back." - Myron Panteah quoting Hirotoshi Itoh

 

Dexter touched on the "Revival Style" movement, which is a return to the more "traditional" aesthetic of turquoise and silver work, but with subtle hints of the contemporary.  An example of this can be seen in the work of Perry Shorty, known for his method of collecting coins by Charles Barber, melting them down into ingot bars, then pounding them out into sheets for use in his designs.  She also talked a good deal about the dynamic duo of Yazzie Johnson and Gail Bird, attributing a phasic shift in contemporary jewelry to a Best of Show winner in the 1981 Heard Museum Indian Market.

 

Overall, a very enjoyable and enlightening evening, particulalry for the less well-versed collector of Native Southwestern Jewelry.  The beautifully photographed book (courtesy of Addison Doty) spans an immense amount of work and information and is a must have for any collector, curator, and gallery.  The hardback book is available via Amazon and retails for $55.00. 

 

Lastly, if one was looking for a few "collector suggestions," two things.  Early uses of Gaspiate and current shifts in Hopi overlay...that's all I'm sayin'!

Urban Tulsa: Challenge Accepted

Holly Wall, freelance arts writer, works over the Spring Perspective in this weeks Urban Tulsa.

Gallery's springtime exhibit brings a swath of fresh, unconventional creations

 

"Fine arts are in survival mode as funds dry up" - USA Today

Andrea Stone, of USA Today, from two days ago:

"The downturn walloping the entire economy has hit non-profit arts organizations especially hard. With millions of people scrambling to pay for food and other basics, a night at the opera can seem frivolous. So museums, symphonies, theaters, ballet companies and opera companies have cut staff, canceled performances, shortened seasons and, in some cases, shut down."

http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/2009-03-01-artseconomy_N.htm

hmmm...I see a glaring conflict here...who are the people who fund most of these non-profit ventures?  I would venture that it is not "millions of people scrambling to pay for food and other basics."  This isn't the only flaw in this much regurgitated argument, however, feel free to read the article and draw your own conclusions, but I would stop there...the commentary is unbearable.