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OVAC Exhibitions: 20 YEARS OF OKLAHOMAN ART by Julia Kirt
HISTORY The same year that the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition was founded, 1988, the Oklahoma Arts Council kicked off a new exhibition meant to transform the public’s view of Oklahoma artists: VisionMakers. What a propitious year of new opportunities for artists. An exhibition focused on high craft, VisionMakers excited artists around the state with the prospect of cash awards and significant curators viewing their artwork. Spearheaded by Oklahoma Arts Council director Betty Price, VisionMakers focused on craft media, defined in the first call for entries as glass, clay, paper, wood, metal, fiber, etc. Early documents state that the purpose of the exhibition was that Oklahoma artists were “often recognized in prestigious competitions and exhibitions across the country” but there was a “lack of recognition for these artists within the state.” This impetus along with a need to show the public the talent within state lines helped form the Oklahoma Visual
Arts Coalition’s (OVAC) exhibition program for the next 20 years.
they were excited about how successful the exhibition had been.
The first VisionMakers exhibition was shown at both Kirkpatrick Center and the Philbrook Museum of Art and was funded by several major corporate sponsors. OVAC gave the Oklahoma Arts Council, a state agency, the first OVAC Distinguished Achievement Award for creating VisionMakers.
McNeese said OVAC never had any intention of having a gallery space, but taking on an exhibition made sense because of the common mission of quality support for artists. This move meant OVAC has sought gallery and museum partners to host the exhibition.
After two successful exhibitions the Oklahoma Arts Council approached OVAC to take over organizing VisionMakers in 1990. They agreed to change it to a biennial exhibition to increase submissions and encourage new artwork. OVAC Founder and Executive Director John McNeese said that when approached, OVAC was excited to begin organizing the exhibition. He said at the time OVAC was still young and developing its focus. The board and McNeese agreed that the exhibition fulfilled their primary goal of money for artist through the sizable cash prizes. Plus, Ken Little, 1988
Richard Bivins, 1988
After hosting VisionMakers at the Oklahoma City Art Museum for several years, McNeese said the museum directors changed several times. It was uncertain if VisionMakers would still be hosted there and so OVAC started working with other venues. Throughout the run of VisionMakers and the Oklahoma Painting Biennial, OVAC has worked with 12 different galleries. McNeese instigated the Oklahoma Painting Biennial in 1991 to bring the same kind of respect to painters. He approached Brunel Faris and the Oklahoma City University Hulsey Gallery to host the first two exhibitions. DJ Lafon, 1991 Bob Hawks, 1991
Stephanie Grubbs, 1988 1989
1988
1988 Richard Copeland, 1988
EXHIBITION FACTS VisionMakers 1988 Awards: Susan Hamlet, Ken Little, Richard Copeland Jurors: Marcia Manhart, Executive Director, The Philbrook Museum of Art, Tom Toperzer, Director, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, and Eudora M. Moore, Consultant, former Crafts Coordinator for the NEA and Curator of Design for the Pasadena Art Museum Locations: Kirkpatrick Center, OKC & Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa
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VisionMakers 1989 Awards: Kreg Kallenberger, Jeff Hammill, George Wilson Juror: Michael Wesley Monroe, curator at the Renwick Gallery Location: Bank of Oklahoma Tower Oklahoma Painting Biennial I: 1991 Awards: Carol Beesley, George Bogart, Rebecca Friedman Juror: Jim Waid, artist, Tucson, Arizona Location: Hulsey Gallery, Oklahoma City University
Kathy McRuiz, 1989 VisionMakers 1991 Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition takes over organization of exhibition.
David Roberts, 1991
Awards: D.J. Lafon, V’Lou Oliveira, Tom Pershall, David M. Roberts, Eliza Tillie Woods Juror: John Perrault, Senior Curator, American Craft Museum Location: Oklahoma City Art Museum at the Fairgrounds