Hot List: Artists to know and see in OKC

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HOT LIST

Artists to know and see in OKC BY BEN LUSCHEN P.22 | COVER IMAGE BY MARCUS MUSE

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inside COVER P.22 OKC’s art community is eclectic and expansive. Here are eight visual artists you should know right now.

By Ben Luschen. Cover image by Marcus Muse.

NEWS 4

Metro Regional Transit Authority

6

Education Aspasia Carlson,

8

City OKC Council mulls project

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Education Academic Alliance Institute funds teacher-student tutoring

Oklahoma Principal of the Year funding and MAPS’ future

11 Letters

12 Chicken-Fried News

EAT & DRINK 15 Review Legacy Grill

16 Feature metro farmers markets 17 Meet the Brewer Iron Monk 19 Briefs

20 Gazedibles marathon meals

ARTS & CULTURE 22 Cover artists to know right now

24 Culture Cinco do Mayo at Plaza

Mayor at the Crossroads

25 Art Steamroller Print Fest 25 Art Edmond Arts Festival

26 Art National Cowboy & Western

Heritage Museum’s Hollywood and the American West

28 Theater Oklahoma City Theatre

Company’s Hir

28 Theater Pollard Theatre

Company’s The Producers

29 Active OKC Memorial Marathon

30 Active Martin Park Nature Center

and Will Rogers Garden Exhibition Center renovations

31 Books local author Gwendolyn

Hooks wins NAACP Image Award

31 Youth Science Museum

Oklahoma’s Off the Beaten Path exhibit

32 Calendar

MAY 13

7PM

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MUSIC 34 Event OKG’s interview with iconic

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35 Event 51st Street Speakeasy

hosts Selena de Mayo

36 Event Explosions in the Sky at

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37 Live music

FUN 37 Astrology

38 Puzzles sudoku | crossword

OKG Classifieds 39

Gazette Weekly Winner! Deneen Nault To claim your tickets, call 528-6000

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NEWS John Johnson speaks at the 2015 signing of a historic agreement to create a task force that would develop

METRO

a Regional Transit Authority. | Photo Gazette / file

Transit growth

Elected leaders and ACOG staff make moves on the Regional Transit Authority. By Laura Eastes

It’s no secret that urban living has undergone immense changes in Oklahoma City over the past few years with no signs of slowing down. People moving into urban neighborhoods are interested in reduced commute times and mass transit. Much the same can be said about the greater Oklahoma City population, which is forecasted to add 453,000 residents and grow transportation challenges over the next 30 years. These two trends are happening with a firm eye toward significant investment in the metro’s transportation system.

We can all envision a day when we are going to have some level of commuter rail. Mick Cornett Across the nation, Americans are driving less and embracing public transit. Since 1995, public transit ridership has increased by 37 percent, according to the American Public Transportation Association. Trends have shown riders support efficient transit systems, especially those that offer a safe, rapid and reliable way to travel. Since the turn of the millennium, leaders from the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) and the Central Oklahoma Transportation & Parking Authority (COTPA) and, later, elected officials from across the metro began moving the transit conversation toward modernization. Little time has been spent on road widening and repairs; instead, the group 4

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discussed rapid bus transit, city bus enhancements, streetcar systems and commuter rail. “The days of pulling up your vehicle to the front door of the post office are numbered. It will become less and less of an option, and we have to adjust our mindset,” said ACOG executive director John G. Johnson. “For the average person, they might prefer to sit back on a train or bus and, over the course of their commute, check emails or read.” Over the years, after the experts weighed in and further studies were completed, ACOG had an action plan for the future of transportation and accessibility in the metro. It calls for a Regional Transit Authority, an agency responsible for the metro’s mass transit operations. Now, a transit system designed to move people from Edmond to Norman and from Nichols Hills to Midwest City might be closer to reality than ever before. “We began the discussion in 2005, but it has accelerated over the last four years,” said John Sharp, ACOG director of transportation and planning services. “There is light at the end of the tunnel.”

In December 2015, Del City, Edmond, Midwest City, Moore, Norman and Oklahoma City mayors pledged their support in participating in a task force to create the area’s Regional Transit Authority, an agency responsible for the mass transit operations. Task force members now seek a consultant to further guide the committee in developing the authority, its policies, services and funding stream. Johnson said emphasis will be given for a consultant with experience in successfully launching a transit authority and building an authority that can expand and adapt as community needs change. “It’s another big step,” said Johnson, who referred to the 2015 agreement as a historic step. The consultant is expected to take between 12 and 18 months to create the RTA proposal, which would go before each of the six councils for approval. Along the way, the consultant — working closely with ACOG officials and the task force — will propose a funding stream. Following the passage of 2014’s House Bill 2480, a regional transit authority can draw tax boundaries by precincts closest to proposed rail or street car lines. Before the passage of the bill, the authority would have had to be built around city and county boundaries, which wouldn’t have worked well in the case of the OKC metro. The authority will need taxpayers’ help. Through a ballot question, voters would decide whether or not to create a dedicated sales tax for the regional transit authority.

Positive start

For 30 years, metro OKC’s transportation system has been barebones, Johnson said. Public transit has mostly served the working poor, many of whom otherwise

have no other options for travel. Meanwhile, the middle and upper classes rely on their own vehicles, fight congestion, waste time in traffic jams and emit pollution. In 2005, as OKC’s urban core continued to flourish under private and public renewal projects and the population began to grow, the area’s first transportation study laying the foundation for a mass transit network began to circulate. Crafted by ACOG and COTPA, the 2030 Fixed Guideway Study called for bus enhancements, bus rapid transit, rail-based transportation and a downtown streetcar system. Years later, OKC voters backed a streetcar proposal as one of eight quality-of-life projects for MAPS 3. In February, when city and community leaders broke ground to begin construction of the MAPS 3 Modern Streetcar, Mayor Mick Cornett stated OKC was moving away from its carcentric ways. “You might ask yourself, ‘Why are we bringing the streetcars back to Oklahoma City? Isn’t that from a distant day?’” Cornett asked. “We can all envision a day when we are going to have some level of commuter rail.” OKC residents’ enthusiasm for a streetcar system is a good sign as the discussions on commuter rail, enhanced bus services and more streetcar systems continue. Still, Johnson and others at ACOG believe there will need to be a major shift in perception of transportation for the Regional Transit Authority to be successful. Sharp believes that’s possible for those commuting to work or just getting around the OKC metro. “Imagine it’s [a University of Oklahoma] football game day and you want to travel down to Norman without fighting traffic and struggling to find a place to park,” Sharp said. “The answer is a train. … We haven’t had to think that way yet, but we are getting there.”

Consultant step

In the most recent transit proposal, ACOG called for commuter rail services from Norman and Edmond into downtown Oklahoma City. Streetcar lines would extend east from downtown into Midwest City and Tinker Air Force Base and north along Classen Boulevard to Nichols Hills. It’s a plan that stands to benefit the city’s entire urban core, and also cities like Edmond, Del City, Midwest City, Moore and Norman.

Morning traffic along Interstate 35 by downtown Oklahoma City. | Photo Laura Eastes

E D U C AT I O N

Second job

As the state’s public education crisis continues, a local teacher creates a nonprofit that pays educators to tutor struggling students. By Laura Eastes

A line from a recent email resonated with educator Ryan Schweikhart, who founded Academic Alliance Institute in late 2016. A parent of a struggling 10thgrade student wrote, “I can’t think of anything else to do.” It described what the south Oklahoma City elementary teacher hears from his students’ parents, who struggle in their own ways to aid their children with reading assignments or science projects. Some didn’t finish high school, others don’t speak English as their primary language and one is illiterate. These families still strongly desire for their kids to succeed, and they yearn for academic aid. Those com ments inspired Schweikhart to create a nonprofit for families in need. It pays teachers $20 per hour to tutor students outside of school hours. “I want to help those people who are crying for help for their children,” said Schweikhart, who has spent the last eight years teaching in local classrooms.

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Academic Alliance Institute utilizes a two-pronged approach to relieve aspects of Oklahoma’s educational crisis. What bothers Schweikhart more than students falling behind in schoolwork as fewer state dollars flow into classrooms is hearing peers contemplate leaving the profession for reasons including low salaries, long hours, large class sizes and inadequate classroom resources. Those who stay often take second jobs to pay their bills. “Teachers in Oklahoma can’t survive on teacher pay alone,” he said. “A lot of teachers have to find supplemental income by taking second jobs that have nothing to do with education. … I want to help teachers focus solely on education and further develop their skills.” In addition to teaching fourth-graders at Oklahoma City’s Bodine Elementary School, Schweikhart dedicates his free time to building Academic Alliance Institute, including recruiting financial supporters.

Ryan Schwikhart, Oklahoma City teacher and Academic Alliance Institute founder | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Following a contentious 2016 election cycle that featured a ballot question on boosting teacher salaries, he said, donations have been light. His goal is to raise $200,000 to kick off the service in August with the new academic year. Funding would cover teacher wages, and no family would be asked to pay for the service. Four months after Academic Alliance Institute went live on social media, Schweikhart has replied to dozens of emails from teachers eager to become tutors and from parents seeking their services. The emails from parents, coupled with his own classroom experiences, keep Schweikhart committed to launching the service, even if he falls short of his fundraising goal.

Deep state funding cuts, the loss of teacher positions and ballooning class sizes further hurt students who struggle academically. For many, additional tutoring is needed to remain on gradelevel or to close achievement gaps, but tutoring is an expensive and unrealistic option for many low-income families. “Every child is different, every child is unique and every child, at one point, could use some one-on-one tutoring,” Schweikhart said. “With Academic Alliance Institute, every child will get that one-on-one and the learning opportunity that they deserve.” Visit academicallianceinstitute.org.

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NEWS John Marshall Mid-High Principal Aspasia Carlson is Oklahoma High School Principal of the Year. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

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Aspasia Carlson remembers her first impressions of John Marshall Mid-High when she entered the northwest Oklahoma City school more than seven years ago. “There was a palpable feeling of tension,” said Carlson, who has served as the school’s principal since June 2011. “People were just not happy. You didn’t hear teachers and staff supporting one another or enjoying one another. It wasn’t a happy place for anybody — students, teachers, support staff or administrators. There was a culture of disrespect. I knew that was the first thing I had to tackle.”

Listening to learn

Carlson, who began her education career as an English teacher in Dallas Independent School District, recognized changes weren’t going to be easy, even if they were for the better. Determined to turn around a low-performing school, but also help students get a better education and lead fulfilling lives, Carlson’s very first action was simply modeling respectful behavior. Qualities like respect and responsibility began to spread among the more than 700 students. Next, Carlson sought out what people did or didn’t like about the school, what needed work and the school’s strengths. She paid close attention to responses from staff, students, parents and community members alike. “I tried to do more listening than talking,” Carlson said.

Establishing equality

With more than three-quarters of students living in impoverished households, John Marshall, part of Oklahoma City Public Schools, qualifies for federal Title 1 funds to help boost achievement.

Carlson didn’t need to look at established federal programs to get a sense of the poverty in the urban school. Its effects were obvious and directly linked to students’ educational success. Then there were the inequalities of educational offerings. Carlson knew she had to work to ensure that John Marshall students received the same high-quality education as students in nearby affluent communities. To challenge the inequality, Carlson began to tell John Marshall’s story in grant applications, meetings with potential corporate partners and during community conversations. Her efforts ushered in a new era of opportunities and learning. A $439,000 grant from the National Math and Science Initiative made way for growing the school’s AP program from one course to 13. Students benefited from the college-level courses and earning college credit hours at no cost. A unique partnership with the University of Central Oklahoma made way for the Academy of Finance. It puts students on a career pathway while also receiving hands-on experience by offering tax preparation services to the community. Neighbors and alumni began tutoring students, eventually leading to an established partnership with Nichols Hills United Methodist Church, which operates the school’s food pantry and clothing closet for students in need. “My thought was the worst that could happen is they say no,” Carlson said of her tactic to bring the community into the school. Large donation checks from Devon Energy, Oklahoma City Thunder, Wes Welker Foundation and others are prominently displayed inside the school lobby. Outside, signs share news of the proposed John Marshall West-Davidson

Carlson believes that when schools and local organizations work together to support learning, everyone benefits. Community involvement, coupled with strong classroom experiences from dedicated educators, has proven to be a major factor in students’ improved achievement and behavior. “Our goal is to close that equity gap for our kids, increase achievement and meet the needs of every student,” she explained. “We want to really prepare them for college, the military or wherever they might choose to go.” With John Marshall’s focus on learning, its collaborative culture with the community and rising state test scores, it has lured interest from state education and district leaders. More recently, the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals named Carlson its Oklahoma Principal of the Year, which entitles her to national recognition. In September, Carlson, along with the top principals from each state, District of Columbia and U.S. territories, will be honored at the Principal’s Institute in the nation’s capital. There, National Association of Secondary School Principals will name a Principal of the Year. Carlson approaches the new role as a voice for principals, teachers, students, parents and community members. Like many in Oklahoma education, she is frustrated with state leaders’ decisions on education funding. Fewer state dollars forced Carlson to cut her staff by 20 percent, which included eliminating the ninth and 10th grades’ assistant principal position a year ago. She knows cuts are coming again and those cuts impact student extracurricular activities, a driver of student engagement in her school. Carlson made her concerns known to several state lawmakers. She plans to continue her advocacy as the state’s top principal. “We have to find a way to turn this around in Oklahoma,” Carlson said. “We are really condemning ourselves to a very poor future — poor intellectually, poor economically and poor socially.” Everything Carlson does is with her students’ best interests in mind. When Carlson reflected on student successes and even tragedies, pride and adoration filled her demeanor and voice. John Marshall is a school where youths want to participate and are empowered to pursue their futures, Carlson said. “Are things perfect?” She asked. “No, they are not. We can improve and we are always looking for ways to improve. However, John Marshall, today is very different from where it was seven years ago.”

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NEWS Ralph Ellison Library is one of four libraries that could benefit from the proposed 2017 general obligation bond program. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

impact the city, every neighborhood and every citizen within the 620 square miles,” Shadid said as he explained how his proposal would boost funding across all city departments and meet fire and police staffing requirements.

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Multiple choice

OKC voters could go to the polls in September to vote on a bond referendum and a possible MAPS tax. By Laura Eastes

For several months, Oklahoma City Council members have been working toward bringing a 2017 General Obligation Bond program to voters. Since 1989, city leaders have turned to general obligation bonds, or GO bonds, to fund thousands of capital improvement projects — from street and drainage projects to new construction of fire and police stations, libraries and parks — through property taxes. Whether a bond referendum appears on the Sept. 12 ballot still isn’t a sure thing. The council, which has expressed strong support for a 2017 bond program, has until June 20 to call an election. If it does make the ballot, the program could cost anywhere from $400 million to $1.4 billion, depending on the bond term and tax rate. Under a proposal unveiled at an April 18 GO bond program council workshop, voters would vote on the referendum as well as the future of the 1-cent MAPS (Metropolitan Area Projects) capital improvement sales tax. Mayor Mick Cornett advanced a plan to extend the tax for 27 months. When combined with the GO bond program, MAPS would tackle citizens’ top complaint: streets. “Our citizens clearly have talked about st reet i mprovement s, streetscapes, bike lanes and trails as their No. 1 priority,” City Manager Jim Couch said as he introduced the mayor’s proposal. “This would put additional monies towards that goal. It includes an option that a portion of the penny could be put to operations.”

After MAPS 3

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There has been limited discussion around the council horseshoe of what comes after the third installment of MAPS, called MAPS 3, expires at the end of the year. Since 2009, the council has and continues to invest the $777 million raised by the tax into eight quality-of-life projects, including the streetcar, downtown

park, new convention center and fairground improvements. For the past 25 years, the council, backed by voter approval, has utilized MAPS to finance large civic improvement projects that have brought transformational change and growth to OKC. Nearly eight years after voters approved MAPS 3, several major projects still are months or years away from completion. The four-term mayor’s proposal keeps MAPS momentum going by bringing in needed revenue to catch up on street improvements and provide relief to the city’s operations budget, specifically police and fire services. The recent economic downturn is linked to sluggish sales tax collections, resulting in city hiring freezes and budget cuts across city departments. Cornett’s proposal features two options. In the first, he suggests a quarter of the 1-cent sales tax become permanent to fund operations. The second suggests 1/8 of a cent be dedicated for the same purpose. Both call for the remainder of the tax to fund capital projects related to the city’s transportation infrastructure, including street improvements, streetscapes, bike lanes, sidewalks and trails. If the council moved the proposal to a public vote and voters approve it, the sales tax extension would expire in April 2020. OKC voters go to the polls next spring to elect their next mayor, who would ultimately decide the future of MAPS and whether to put forth the fourth installment. In February, Cornett announced he will not seek a fifth term. In March, Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid pitched his own MAPS tax plan. Shadid supports renewing the sales tax, but at half the 1-cent rate. A quarter of the tax would be distributed to public safety, specifically to hire more police and firefighters, and the rest would fund city operations. “I think that’s that way you can

Just a few of the big-ticket items council members are considering after receiving a preliminary list of 1,700 projects for the city’s upcoming bond program include: >> A pedestrian bridge over Northwest Expressway, one of the city’s busiest corridors. >> A new community center with an indoor aquatic center at aging Douglass Park. >> A renovation project at south Oklahoma City’s Almonte Library. >> A new public safety training center for the city’s police officers and firefighters. >> Hundreds of streets improvement projects, from resurfacing and widening to street enhancements, like lighting, sidewalks and bike lanes, throughout the city. Through city staff recommendations, with citizen survey feedback, neighborhood meetings and community workshops, the 73-page list is a starting point to presenting a bond program to voters. More than 6,400 people shared feedback during the city’s input process. Now, the council faces the decision of determining a bond term and millage rate. City staff presented the council with nine funding package options. Six call for increasing property taxes, but at least three council members — Meg Salyer, James Greiner and John Pettis Jr. — have said they don’t support such an increase. “I think we are running a risk if we ask the citizens to raise property taxes and a permanent sales tax on the same ballot,” Ward 1 Councilman Greiner said. “If we are going to raise the permanent sales tax by, say, a quarter of a penny, we ought to keep our mill levy the same.” The latest proposal, crafted by city staff, calls for the council to bring 11 bond issues to voters, which would address streets and sidewalks, bridges, traffic, drainage, parks, police, fire, library, facilities, transit and economic development. Streets, which citizens have said are their top priority, would receive the highest portion of the bond funds, followed by parks and economic development. In coming weeks, the council is expected to make final decisions on its bond project, which will shape the character of the city for years to come. At the same time, the council could move forward on a MAPS proposal. Either way, the final say rests in the hands of voters.

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Oklahoma Gazette

A SeASonAl Guide to CentrAl oklAhomA

Summer never seems long enough so Gazette is giving its readers the go-to guide for filling every second with fun across the state. FeAturinG A 3 month CAlendAr inCludinG: Fairs and Festivals Concerts museums

Art exhibits theater day trips

Classes Workshops Summer Camps

Along with expanded editorial content PubliShinG mAy 3, 2017

specialsections@okgazette.com | 405.528.6000 10

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letters

NEWS words of support, concern or prayers for our ally or its citizens and the citizens 10 other countries, including one of our fellow citizens, killed or injured in the attack — not one word or sentiment. For Trump, I believe the apple has not fallen far from the tree. The fruit is bitter, and the tree from which it fell can neither shelter us nor produce a crop that can sustain us in any manner whatsoever. Larry Gross Norman

Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to jchancellor@okgazette.com or sent online at okgazette.com. Include a city of residence and contact number for verification.

What say you?

Something’s rotten

Last month, in the midst of all the events within our country and around the world, an event occurred that received little attention. During the March 22 terrorist attack in London, President Donald Trump Jr. tweeted a message to Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London. This tweet was sent as the terrorist attack unfolded, before London and British officials knew the extent of the threat to its citizens and visitors. The content of the tweet was hostile and critical of the mayor, without regard or feeling for the well-being of the citizens and visitors of London, and clearly ignorant about comments the mayor of London had previously made about terrorism and its impact on modern life “in great, global cities.” As we recently faced another anniver-

sary of the April 19, 1995, domestic terror attack of Oklahoma City and the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, I was reminded of comments that CBS journalist Connie Chung made not long after the bombing, in which she questioned the capacity, knowledge and resolve of first responders and rescuers to take care of the injured and recover the bodies of the men, women and children killed in the attack. Oklahomans were hurt and angered by her, at best, insensitive and uninformed comments. Shortly after Ms. Chung’s comments, perhaps our collective thoughts and feelings at such an emotionally charged time

were best summarized by a sign that appeared on a single portable toilet in a row of portable toilets at the bombing site: Office of Connie Chung. Remembering our emotions in reaction to Ms. Chung’s comments and in reading those of Trump’s to the London mayor, I was outraged and ashamed of my country and its leadership for its bullying behavior toward a longtime ally at a most critical time during a terrorist attack. I could not even begin to imagine what the citizens of Britain must have felt in reading news stories about Trump criticizing the mayor of London. In Trump’s message, there were no

X.XX

President Donald Trump’s budget includes $57 billion more for defense, even though the U.S. already spends much more than other countries on defense. Get ready for a new war(s) so Trump’s buddies can collect. Meanwhile, we endure cuts to Meals on Wheels, PBS, EPA, assistance with heating costs for poor seniors, afterschool programs and many of the other programs my family cares about most — plus the economic impact when people working for those programs lose their jobs, their homes and their ability to spend money in their communities. Trump voters, your thoughts? Jackie Gaston Yukon

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chicken

friedNEWS

Calling ‘bullcrap!’

Esteemed U.S. lawmaker for the state of Oklahoma Markwayne Mullin (whom many will recognize from his vehemently folksy “fix-it family” Mullin Plumbing TV commercials-slash-campaign ads) derisively called “bullcrap” on any claim that taxpayers fund his congressional salary. “You say you pay for me to do this? That’s bullcrap. I pay for myself,” he said to his constituents during a March town hall meeting in Jay. He pulled himself up by the bootstraps and drove one of his “95 red vans helping people all over Oklahoma” (to quote another of his commercials) into Washington D.C., and the people who elected him have nothing to do with how he earns his congressional paycheck! Mullin’s spokeswoman later clarified the lawmaker’s statements, saying, “Like all business owners, Congressman Mullin pays his taxes, which contribute to congressional salaries,” Tulsa World reported. As he serves the American people on committees and subcommittees dealing with Native American affairs, water and power, transportation and infrastructure and the environment, among others, he reminded constituents, “This is a service. No one here pays me to go,” a video of the town hall meeting (which has since gone viral) shows. “Pays you to go where?” one guest retorted. Mullin continued: “I do it as an honor and service. This is a service for me, not a career, and I thank God this is not how I make my living,” the video shows. Public clapback was so swift and vociferous that Mullin canceled another town hall weeks later, claiming “safety concerns” and “an escalation of protesters at congressional town halls across the nation. We have even seen them right here in the Second District!!!!!!!!” (Emphasis ours.) We at Chicken-Fried News are as confused as Mullin. Maybe we should call “the red rooter” to clear the bullcrap blockage that’s hindering the draining of that proverbial swamp everyone keeps talking about.

What Mama Wants

Showcase your gift ideas in this Mother’s Day Gift Guide advertising section to show them all What Mama Wants!

Present a special unique item or service you offer in the Gazette’s Mother’s Day Gift Guide. Purchase any size ad in these issues to receive your complimentary item in the Gift Guide.

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Big drop

There’s a big difference between falling for Oklahoma and falling on Oklahoma. Don’t believe us? Ask Makenzie Wethington, a Joshua, Texas, woman who, in 2014, planned on living out her daredevil dream of skydiving in the Sooner State. Instead, she was lucky to leave Oklahoma with her life after her parachute malfunctioned and she fell a jaw-dropping 3,500 feet to the ground. To put the fall into perspective, imagine jumping off the equivalent of about four Devon Energy Center towers. Wethington suffered liver and kidney injuries; bleeding in her brain; and a broken pelvis, lumbar spine, shoulder blade and several ribs. Ouch! In a lawsuit that was settled in mid-April, Wethington was awarded $760,000 in damages, according to a DallasNews. com story. The lawsuit was against Pegasus Air Sports Center in Chickasha, which has since closed. The former

owner now lives in the United Kingdom. Wethington probably hoped that it would be a day she would never forget. And it was. “This crash and all of the injuries and my ongoing recovery will forever affect the rest of my life,” she said in an official court filing. Wethington was a minor at the time of the crash. She chose to jump in Oklahoma because the minimum state skydiving age at the time was 16. The U.S. Parachuting Association has since raised it to 18. Remind us to double-, triple- and quadruple-check our ’chutes, should the Chicken-Fried News staff ever start checking off our bucket list items.

Education contagion

There is a new disease spreading across Oklahoma. It’s called “four-day school week,” and no decision has been reached on whether or not it could lead students to a slow death by academic failure. According to Tulsa World, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said the four-day school week, which has been implemented by many districts following severe state funding cuts

to education, is spreading like a contagion. Currently, 97 school districts operate on a four-day school week, up from 49 districts a year earlier, the newspaper reported. “Superintendents say that they feel the need to move to a four-day school week, not only to save limited funds but because they’re afraid they’ll lose their valuable teachers to surrounding districts,” Hofmeister told the World. Now, state lawmakers are proposing House Bill 1684, which would require school districts considering four-day school weeks to submit a plan to the Oklahoma State Department of Education. In the plan, the district would be required to list the goals they hoped to achieve by shortening the school week. If the bill is passed by lawmakers and signed by the governor, the state agency would offer assistance to ensure districts remain in compliance with meeting students’

academic needs, Hofmeister said. In the event that the state Department of Education would learn about fast-acting dangerous outcomes impacting students because of four-day school weeks, Hofmeister and her staff could prevent further cases and stop the contagion. We imagine the inoculation against it would resemble a cootie shot.

High taxes?

While lawmakers struggle to find funding for basic public services, few revenue-generating bills are advancing. Teachers were promised a long-overdue raise, but without more money coming in, there’s no way to fund it except by cutting the budgets of other cash-strapped agencies. That leads us at Chicken-Fried News to ask, Can Oklahoma toke its way out of its massive $878 million budget hole? Tulsa Democrat State Rep. Eric Proctor told Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc., (CNHI) that legalizing marijuana could help mend the budget hole and would be a boon for Oklahomans who need medical marijuana.

“I think [the revenue] would be substantial, because there are hundreds of Oklahoma families right now that are going to Colorado and paying a much higher tax than our bill would have allowed for in Oklahoma,” Proctor told CNHI state reporter Janelle Stecklein. Earlier this year, Proctor tried to push forward a bill to allow medical cannabis use for specific conditions, including cancer, HIV and AIDS and Chrohn’s disease, but it received little support from other legislators. Oklahoma would bring in about $65 million in new revenue annually if it legalized recreational marijuana and taxed it at 15 percent,

Joseph Henchman, state projects vice president the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, told CNHI. “It’s some money, but not enough to solve all your budget problems,” Henchman said. Next year, Oklahomans will vote to legalize medicinal marijuana. However, Oklahomans for Health co-chairman Chip Paul said medical marijuana isn’t supposed to generate a lot of revenue. “It’s not marijuana [that] is going to come along and save the state budget,” he told CNHI. “That’s not going to happen.” If passed, the ballot measure would tax medical cannabis at 7 percent with revenue going to run and enforce the new program. Anything left would fund education and rehabilitation programs. In the meantime, Oklahoma lawmakers recently changed the definition of marijuana via House Bill 1559, which Gov. Mary Fallin signed into law April 17. Cannabidiol (CBD), if approved by the Food and Drug Administration, would not be considered marijuana. The FDA hasn’t yet approved any CBD.

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EAT & DRINK Pot roast with carrots and mashed potatoes | Photo Garett Fisbeck

REVIEW

blue Southern staple, I’d like to direct you to a slightly more homestyle dish. Let your friends order the chicken, because there will be more than enough to share, and consider trying pot roast ($16). “Pot roast? Really, Greg?” you say, in that accusatory tone our therapist has warned you about. Yes, really. Pot roast is unjustly maligned, due largely to the ineffective efforts of some home chefs. But in the hands of professionals, a large roast can be rendered into a sumptuous dinner of melt-in-your-mouth beef and tender vegetables.

Legacy building

Hal Smith Restaurant Group transforms a haphazard vision into an auspicious victory with its Legacy Grill. By Greg Elwell

Legacy Grill 224 Johnny Bench Drive | 405-701-3535 legacygrill.com What works: Gumbo and pot roast are hall-of-famers. What needs work: The Philly cheesesteak needs more steak flavor. Tip: Legacy is only open for lunch Friday-Sunday.

Their words were different, but many in Oklahoma City echoed the eloquent sentiment about Kd’s Southern Cuisine left on Yelp.com by Dante A. “Im glad they closed that traitor’s restaurant. He went to golden state, what a butthole!@!@!” Like jilted lovers, Oklahoma City Thunder fans were floored in July when Kevin Durant announced he was leaving the team to join the Golden State Warriors, and they lashed out any way they could, including leaving savage online reviews of his restaurant. A few of the criticisms were valid, though. Service was sometimes sloppy. The food was sometimes pricey considering its quality. But Hal Smith didn’t build Hal Smith Restaurant Group by serving sub-par products. With tweaks to the building and the menu, Smith used Durant’s departure as an opportunity for a reset, paving the way for Legacy Grill, 224 Johnny Bench Drive. Hal Smith Restaurant Group is a local powerhouse: The Garage,

Mahogany, Redrock Canyon Grill, Upper Crust, Louie’s, Charleston’s — the list goes on. So it’s little surprise that Legacy Grill is expertly run and serves a crowd-pleasing fare. Guests still devour plenty of Southern cuisine. My choices for appetizers are fried green tomatoes ($9) and gumbo (cup $4/bowl $7). I’ve had fried green tomatoes served all kinds of ways, but the ones I love most are batter-dipped and fried like they are at Legacy Grill. The kitchen staff uses a beer batter that puffs up and gets crispy — the perfect canvas on which to smear the accompanying remoulade sauce. Originally a French sauce, remoulade is most known in America as part of

It’s easy to recommend a soup on a cold day, but this gumbo is worth ordering regardless of the forecast. Creole cuisine. It’s a mayonnaise-based sauce with lots of herbs and seasonings tossed in to create a tangy, tart flavor explosion. The tomato’s stiffness is softened during frying, but it retains a green, slightly sour taste. The fat of the oil and

the batter helps center the dish, and t he remou lade brings a burst of heat. The gumbo might be the best deal on the menu. Packed full of shrimp, sausage and okra, it’s an intense mix of flavors and textures that begs to be savored but is so good it’s hard to stop eating. The spice blend Legacy Grill uses is enough to get a few beads of sweat forming at the hairline, and it intensifies with each subsequent bite. It’s easy to recommend a soup on a cold day, but this gumbo is worth ordering regardless of the forecast. Rain or shine, windy or ever-so-slightly less windy (this is Oklahoma, after all), it’s always a good day for Legacy’s Creole stew. Keeping with the surprisingly Louisiana-centric menu is shrimp and grits ($17). I wanted to skip it — honestly I did — but this entree is so wonderful that I just couldn’t resist it. The creamy grits are buttery and smooth, which makes a hearty base on which to build a devastating delicacy. The shrimp in the gumbo are small, but they are big and beautiful here. Each one is cooked to a lovely light pink with a generous snap. Shrimp are such tricky beasts to cook well, so it’s a joy to dine on these spicy specimens sautéed in a sauce of garlic, mushrooms and white wine with a bright hit of lemon juice at the end. The dish is studded with chunks of bacon as well, adding a smoky undercurrent to each bite and a welcome chewy texture. While I’m happy to endorse Legacy’s fried chicken and waffles ($18) as a true-

Gumbo | Photo Garett Fisbeck

How big was the cow that became that pot roast I do not know, but it was a massive serving. There was a knife on the table, but it must have been for decoration because simply poking the roast with a fork yielded big, juicy bites. The mashed potatoes are the secret star of the dish. Each bite was perfectly seasoned with just a hint of pepper and a mouthfeel that was both substantial and malleable. The carrots could use a bit more salt, but they were roasted to perfection. Each one was sturdy enough to cut but supple enough to give way beneath a barrage of molars. Another beef-laden dish failed to impress, though. Legacy’s Philly chesesteak sandwich ($13) didn’t impart nearly enough flavor, which is a shame given it’s filled with shaved prime rib. The mix of onions, bell peppers and mushrooms added some heft, but they also added moisture, making the bread a bit mushy. It’s not a bad sandwich, but it needs fine-tuning. One bright spot on the plate are the fries. The big, thick planks of potato fried to a gorgeous golden crispy exterior and seasoned generously can stand up to just about any french fries in the city. Legacy Grill proves a fitting Kd’s replacement by retaining the good, fixing the not-so-good and focusing on service.

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EAT & DRINK Norman Farm Market | Photo Gazette / file

by the growing hunger for minimally processed food. Cohenour said the integration of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits at many of the venues promises to deliver better, healthier food to a new segment of the population. “I think the availability of SNAP at the farmers market really opens up who can shop there and who wants to shop there,” she said. “There are also some programs through the tribes that provide vouchers for farmers markets.”

OSU-OKC Farmers Market 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays year-round OSU-OKC Horticulture Pavilion 400 N. Portland Ave. osuokc.edu/farmersmarket 405-945-3326

Market Saturdays

F E AT U R E

9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays year-round Oklahoma City Farmers Public Market, first floor 311 S. Klein Ave. okcfarmersmarket.com 405-232-6506

Pick-up lines

Delmar Sunday Market

Farmers markets connect growers and consumers for the freshest local produce. By Greg Elwell

Spring is a time of renewal as plants emerge and begin bearing tomatoes, okra and corn. But it’s also a time of mourning because some of us have a tendency to murder those newly emerged plants with overwatering and general incompetence. But everyone deserves to eat fresh, locally grown produce. The metro has long been a destination for farmers to sell produce to restaurants and grocers, but farmers markets put shoppers closer to the food by connecting them with the people who grew it. “We have consumers that have a desire to be involved in their community or at least to know their community,” said

Edmond Farmers Market Meriruth Cohenour, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry agritourism coordinator. “Shopping at the farmers market lets them have a conversation with the person that grew, picked and presented their food. It makes them feel more connected.” While the interaction is important, she said the product quality is a real driver for consumers. “There’s a big difference in the taste of a vegetable that was picked yesterday versus something that spent a week coming in on a truck,” she said. “There are varieties of produce you can’t find in grocery stores.” The number of markets is matched

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10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays beginning May 7 Delmar Gardens Food Truck Park 1225 SW Second St. facebook.com/delmarsundaymarket 405-232-6506 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October (closed May 6 during Edmond Arts Festival) Festival Marketplace 30 W. First St., Edmond edmondok.com 405-359-4630 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays June 7-Aug. 16 Mitch Park 1501 W. Covell Road edmondok.com 405-359-4630

Norman Farm Market

4-7 p.m. Tuesdays and 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturdays through October Cleveland County Fairgrounds 615 E. Robinson St., Norman clevelandcountyfair.org/35/farm-market 405-360-4721

Midwest City Farmers Market

9 a.m.-1 p.m. every other Saturday October through May, and then every Saturday June through September Soldier Creek Oklahoma Home Community Education building 9104 SE 15th St. facebook.com/mwcfarmersmarket 479-200-5541

The Farmers Market at Central Park

3:30-7 p.m. Thursdays and 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays May 4 through Sept. 2 Central Park Multi-Purpose Pavilion 700 S. Broadway St., Moore cityofmoore.com/farmersmarket 405-793-5090

Kinfolk Farmers Market

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays through October Northeast Community and Cultural Center 1128 NE 23rd St. oklahomaagritourism.com/producer/ kinfolk-farmers-market 405-667-0384

OU Medical Center Farmers Market

11 a.m.-2 p.m. the first Thursday of each month The Children’s Hospital atrium 1200 N. Childrens Ave. oumedicine.com/the-children’s-hospital 405-271-3932

El Reno Farmers Market

8 a.m.-noon Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning June 11 Ross True Value 100 S. Choctaw Ave., El Reno elrenomainstreet.com 405-262-8888

Edmond Farmers Market | Photo City of Edmond / provided

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scene,” he said. “We’re making friendly, approachable beers.”

Biker beer

F E AT U R E

Iron Monk co-founders Dave Monks left and Jerod Millirons | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Meet the brewer

Stillwater-based Iron Monk Brewing Company educates a new generation of craft beer fans. By Greg Elwell

Editor’s note: As part of our continuing coverage of Oklahoma craft beer, Oklahoma Gazette presents “Meet the brewer,” a monthly feature profiling beermakers. Iron Monk Brewing Company sounds more mysterious than it is. Before you imagine a secret Shaolin temple in Stillwater filled with beer-brewing ninja monks, it might be useful to introduce the company’s founders. Jerod Millirons earned a master of business administration degree. Dave Monks earned a Ph.D. in molecular biology and plant physiology. They met while teaching at Northern Oklahoma College in Stillwater and found they shared a passion for “big” beers. Monks was a home brewer in the early ’90s as an undergrad. With Millirons’ business acumen, they decided to make a go of it and opened Iron Monk in 2014. Now a brewery and taproom, Iron Monk, 519 S. Husband St., in Stillwater is focused on being hyperlocal. “We’re proud of Stillwater. We’re canning our Exit 174 Rye Pale Ale for the first time tomorrow, and it uses rye that’s grown 45 minutes away,” he said during a recent Oklahoma Gazette interview. The same goes for the popular Stilly Wheat. The strain of wheat used in the beer was developed at Oklahoma State University and grown up the road in Ames, where it is malted by 46 Grain Company before returning to Stillwater for brewing. “We’re the first ones to use any of their

stuff to make beer,” Millirons said.

Local flavor

Using locally sourced ingredients is important to Iron Monk’s owners, but so is pleasing Oklahoma palates, said brewer Jayce Hancock. “We’re not in a craft-beer town,” he said of the large college community in Stillwater. “A lot of people here grew up on Miller Lite, Bud Light and Coors Light. That’s beer to them.” So while some craft breweries dive deep into experimental flavors, Iron Monk tempers the brewers’ whims as it introduces tastes and products to new craft beer drinkers.

We just make what we like and what our fans like. Jerod Millirons A dark beer or any mention of hops scares away some customers, he said. “Stilly Wheat is a good entry-level craft beer,” Hancock said. “We had a Berliner Weisse in our taproom that really went over well.” It’s a low-point Belgian-style white ale with a refreshingly tart flavor. Despite being able to serve its higherpoint products in its taproom, many Iron Monk drinkers are fond of session-style beers, which have lower alcohol content. “Our fanbase is just getting into the

The 4 percent alcohol by volume Land Run 100 is an IPA created for the annual bike race of the same name. Starting in Stillwater, riders bike over gravel roads to Guthrie and back again. Iron Monk’s website describes it as “the perfect beer after a grueling 100mile trek around the backroads of Payne County,” but Hancock said it’s also popular for another reason: pacing. “They want to have as many as they can have before they’re drunk,” he said. That has also led Iron Monk’s taproom to become a big hangout spot in Stillwater. While four employees produce the beer, the brewery employs 10 or more bartenders to serve customers. The change in state laws allowing high-point taproom sales made it a more welcoming place for drinkers, Hancock said. “We do trivia on Wednesday nights and it’s standing room only,” he said. “A few nights, we have to turn them away until someone leaves to make room.”

Competitive market

Iron Monk is the only brewery in Stillwater, which gives the company an advantage in the market. But because the company isn’t in Oklahoma City or Tulsa, Hancock said it’s harder for fans to find it on tap there. “At some point, we plan to distribute out of state, but right now, we’re working on saturating all of our Oklahoma markets,” he said. There are so many excellent breweries in Oklahoma that finding space on liquor store shelves and in bars is getting increasingly competitive. “We’ve reached a point where drinking local doesn’t have to mean beer brewed in the state, but beer from your town,” Hancock said. That isn’t to say selling beer is difficult. With a selection of four year-round beers and a rotating seasonal brew, Iron Monk works hard to keep up with demand. Its higher-point Milk Stout with big bursts of chocolate and coffee flavors has become a sought-after beer statewide. The taproom-exclusive Chocolate Habanero Stout also draws fans back for more of its sweet burn. “Our lineup is really unique,” Millirons said, and it helps them win over a lot of new craft beer fans. “I can safely say 2017 is going to be our biggest year yet. We just got a new canning line and we’re bringing in more brewing equipment.” That could mean more beers on the way. “We’re not worried about brewing a certain style,” he said. “We just make what we like and what our fans like.” It’s a philosophy that’s worked out well so far. Visit ironmonkbeer.com or call 405714-2585.

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NIC’S

Nic’s Place Diner and Lounge

PL AC E

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A p r i l 2 6 , 2 0 1 7 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

EAT & DRINK b rief s By Greg Elwell

•Visible Hideaway

Volunteers prepare and serve food at Oklahoma City Zoo’s 2016 Ostrich Egg Breakfast. | Photo Melissa Osborn / provided / file

•Huevos grande

It might be surprising to some that Hideaway Pizza has never made a TV commercial. What started as a lone hometown pizzeria in Stillwater 60 years ago has grown into a pie-slinging juggernaut with shops across the state and into Arkansas. As the company looks to open its 18th location (19 if you include the original, which is still owned by the Dermer family), it moves into uncharted territory. Last year, an eatery opened in Arkansas, and plans are underway for a second out-of-state location. Now Hideaway is filming an inaugural commercial highlighting the company’s food and staff, said Rob Crissinger, marketing and public relations director. “We’re in the process of doing a brand refresh,” he said. “In 60 years, we’ve never really showed off our pizza … and our

Beer bashes

With recently relaxed alcohol laws and an Though the eggs come from chickens this year, Oklahoma City Zoological Park and abundance of great breweries opening, Botanical Garden will still host its annual Ostrich Egg Breakfast 8-11 a.m. May 13 at Oklahoma City is quickly becoming a craft 2000 Remington Place. Along with eggs, the zoo serves a buffet of pancakes, biscuits, beer paradise. Oklahoma Craft Beer Festival, sausage, bacon, yogurt and Krispy Kreme doughnuts. an event that helped push craft beer to the Smaller eggs also mean a smaller crowd. The Devon Picnic Grounds is undergoing forefront, returns May 12-13 at Cox renovations that should be finished by year’s end, so the zoo moved this year’s event Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens. Presented by TapWerks Ale House, the inside its Canopy Restaurant. However, that didn’t change the demand for tickets. The all-you-can-eat fundraiser quickly sold all 1,000 tickets. event includes 18 in-state and 62 out-of-state It’s the event’s 31st year, and it benefits animals at the zoo. If you miss the break- breweries. It also expands to three sessions fast but still want to donate, Ostrich Egg Breakfast T-shirts are available at shop. this year: 7 p.m. May 12 and 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. zoofriends.org. May 13. Tickets are $40-$50 and include

A makeup artist readies Bryan Grigsby for his close-up before filming Hideaway Pizza’s first TV commercial. | Photo Greg Elwell

people.” The ad was filmed at the company’s Moore location, 835 SW 19th St., and begins airing in mid-May. unlimited one-ounce sample pours of more than 300 beer varieties. Designated driver tickets are $18 and include free nonalcoholic sodas and snacks. Visit oklahomacraftbeerfestival.com. Then, the second annual Oklahoma Craft Beer Week Block Party is 2-6 p.m. May 20, centered at S&B’s Burger Joint, 20 NW Ninth St. Breweries, shops and restaurants host the outdoor event featuring music by Katie Williams and Jeff Douglas. Visit revolve-productions.com.

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g a z e di b l e s

eat & DRINK

Marathon meals

This year’s Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Race to Remember is Sunday, which means there will be thousands of hungry folks on the streets. Whether you’re gearing up to race, recovering from a 5K or just hungry for a delicious meal, we have a few suggestions. By Greg Elwell Photos Garett Fisbeck, Garett Fisbeck / file and Gazette / file

Paseo Grill

Hatch

Classen Grill

The omega-3 fatty acids in fish are renowned for their health benefits, but they taste best when you get them from Paseo Grill. Up the stairs, diners find a relaxing atmosphere, a welcoming staff and tasty salmon. The cherry wood-smoked salmon appetizer is as delicious as it is good for you, and the grilled Atlantic salmon is especially flavorsome when topped with creamy beurre blanc.

Eggs are incredible, edible dynamos of delectability. You’ll get about 10 percent of your daily protein from one, in addition to vitamin K, which is necessary for building strong bones on which to run. Power up at Hatch with the marginally healthy chicken-fried eggs. Okay, maybe eggs are better for you when they’re poached or hard-boiled, but it’s unlikely you’ll find more irresistible ovum than these. Batter-dipped and fried with a luscious runny yolk inside, nobody wants to eat just one.

Squeeze yourself into the frequently packed Classen Grill for breakfast and you’ll notice a lot of tables with nearly empty carafes of orange juice. The diner is well-loved for it’s freshly squeezed OJ. Watch the staff dump buckets of oranges into a machine for their turn in the extractor. Each glass brims with vitamin C, an antioxidant that’s shown to help alleviate muscle soreness. Science has yet to tell us if pancakes prevent shin splints, but it might be worth a try.

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The Mule

1630 N. Blackwelder Ave. themuleokc.com | 405-601-1400

Broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts get a lot of attention for their health benefits, but don’t overlook arugula. The mildly bitter leafy green is a cruciferous vegetable, which means it might be helpful in preventing cancer, and its nitrates might enhance exercise endurance. It is also quite tasty in The Mule’s arugula Caesar salad. Tossed with creamy dressing and topped with tiny grilled cheese croutons, it’s one of the best in the metro.

The Sandwich Club 3703 N. Western Ave. thesandwichclubokc.com 405-525-0799

There is a practice among marathon runners known as “carb-loading,” in which the athletes eat bread, pasta and the like to fuel their bodies with easy-to-burn glycogen energy. Plain bread is pretty boring, though, so why not run to The Sandwich Club and order the flavorful The Mix Tape, which combines chicken, Gouda, avocado, sprouts and pesto between two slices of bread. For an after-race treat, the folks at The Sandwich Club always pack a few Jolly Ranchers in your bag.

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Provision Kitchen

6443 Avondale Drive provision-kitchen.com | 405-843-2310

If you’re in the mood for carbs, look no further than Provision Kitchen’s daily hot bar. The restaurant is well stocked with healthy and tasty options, including energy-packed sweet potatoes and root vegetable mash. A cup of sweet potato contains almost 58 grams of carbohydrates to keep your engine running and so many vitamins you should probably be eating one right now.

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Wheeze the Juice

30 NE Second St., Suite 1B facebook.com/wheezethejuice 405-602-0102

Without bones, running would just be called oozing and marathons would last a really, really long time. So protect your bones with calcium-rich foods like yogurt, which can be found in Wheeze the Juice smoothies and bowls. Both Berry Bonds and Lambda Lambda Lambda use yogurt, filled with carbs and protein, as well as tasty strawberries and blueberries. Be sure to grab a bottle of juice to enjoy after the race.

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ARTS & CULTURE “The Things We Are” | Image Denise Duong / provided

A painting by Steven Grounds and Mallory Taylor

cov e r

| Image Steven Grounds / provided

Big impressions

Oklahoma City’s art community is eclectic and expansive. Here are eight visual artists you should know right now. By Ben Luschen

Art program and education funding worries might be a popular discussion topic both locally and nationally, but Oklahoma City artists are not planning to retire their ability to create and express themselves. Artists are a tenacious bunch; “I’m only sad when I’m alone” | Image Roz Adams / provided

they have to be. Within the great swath of talent across Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma Gazette highlights a group of diverse artists you should know right now. It’s by no means an exhaustive list. These creatives do, however, embody the truth of the region’s collective voice: The local art community is vibrant, supportive and ever-welcoming. From murals to cross-stitchings, tattoos to jewelry, the types of art pieces this city has to offer are as diverse as the people who make them.

Roz Adams

Frequent Gazette readers might recognize Roz Adams’ name from his contributions to the local do-it-yourself punk scene and as organizer of the annual Everything Is Not OK music and art festival. Those who know him well, however, also know Adams as a longtime visual artist. Perhaps surprisingly, he developed an interest in art from his maternal and paternal grandmothers. His tastes were later influenced by punk and skate culture, though he admits he was not much of a skater himself. 22

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Adams’ pencil, pen or water-based marker illustrations are tinged with an often delightful and sometimes dark sense of humor. Some might remember Tall Hill Creative art gallery, which he co-ran with artist Jason Pawley for about two years. His work has been exhibited internationally and can sometimes be seen in advertisements or posters for his favorite local businesses. He is also the creative force behind many of the best underground show fliers in Oklahoma City. Visit imabigcitybaby.com.

Denise Duong

Looking at Denise Duong’s gangly figures, it can be impossible not to see someone you know — or perhaps yourself — in them. Duong’s expressive works have been a popular feature in local and international art scenes for a decade. The artist draws heavily from her many travels. She exhibited in Asia, painted a mural in India and rafted the Nile River in Africa. Locally, Duong might be most recognized for her current contribution to the 16th Street Plaza Arts District’s Plaza Walls public art project or for her occasional exhibitions in Paseo Art District’s JRB Art at the Elms gallery. Her work, expressed most frequently in acrylic or more recently watercolor, is often a testament to her passion for global culture and diversity. Duong is a vocal proponent of wanderlust, hoping she can pass along a desire for the kind of openness that can only be achieved through meaningful exposure to new cultures. For those who cannot find it in themselves to leave the state, the artist’s touching and wonder-filled scenes from abroad are a nice consolation. Visit deniseduongart.com.

Steven Grounds

Exciting and dynamic Navajo, Euchee, Creek and Seminole street artist Steven Grounds made a name for himself early

on by painting under the Native Evolution name. Grounds was born in Pawnee and graduated with a degree in American Indian studies from Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. After graduating, he spent five years in Phoenix, Arizona, learning from street artists in the scene there. He returned to Oklahoma in 2011 and quickly became a prolific contributor to the community. Grounds might be most recognized locally for his contribution to the mural project at the downtown Sheridan Avenue overpass or as the artist behind the former Geronimo/David Bowie mash-up at the 16th Street Plaza Arts District’s Plaza Walls. His biggest and most elaborate project is his Concho’s Cheyenne and Arapaho mural, a massive collection of pieces he painted on an abandoned American Indian boarding school. It includes 70 feet of art and is still growing. Inspired by Grounds’ work and story, Creek filmmaker Kyle Bell produced a documentary about the artist, aptly named Native Evolution, which won Best of Class X in 2015’s Smithsonian NMAI Native Cinema Showcase in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Visit facebook.com/nativeevolution.

Katelynn Noel Knick

The freeform, swirling streaks of color and shapes on an otherwise open, white plane provide some viewers a sense of harmonious Zen. Katelynn Noel Knick is primarily known as a painter, but she tries not to limit herself to any one medium. Often, what she draws in her sketchbook eventually becomes a mixed-media sculpture or installation. Last summer she attended a workshop at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colorado. She recently started the Coalescence cooperative art collective, which has exhibited at places like Norman’s Resonator art gallery. Casual observers might recognize the titles of some of Knick’s abstract, non-representational forms from Pixies or Modest Mouse song names. Knick also has a strong interest in the culinary arts. Her partner is a culinary artist working with En Croute. This summer, Knick opens her Sharing Spaces solo exhibition at Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO) gallery on Film Row. As part of the installation, the artist will host a dinner event with her partner. Visit katelynnknick.com.

Michael Litzau

Go to an exhibition featuring Michael Litzau and you might be in for a mesh of mediums. Litzau, assistant chair for the University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Fine Arts and Design, has degrees from The Ohio State University in printmaking with an emphasis in intaglio — the opposite of relief print. He is also fascinated with craft materials, particularly crossstitching. For Litzau, medium equals message. His choice in materials and mediums is reflective of what he is into at the time. They also are an integral part of his statement. Litzau is proud of his Japanese

Locally, she contributed to 2015’s largescale Elaborate Collaborate exhibition and now works with the Intentionalists, a small group of local artist friends — including Gayle Curry, Heather Clark Hilliard, Josh Vaughn and Brendon Williams — to set monthly art goals. She also is director of museum experience at Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the GaylordPickens Museum. Visit mraglinart.com.

“If Teardrops Were Pennies and Heartaches Were Gold” | Image Katelynn Noel Knick / provided

Lopeeta Tawde

A lamp by Marcus Muse | Image provided

Classen Ten Penn neighborhood, but he also works in a number of other mediums — specifically oil and watercolor painting. Though he is no doubt talented as an artist, Muse’s true passion is living up to his apt last name and bringing out people’s deep artistic self-expressions. He sees his tattoo work as a vessel for inner art vision innate in everyone. Muse takes deep personal influence from history and his culture, but he believes thoughtful detachment is always key to appreciate the full scope of beauty. He also created this week’s Gazette cover. Visit musearttattooco.com and museartsociety.com. “Run Aaron Run” | Image

Marissa Raglin

Michael Litzau / provided

heritage and has completed two artist residencies in Kofu, Japan. He is also a Wisconsin native and has an unshakable love for the Green Bay Packers. The football team’s green-and-gold imagery is often reflected in Litzau’s work. He is currently part of a two-artist exhibit with Adam Vermeire at Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO) gallery. Specially featured is a 9-foot by 6-foot cross-stitch recreation of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The show runs through May 6. Visit michaellitzau.com.

Lopeeta Tawde takes a lot of her inspiration from science, biology and nature. The influence is apt, because her jewelry pieces seem to take on a life of their own. Tawde grew up in Mumbai, India’s most populous city. The metalsmith and art jeweler enjoys working with many different metals and precious and semiprecious gemstones. She has also worked with pumice, stone, leather, loofah, bones and more. More recently, she has been fascinated with bioluminescence. A recent exhibition

Those who think collage-making is for grade-school art class or impromptu Mother’s Day gifts clearly have not experienced Marissa Raglin’s exemplary work. Using a precision hobby knife, she carefully extracts image fragments from magazines, books and postcards to create minimalist, ethereal, often whimsical collages that she then finishes with resin. The unaltered images are intriguingly transformed simply by providing them new context through collage. Raglin’s grandfather, a skilled carpenter, provided her earliest art inspiration. Her passions were refined as a youth during weekly after-school art classes at Hobby Lobby. Her work was recently exhibited in Brooklyn, New York.

Marcus Muse

Art and tattooing has led Muse on an epic journey across several continents, crossing paths with basketball and rap stars like Kevin Durant, James Harden, Tyga, Bun B and ScHoolboy Q. The great heights he has seen arise from inconspicuous beginnings. As a child, Muse competed with his brothers and cousins to see who could best draw Power Rangers. In the sport of drawing, Muse reigned. The artist is most known locally as owner of Muse Art Tattoo, located in the

“Love Triangle” | Image Marissa Raglin / provided

Work by Lopeeta Tawde | Image Lopeeta Tawde / provided

at University of Central Oklahoma’s Melton Gallery featured a unique collaboration with the school’s dance department. Students wearing her luminescent jewelry danced under black light to trance music, creating an almost underwater feel to the production. Tawde’s biology and botany studies grounded her in the microscopic investigation of living tissue and developed within her a strong appreciation and respect for the course of creation, division, growth and death. When not designing jewlery, Tawde relaxes by working with watercolors or by heading out into nature — the place where she feels truly happy. Visit lopeetatawde.com. See more art at okgazette.com. O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a p r i l 2 6 , 2 0 1 7

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ARTS & CULTURE

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APRIL 27 Edgar Cruz & The Three Amigos MAY 4 Band of Lovers

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MAY 11 Broke Brothers

MAY 25 Maggie McClure

MAY 18 Dirty Red and the Soul Shakers

JUNE 1 Jason Young Band

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La historia fiesta

Oklahoma City’s massive Cinco de Mayo Festival brings communities together. By Greg Elwell

Cinco de Mayo falls on a Friday, but Oklahoma City’s Cinco de Mayo Festival happens Sunday, May 7. The massive music and entertainment celebration is noon-9 p.m. outdoors at Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads, 7000 Crossroads Blvd. “The event will kick off … with the arrival of the cabalgata (horse parade) that will start that morning processing down Eastern and arriving at Plaza Mayor,” said Robert Ruiz, Scissortail Community Development Corporation president. “This representation of Mexican horse culture will feature groups of charros (costumed cowboys), tamborazos (musicians), rope artists and escaramuzas (horse teams) all in traditional attire.” Live music begins at 1 p.m. with Oklahoma-based Banda Gabachos and Estallido Musical de Durango, followed by international recording artists Los Cadetes de Linares; La Sonora Skandalo from Ciudad, Juárez; Colmillo Norteño; and headliner Polo Urías y su Máquina Norteña. At 7 p.m., an official ceremony features regional folk dance group Maravillas de México, an official representative of the Mexican government Consul General Rodolfo Quilantán, the Oklahoma City Cinco de Mayo proclamation and the crowning of the new Miss Cinco de Mayo. Food and drink, including low-point beer and margaritas, will be available for purchase, and kids attractions will be on-site. Lucha libre matches, Mexican-style masked wrestling from Mid-South Wrestling Alliance, happen between music performances. “The community really sees this [event] as one of the first opportunities this year to come together and celebrate as a community after a tumultuous election season,” Ruiz said. “The theme of this year’s festival is unity.” Organizing the Oklahoma City Cinco de Mayo Festival is especially poignant given OKC is a sister city of Puebla, Mexico.

A crowd of thousands gather around the stage at Oklahoma City’s Cinco de Mayo Festival in 2015. | Photo Sandra Kidd / provided / file

While some confuse the holiday with Mexican Independence Day, which is Sept. 16, the May 5 holiday commemorates an 1862 victory by a vastly outnumbered Mexican army over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in the Franco-Mexican War. The battle began at daybreak May 5 when 6,000 French troops descended upon Puebla de Los Angeles, which was defended by a poorly supplied force of 2,000 Mexican soldiers. It ended that evening with France withdrawing after losing 500 men compared to 100 Mexican casualties. Though not a major turning point in the war, it solidified Mexico’s resolve. In 1868, French forces withdrew from the war. “Cinco de Mayo in the U.S. has mostly become a celebration similar to St. Patrick’s Day and is celebrated more widely here than in Mexico,” Ruiz said. “The only place there is a large celebration in Mexico is in Puebla. This is why we strive to maintain that connection and give people more context around the celebration and celebrate our sisterhood with Puebla here in OKC.” His hope is to garner more supporters and turn Oklahoma City Cinco de Mayo into a multiday event, creating a cultural exchange with Puebla to bring its artists, dancers, chefs and musicians to OKC and provide Oklahomans a more authentic experience. Oklahoma City Cinco de Mayo is nonprofit event, and proceeds benefit cultural arts in Oklahoma City Public Schools through the Scissortail program Academia OKC.

Cinco de Mayo Festival noon-9 p.m. May 7 Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads 7000 Crossroads Blvd. facebook.com/plazamayorok | 405-631-4424 Free

ART

Lasting impressions [Artspace] at Untitled builds momentum with its Steamroller Print Festival. By George Lang

ART

As workers frame out a new entrance on [Artspace] at Untitled’s north side, Laura Warriner sorts through dozens of Big Ink prints — elaborate, large-scale woodcuts that will serve as both focal and reference points for the second Steamroller Print Fest May 5-6 at the multipurpose art facility, 1 NE Third St., in Deep Deuce. “These prints are part of their permanent collection,” said Warriner, [Artspace] at Untitled executive director. “I had them ship even more than we could hang, but we’ve got all the walls painted, and we’re going to start hanging.” Big Ink, a Florence, Massachusetts, printmaking company, specializes in carving, printing and marketing massive woodcuts created by artists at Big Ink events throughout the country. The collection is shown around the world, including a recent stop at the Seoul Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea. The festival runs 6:30-10:30 p.m. May 5 with a Cinco de Mayo celebration featuring demonstrations by local artists, live music, drinks and a catered buffet.

Admission to Friday’s event is $30, or $50 per couple. May 6, Steamroller Print Fest earns its name 10 a.m.-6 p.m. when visitors, including [Artspace] at Untitled mentorship program students, can create their own woodcuts, which are then inked and sandwiched between housewrap and an industrial steamroller outside the facility. “We have a wire across here so that when we finish a print, we can take the print and hang it to dry,” Warriner said. “Then, we’re going to wrap the building with the prints that we steamroll.” The event also features a children’s printmaker tent, along with screenprinting demos, live music and food trucks. Printing ends at 6 p.m., with live music and viewings until 9 p.m. Events like Steamroller Print Fest are part of Warriner’s ongoing mission to provide an open space for art and education. In 1995, long before many considered it a good real estate investment, Warriner purchased the long-abandoned warehouse at 1 NE Third St. A few months

Street meet

will set up their booths featuring mixed media, sculpture, photography, painting, jewelry, pottery, designer crafts and more along the streets of downtown Edmond. Another major art festival draw is the food. Kona Ice, Let’s Do Greek, Smokin’ Okies Mobile Smokehouse and over a dozen more food trucks will descend on three-day event to serve hungry guests.

Downtown Edmond Arts Festival welcomes a bevy of country bands and fun for everyone.

There’s a lot to see and do.

By Ben Luschen

New and expanded music offerings highlight the 39th annual Downtown Edmond Arts Festival happening 10 a.m.-8 p.m. May 5-6 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. May 7 in historic downtown Edmond. Festival marketing manager Elena Listen is in her fourth year with the annual event. Listen said this year’s festival unquestionably features more music than in years past — including Jason Young Band, Riders Ford, Hillbilly Vegas, Wesley Pruitt Band and more highlight this year’s event — thanks to a partnership with Southern rock and country promoter Outlaw Nation. “We’re on a budget,” she said, “so working with Outlaw Nation, we were

earlier, the two-story building on the western edge of the Deep Deuce District sustained damage from the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. But Warriner had a vision for the building, even if she didn’t have a name for it. For years, it was known as Untitled Gallery, eventually becoming [Artspace] at Untitled to reflect its use as a creative and event space. Warriner said she hopes that events like the festival, as well as some of the major improvements she is making to the space, will make the 20,000-square-foot building a Deep Deuce hub as the historic district grows. Inside, Warriner has antique bookbinders, lead type printing presses and other implements once considered obsolete but now given new purpose as instruments of art.

Elena Listen

This year’s Downtown Edmond Arts Festival welcomes more than 120 artists. | Photo Downtown Edmond Business Association / provided / file

able to have more well-known bands come out and play.” Several local school chorus, vocal music, percussion ensembles and rhythm and blues groups also will perform at the festival market pavilion, as local singer/songwriters, progressive rock and other eclectic acts perform at intersections along the festival route.

Visual and culinary arts

Of course, this year’s arts festival also showcases more than 120 artists, who

Other attractions include children’s activities like a hands-on arts tent, face painting, ambulance tours, games and inflatables. New this year is a corporate plaza featuring yard games like corn hole, life-size checkers and jenga. The downtown festival has become a family tradition for many, Listen said. The appeal stems from the fact that there really is something for everyone. “There’s a lot to see and do,” she said.

Fiscal success

The event also is an annual boon to the Edmond economy. Listen said many downtown businesses try to stay open or establish special hours just for the festival.

[Artspace] at Untitled executive director Laura Warriner examines works for this year’s Steamroller Print Fest. | Photo provided

All of this is being done to fulfill Warriner’s original plan to make [Artspace] at Untitled an everyday destination for creatives to find inspiration and act on it. We’re trying to make a place where people can be exposed to the many ways in which art impacts their lives,” she said. “We want them to know that art is everywhere, and it can be everywhere in your life.”

Steamroller Print Fest 6:30-10:30 p.m. May 5, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 6 [Artspace] at Untitled | 1 NE Third St. 1ne3.org | 405-815-9995 $30-50 May 5, free May 6

Some of the economic benefits are realized even after the festival tents are put away. Walking the streets free of vehicle traffic, guests will sometimes spot a new or interesting store. “A lot of people will see a shop they’ve never seen before and come back to visit on a different date,” Listen said. The event is only possible, Listen said, through the help of its many sponsors. It is on a constant quest to better itself, and with a significant milestone anniversary on the horizon, organizers are open to new ideas to celebrate the occasion. “We’ll have some new bands out, so I think it’s going to be a really fun and unique year,” she said. “Since next year’s our 40th, we’re looking for ways to make it even bigger and better.” To accommodate this year’s event, Festival Market Place will close 6 p.m. May 3. There will also be a number of roads closing in the downtown area from 7 a.m. May 4 through 9 p.m. May 8. Visit downtownedmondok.com.

Downtown Edmond Arts Festival 10 a.m.-8 p.m. May 5-6, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. May 7 downtown Edmond downtownedmondok.com | 405-249-9391 Free

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ARTS & CULTURE Sh

ow

some love wi th

True West

Love Notes

3 lines (115 characters) of love note. No Charge! Click on the Mother’s Day Love Notes banner on okgazette.com to place a FREE message to your Mom, wife or that special person that puts up with you. Your Love Note will publish in the May 10, 2017 issue in the Oklahoma Gazette What Mama Wants section.

The Film Festival

Film Makers | By Film Makers THURSDAY, APRIL 27 THROUGH

SATURDAY, APRIL 29 Festival Pass $10 VIP Festival Pass $15

Twister Alley Film Festival Woodward Arts Theatre

Purchase Tickets at: TwisterAlleyFilmFestival.com

Woodward Arts Theater

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Hollywood and the American West captures the drama and the humanity of classic films. By George Lang

With its sky-scraping, multihued buttes and mesas jutting from the expanse of red soil, Monument Valley provided the backdrop for Hollywood’s vision of the American West. Photographer John R. Hamilton was on set for 77 films shot in Monument Valley’s five square miles of geological wonder on the Arizona-Utah border, beginning with John Ford’s iconic 1956 film The Searchers. Through Hamilton’s lens, the bright reds and blue-grays of the towering rock formations feel impossibly vivid, nearly stealing the scenes from such stars as John Wayne, Robert Mitchum and Natalie Wood. Five decades worth of Hamilton’s revelatory photography is now on display in Hollywood and the American West at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., capturing both the humanity of filmic deities and the red rock cathedrals surrounding them.

Don’t Miss

For

ART

Mother’s Day

John Wayne and son Ethan on the set of El Dorado in 1966. | Photo John R. Hamilton / John Wayne Enterprises / provided

Iconic location

“When we think of the West, we think of Monument Valley,” said receiving curator Kimberly Roblin, who set up the exhibit on loan from John Wayne Enterprises and the John R. Hamilton Collection. “And every time I look at these photos, I notice another detail.” Roblin was so thoroughly taken by the vistas captured in the exhibit she wrote a lengthy essay on the museum’s website calling for Monument Valley to be honored with an Oscar. So far, she has not found a bylaw that would keep the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from honoring a geographical land mass. It is deserving given that so many films — not just Westerns, but timehonored classics like Easy Rider and even 2001: A Space Odyssey — would not be the same without Monument Valley. Over the course of 68 photos, Hollywood and the American West chronicles not only the startlingly beautiful vistas of the area, but the hundreds of people who labored under extreme conditions to create The Searchers, Howard Hawks’ Rio Bravo and El Dorado, Lawrence Kasdan’s Silverado and others. Hamilton’s ability to capture the dramatic and the delicate, the severity and the humor of Hollywood’s Westerns earned him the plaudit

Actor Paul Newman props up his feet while reading The New Yorker on the set of The Left Handed Gun in 1958. | Photo John R. Hamilton / John Wayne Enterprises / provided

Remington With a Camera. While the epic landscapes are certainly a character in Hollywood and the American West, the most memorable images in the collection are decidedly human. Wayne is shown playing on set with his youngest son Ethan Wayne, now manager of John Wayne Enterprises. Kirk Douglas stands outside his trailer, striking a pose in a cowboy hat and bikini underwear. Screen sirens Wood and Ann-Margret appear completely relaxed amid the dust and turmoil of an on-location Western. “For me, I come from a history background, so I’m always drawn to the human element and the stories behind it,” Roblin said. “So that’s what I see as so intriguing about this work. You see John Wayne as a father, not just as Ethan Edwards [from The Searchers]. Or the great one of Kirk Douglas. It humanizes them.”

Surreal life

The signature photo of the exhibit shows 33-year-old Paul Newman reclining with his feet propped up inside a doorframe on the set of 1958’s The Left Handed Gun, reading an issue of The New Yorker. Roblin said this was an ideal choice as the defining image of Hollywood and the American West simply because it shows real life under unreal circumstances. “It’s visually so striking,” Roblin said. “It’s very minimal. Compared to the others, there isn’t a lot going on in the photo, but it draws you in. And I love that he’s reading The New Yorker. This was the same year that he shot Cat On a Hot Tin Roof and The Long, Hot Summer, so this was a big year for him, but you’d never know that because he’s just relaxing. I would love to know what article he’s reading.” Other photographs illustrate the strange juxtapositions that take place when shooting period pieces. On the set of 1981’s The Legend of the Lone Ranger, Hamilton captures a tense technical scene in which a helicopter flies in close to shoot a stagecoach. The result is a stunning display of engineered anachronism and depicts the lengths to which filmmakers go to get the right shot. Roblin said Hollywood and the American West is not only for Old West aficionados, because its depictions are strikingly universal. “I’ve always loved movies, so I was inherently excited by this project,” she said. “But then to really see them, even as a moviegoer, it really gave me a glimpse into something I thought I knew quite a bit about — the making of movies — but I learned that I didn’t know about the sheer logistics behind making movies. And too, there is the human element. It’s a really an exciting exhibit for us. Even if someone thinks it’s something that isn’t up their alley, I would challenge them to think otherwise.” That idea of challenging preconceptions of the West and the museum itself is a major part of what makes Hollywood and the American West so fascinating, she said. “Some people think of our museum as doing just one particular thing, but we’re trying to change that perception and challenge people’s perception of the West and ask themselves, ‘What is the West?’ I would hope that people would set their preconceptions aside and even if they think they don’t have an interest in Western history or film, they should take a chance.”

Hollywood and the American West through May 14 National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd St. nationalcowboymuseum.org | 405-478-2250 Free - $12.50 O kg a z e t t e . c O m | a p r i l 2 6 , 2 0 1 7

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ARTS & CULTURE

Layered laughs

Oklahoma City Theatre Company’s Hir features complex issues in its captivating dark comedy. By Lea Terry

T h e at e r

In Oklahoma City Theatre Company’s Hir, a dishonorably discharged war veteran returns home to find himself in another type of combat zone. After serving in the mortuary affairs department, Isaac (portrayed by Dakota Lee Bryant) returns home to a world he does not recognize. The war veteran also has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He learns his once-battered mother Paige (J. Christine Lanning) is now head of the household. Her abusive husband Arnold (Grant Brittan) is virtually incapacitated. Additionally, Isaac’s former tomboy sister Max (Matthew Zodrow) is transitioning to a male. The play’s title refers to Max’s pronoun of choice, but director Kory Kight-Pagala said the play is not just about gender identity. It touches on everything from family dynamics to changing times and what happens in the aftermath of transition and upheaval. “It gives you something to talk and think about,” Kight-Pagala said.

J. Christine Lanning as Paige and Grant Brittan as Arnold in Oklahoma City Theatre Company’s Hir | Photo Oklahoma City Theatre Company / provided

are broken instead of simply repairing or replacing the blinds. In Hir, the characters follow sometimes questionable and even sinister paths to dealing with their demons and their suffering. Now that her husband is incapacitated, Paige finds her revenge for his years of abuse by dressing him up in women’s clothing, slathering him with makeup and even feeding him a milkshake laced with estrogen. Their treatment of each other is one of the most shocking parts of the play, Kight-Pagala said.

Hir 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and May 4-6 Civic Center Music Hall | 201 N. Walker Ave. okctc.org | 405-297-2264 $10-$25

Sincere absurdity

Pollard Theatre Company stages a scam of surprising sincerity in the classic Mel Brooks musical The Producers. By Ian Jayne

Theater producers may pine for national recognition before their projects fall flatter than a missed note, but rarely the other way around. But that’s precisely the plot of Pollard Theatre Company’s production of 12-time Tony Award-winning Mel Brooks musical The Producers. It runs through May 6 at Pollard Theatre, 120 W. Harrison Ave., in Guthrie. Peering behind the curtain, The Producers tells the tale of Max Bialystock (played by W. Jerome Stevenson) whose failed musical production of Hamlet puts him in financial trouble. With the help of his accountant Leo Bloom (Jared Blount), Bialystock hatches a plan to purposefully put on a low-budget production of Springtime For Hitler and pocket the change — but things don’t go as planned. “It’s a laugh riot,” said director Matthew Sipress. “It’s the most fun rehearsal I’ve ever been in.” And Sipress, originally from Delaware, has been through a lot of rehearsals. After starting community theater at age 15, Sipress came to Oklahoma City University (OCU) to major in dance. He dropped out in 1991, 28

Performances run 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and May 4-5 at CitySpace Theatre at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. The director has been a fan of playwright Taylor Mac for several years, but Mac’s earlier works were too long or too complicated for OKCTC to produce. Hir is Mac’s first mainstream work. It also fit in nicely with the company’s new direction of producing plays that depict underrepresented or marginalized groups. The play opened in New York and was a critical hit. Kight-Pagala took it to the OKCTC board and said it was probably the best play he had read in 20 years. “It’s a tragic comedy,” Kight-Pagala said. “It’s very sad in one moment, but it’s still really funny.” In his introduction to the play, Mac calls the work “absurd realism,” which he describes as a “realistic but heightened point of view,” using the example of wearing sunglasses when the blinds

The production also touches on themes of transition and what happens to people and groups when their roles change and their world is supplanted by a new way of being. “What is the responsibility of the new civilization toward the one that’s either being left behind or abandoned? That’s the biggest theme. What happens to the past civilization when a new one arrives? It just happens, and what do you with the past?” she asked. “When you think about their hurt or their feelings, how do you deal with that as well?” Directing comedy is always challenging, Kight-Pagala said, because what’s funny to one person isn‘t necessarily funny to someone else. Attempting a dark comedy adds another layer of complexity. “It’s making sure that jokes are delivered in a way that they’re meant to be and they don’t come off as being insensitive instead of just a joke, and also not ruining the joke by putting your own commentary on it,” Kight-Pagala said. Visit okctc.org.

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a decision he considers fortuitous. “If I hadn’t, I never would have done my first production of Hello, Dolly! in Paris,” he said. Sipress eventually worked on both the national tour and the 1994 Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! After participating in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in 1999-2000 and two tours of Evita, Sipress eventually returned to OCU to earn an entertainment business degree. He graduated in 2010. Now, Sipress works full-time as Lyric Theatre’s associate production manager and company manager. After working with W. Jerome Stevenson on a production of Sweeney Todd at Reduxion Theatre Company, Stevenson approached him about directing The Producers. “I thought it was a great idea,” said Sipress, who also previously directed Jewel Box Theatre’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Playwrights have referenced themselves all the way back to William Shakespeare, who nestled the intentionally terrible Pyramus and Thisbe within A Midsummer Night’s Dream for

comedic effect. Such a well-trod technique depicts theater in conversation with itself, a metacommentary on performance art. A side effect of this absurdity is, of course, humor. The Producers derives the latter from many sources, but Sipress said the laughs originate with its creator, Mel Brooks. Initially conceived of as a novel and then a play by Brooks, The Producers finally evolved into a 1968 film and then a 2001 Broadway musical. Despite its broad humor, Sipress said The Producers doesn’t sacrifice genuine human emotion. “There’s this really beautiful, sincere moment at the end of the show where you realize these two people were actually friends throughout this ridiculous adventure,” Sipress said. Because of The Producers’ hearty laughs and human stories, Sipress said the show attracts a wide audience.

Jared Blount left portrays accountant Leo Bloom and W. Jerome Stevenson portrays Max Bialystock in Pollard Theatre Company’s The Producers. | Photo Pollard Theatre Company / provided

Fans of Brooks, cynical comedies and theater will each find something to enjoy, Sipress said. The Producers further widens its appeal by pulling from various genres of dance, including tap, ballet and a very special “walker” number performed by elderly women. “I have such a history with theater, and this is just my little love letter to the Pollard and to the theater,” Sipress said. “You can’t not have fun.” Visit thepollard.org.

The Producers 8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday and May 4-6 Pollard Theatre | 120 W. Harrison Ave., Guthrie thepollard.org | 405-282-2800 $15-$30

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Enduring tribute

OKC Memorial Marathon imbues competitive running with a sense of mission. By George Lang

When the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon begins its 26.2-mile winding path through the city, it is with a great sense of purpose. The Run to Remember is a chance to reflect on tragedy, but it’s also a show of strength. For Penny Voss, who was part of that first group of 3,500 runners in April 2001, a personal commitment to a lost friend kept her pushing forward. “I actually had a sorority sister who was killed in the bombing, and she was six months pregnant,” said Voss, who has participated in every OKC Memorial Marathon. “She was a few years younger than me, but I was an adviser and had known her well. So there was that issue, too; doing it for the right reasons.” At 6:30 a.m. Sunday, a projected 25,000 runners will line up between NW Fifth and Sixth streets on Harvey Avenue. Other events include a 6:25 a.m. wheelchair division, a 6:45 a.m. 5,000meter race and an 8:15 a.m. kids run. The event has expanded greatly since its beginnings, drawing runners from all 50 states and 12 countries. Kari Watkins, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum executive director, said it presents a continuous challenge for organizers, but the outcome is richly rewarding. “It is an enormous undertaking,” Watkins said. “It takes about 100 critical volunteers, and they each have dozens of volunteers that work for them. Next week, we’ll have over 3,500 volunteers. … We’re very interested in bringing along the next generation of runners, just like we do in the museum, who weren’t born at the time of the bombing.” As the Run to Remember, the OKC marathon serves as a reminder of the 168 people killed in the April 19, 1995, terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah

Federal Building. Five years after the attack, businessmen Chet Collier and Thomas Hill were running through downtown Oklahoma City and talking about the need for a marathon in their hometown. Hill (who served as the event’s president for 12 years) and Collier drafted a proposal for a full marathon that could serve as a reminder and as a Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum fundraiser. “Oklahoma City as a whole has embraced the race, from the mayor to the city council, the police, fire, EMSA and the medical community,” Watkins said. Voss, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation vice president of development, said the event launched at the right time. After college, she worked hard to stay in shape, teaching aerobics and maintaining a regular exercise regimen. But after her children were born, Voss found it increasingly difficult to juggle work, fitness and parenting. She started running because it could be done before her kids woke up every morning, and she ran solo most mornings for about four years, unwittingly training for a longtime commitment. In the late 1990s, a friend invited her to run in a half-marathon, which introduced a competitive edge to her regimen. In 2000, she and fellow runners were looking for a nearby marathon when Oklahoma City National Memorial announced its event. From there, the Run to Remember became an annual event for Voss, too. “I think when we got to number five, that’s when Kari and the committee started sending us emails encouraging us, saying, ‘If you make it 10, you’ll never have to pay an entry fee again.’ It just made it fun,” said Voss, who has run in

Runners take off from the starting line of the 2016 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. | Photo Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon / provided / file

28 of the long-distance races. “It’s the only marathon I train for now. I probably wouldn’t be running marathons still if it weren’t for this marathon.”

Sister cities

Last week, Watkins traveled to Massachusetts to observe preparations for the 2017 Boston Marathon, an annual run founded in 1897, a time when exercise was not widely seen as an essential component of health. She stood with several Oklahomans at the Logan International Airport who were excited to run in the time-honored event. They also were excited about returning to run in their hometown marathon. Watkins said the organizers of both races have formed a special bond since the April 15, 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, which killed three people. “We share a lot of commonalities, especially now after their bombing. We’ve started to help each other, and they’ve taken us under their wing and taught us what they know,” she said. “We’ve been sponges, just soaking up what they know and what they’re doing.” The Boston Marathon has a 120-year history, and Watkins is laying the groundwork for the OKC Memorial Marathon’s future. She said there will always be a need for the marathon, which raises funds and awareness for the memorial and museum to continue its mission to educate visitors about the dangers of domestic terrorism. To learn more, register, support a runner, donate or find fan spectator locations, visit okcmarathon.com.

Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon 6:25 a.m. Sunday Harvey Avenue between NW Fifth and Sixth streets okcmarathon.com | 405-235-3313 $15-$345

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APRIL 29 OCTOBER 29

ScienceMuseumOK.org (405) 602-6664 | 2020 Remington Place, Oklahoma City

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In bloom

The spring season signals a rebirth with updates and renovations at two city parks. By Ian Jayne

Spring in Oklahoma is in full bloom, and with it comes a rebirth of sorts at two different facilities managed by the Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation department. Renovations to Martin Park Nature Center’s visitor education building began in January and at Will Rogers Garden Exhibition Center in September. Both are now nearly complete and open to the public as the city adds finishing touches. Renovations to Martin Park’s visitor education center, which contains a library, an event room, a naturalist office, restrooms and multiple displays, were funded with $431,250 as part of the 2007 General Obligation bond. Another bond project allocated $219,000 to parking lot expansion and improvements, including adding 30 more parking spaces and doubling lighting. Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation natural resources manager Scott Copelin characterized the work as part of “growing pains” for the building, which was built in 1974. Martin Park, 5000 W. Memorial Road, offers 2.5 miles of woodland trails, a nature-themed playground, live animals and a nature learning library, guided hikes, spring and summer youth camps and more. With the changes come easier access to exhibits to better accommodate Martin Park visitors and staff. An entire wall and tank-filled exhibit in the nature center were moved for easier access and to make room for a new mural that depicts the variety of “eco-zones” found across Oklahoma and displays featuring native flora and fauna, including a tree trunk-like installation with prop bats and owls inside. Improvements include a new, more easily accessible door entrance that’s covered by an awning, which Copelin said allows guests to get out of the weather. Other upgrades to the aging

Two OKC parks, including Will Rogers Garden Exhibition Center, are getting improvements. | Photo City of Oklahoma City / provided

center include a new roof, countertop, sink, drainpipe and the addition of an east-side library window allowing new views of the pond. “I think once everybody sees the improvements, they’re going to like it a whole lot better,” Copelin said. This weekend, Martin Park Nature Center hosts Earth Fest as part of the City of Oklahoma City’s monthlong, Earth-friendly event roster. Ecofriendly arts, crafts, games and natureand conservation-themed family activities run 1-5 p.m. Saturday. Oklahoma Forestry Services staff also provide hands-on forest-related activities for guests. Due to construction at Martin Park, the event will be at Stars & Stripes Park at Lake Hefner, 3701 S. Lake Hefner Drive. Admission is free. Visit forestry. ok.gov/earth-fest or call 405-297-1429 for more information. Will Rogers Garden Exhibition Center improvements include upgrading the existing bathrooms, adding a new universal bathroom, new flooring, LED lighting throughout most of the building and a new ceiling in the exhibition hall. Renovations also added new sinks, countertops, windows, paint and more. “We’re raising the standard, we’re raising the bar, and I think the public will really like what’s going on,” Copelin said. Will Rogers Gardens, 3400 NW 36th St., is one of the city’s oldest parks and features historic gardens, an arboretum, expo center and conservatory and hosts programs, classes and summer youth camps. Visit okc.gov/recreation/will-rogersgardens or call 405-297-1392.

BOOKS

Good read

Oklahoma City children’s author Gwendolyn Hooks wins an NAACP Image Award. By Ben Luschen

yo u t h

The Oklahoma City-based teacherturned-children’s writer knew she was a finalist for the NAACP’s (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) literary Image Award but didn’t think she would win. She was not going to bother traveling to the February awards event in Pasadena, California. Her son, who lives in nearby San Diego, talked her into going. Hooks was nominated in the Outstanding Literary Work for Children category for her book Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas, first published in May 2016. During a recent Oklahoma Gazette interview, the author said that she knew most of the category’s other finalists. Since they had been writing longer than her, she figured one of them would win. She was shocked when presenters announced her name and ushered her up on stage. “I was just stunned,” Hooks said. “Everyone said, ‘Go up; get up there.’” Hooks said she had no idea who

Thomas, the subject of Tiny Stitches, was until a friend told her about the 2004 documentary Something the Lord Made. Thomas (who died in 1985) was a pioneering surgical technician who developed the technique for treating blue baby syndrome, a heart defect in newborns that is fatal if untreated.

I thought, ‘What he did is so amazing, everyone should know about it.’ Gwendolyn Hooks Thomas’ story amazed Hooks, and she knew she had to write more about the worldwide impact he made. If she did not know who Thomas was, she was sure there were plenty more who were unaware of him. “I thought, ‘What he did is so amazing, everyone should know about it,’” Hooks said.

Gwnedolyn Hooks | Photo provided

Hooks spent several years researching the topic, which included interviews with relatives and colleagues and vetting from scientists. Though Hooks had written many other children’s books, Tiny Stitches was also the first book she sold with a literary agent. The writer said there are a lot of lessons children can take from Thomas’ life. When she goes to speak to children at schools, she talks about how Thomas led his life in a way that put him in a po-

sition to succeed in medicine, which was always his goal. “I encourage [the students] to think about what it is that they want to do,” she said. “It’s not too early to think about it. What are you doing now to set yourself on that path?” Working in a medical lab in the 1940s and ’50s, Thomas also had to overcome discrimination from some of his peers. Hooks said she does not believe he ever let that affect his work. “From what I could tell, he was never bitter,” she said. “He just wanted to work in the lab and help as many people as he could.” Hooks made the jump from teacher to writer in order to pursue her longheld passion full time. She has published more than 17 children’s books. Her most recent book, If You Were A Kid During the Civil Rights Movement, was published in February. The writer said persistence in her craft, while difficult, has eventually paid off. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but it’s something I really, really wanted to do, so I just stuck with it. I know people who try it and the first book never sold, so they try something else,” she said. “I knew I wasn’t going to sell everything I wrote, and I still don’t, but I just don’t want to give it up. I love it.” Visit gwendolynhooks.com.

Roadside art

Off the Beaten Path celebrates the state’s charming and idiosyncratic attractions. By Christine Eddington

From early 2015 to late 2016, Science Museum Oklahoma smART Space galleries director Scott Henderson and his wife Katie crisscrossed the state, documenting the quirky, folksy, interesting and off-thebeaten-path attractions that dot our state. “Katie and I got the idea for this exhibit about two years ago,” he said. “We travel quite a bit, and every so often, we would run into things we’d never heard of in Oklahoma. We started looking for them. Some are natural, some are historic and others are artistic.” The couple eventually tracked down and photographed more than 75 destinations and use 43 in their Off the Beaten Path exhibition, on display now at smART Space inside Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place. The pair researched as many as they could, and one thing led to another. “We … found that when we’d go someplace, someone would tell us about something else,” he said. “Some of them were really hard to find, even once we’d heard about them from several people, because they had no physical address.” In order to maximize their travel time, the Hendersons mapped out routes

that took them to 10 or more sites in a single trip, often camping in between, weather permitting. “We had to go back to quite a few, because we’d plan our trip one week and the weather was supposed to be clear, but then by the time we were on the road, conditions had changed,” he said. One of his favorite sites is in Nowata, where resident Chris Barbee transformed thousands of bowling balls into a yard-art homage to his late wife. “Chris Barbee’s wife loved to garden, and he would place bowling balls in her flower beds, like people use ornamental gazing balls,” Henderson explained. “She died in 1997, and he decided he would honor her memory by continuing to decorate.” Bowling ball installations include an abacus, an American flag, a rosary and a house framed with the weighty spheres. Barbee also created a rabbit out of bowling balls and pins. He’s so well-known for his art that people from more than 25 states visit just to bring him more bowling balls. Another, lesser-known public art creation resides in a ditch near Talala. Legend has it that a cement mixer fell off of a truck 35 years ago and landed in a

ditch, where it stayed, Henderson said. For fun, people began painting it, and in 2011, for their fifth wedding anniversary, Barry and Heather Thompson decorated it to look like a space capsule, and it has not been painted over since. Katie Henderson has her favorites, too. “In Kenton, which is in the very tip of the panhandle, there is an archeological dig with dinosaur bones,” she said. “There is also a place outside of town where scientists gather to look at and photograph the stars. They stay for a week and bring these huge telescopes, and all night, you can hear them buzzing as they rotate to take pictures of the stars.” She said that creating their Off the Beaten Path project was a wonderful and eye-opening experience. “Oklahoma is a great place; it’s really

Oklahoma’s offbeat attractions, including public art constructed from bowling balls, is featured in Scott and Katie Henderson’s Off the Beaten Path smART Space gallery exhibit, on display now at Science Museum Oklahoma. | Photo SMO / provided

diverse,” she said. “There are so many different landscapes, from the rolling hills in the southeast to the flat, rocky terrain of the panhandle. And every place we went, the people were wonderful.” Visit sciencemuseumok.org.

Off the Beaten Path 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday Science Museum Oklahoma | smART Space 2020 Remington Place sciencemuseumok.org | 405-602-6664 Free with paid museum admission

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calendar are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

BOOKS Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations, foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times Thomas Friedman discusses trends shaping the world today, global forces driving change in the Middle East and his latest book, 2-3:30 p.m. April 27. Oklahoma City Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater, 7777 S. May Ave., 405-682-1611, occc. edu. THU

Killer of the Flower Moon, David Grann signs his book that revisits a shocking series of crimes in which dozens of people were murdered in cold blood, based on years of research and startling new evidence, 6:30-8 p.m. May 2. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. TUE

FILM My Kid is Not Crazy, (US, 2016, dir. Tim Sorel) a film by Emmy-nominated director Tim Sorel follows the lives of six children and their families as they battle the debilitating symptoms of PANDAS, 7 p.m. April 27. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org/historycenter. THU The Graduate, (US, 1967, Mike Nichols) a disillusioned college graduate finds himself torn between his older lover and her daughter, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 26. AMC Quail Springs Mall 24, 2501 W. Memorial Road, 405-755-2406, amctheatres.com. WED I Am Heath Ledger, (US, 2017, Adrian Buitenhuis and Darik Murray) documentary providing an intimate look at Heath Ledger through the lens of his own camera as he films and often performs in his own personal journey, 7:30 p.m. May 3. Cinemark Tinseltown, 6001 N. Martin Luther King Ave., 405-424-0461, cinemark.com. WED The Death of Louis XIV, (France, 2016, Albert Serra) upon returning from a hunting expedition, King Louis XIV begins to die, surrounded by loyal followers in the royal chambers, April 28-30. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. FRI-SUN

HAPPENINGS Fraud Forensics Conference, experts from a variety of fields will cover fraud topics relating to uncovering fraud in taxes, banking, cyber security and government contracts, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. April 27. Meinders School of Business, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., 405-208-5536, okcu.edu/business. THU

Backwards Broadway, an evening of gender-bending, ethnicity-twisting and mind-blowing takes on Broadway hits presented by The City Cabaret, 8 p.m. April 28-29. The Paramount Theatre, 11 N. Lee Ave., 405-6379389, theparamountokc.com. FRI-SAT

Super! BitCon 2017, Oklahoma’s premier gaming expo featuring arcade, modern and tabletop games, vendors, exhibitors, artists and special guests, April 29-30. Oklahoma State Fair Park, 3221 Great Plains Walk, 405-682-2080, superbitcon.com. SAT-SUN

Human After All, Hartel Dance Group and local band Medicine Brother present an interactive, multimedia dance experience with local and international talent creating a playful and whimsical performance, 8 p.m. April 28-29. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-919-9331, harteldancegroup.org. FRI-SAT

Cards Against Humanity Tournament, good wine and dirty minds come together for the ultimate Cards Against Humanity tournament. Only two of the most horrible minds will win gift cards, 8 p.m. May 3. The Pritchard Wine Bar, 1749 NW 16th St., 405-601-4067, pritchardokc.com. WED

Día Del Niño Artists Amanda Zoey and Tessa Raven host a family event to unveil their Día Del Niño mural project on the side of the McKinley Park Community Center, commissioned by Classen Ten Penn Neighborhood Association. The event is 5-7 p.m. Sunday in the park, 1300 N. McKinley Ave. Admission is free and includes children’s games, a photo booth in front of the mural and free food like popcorn, pizza and elote, a Mexican street food of grilled corn. Visit classentenpenn.org. SUNDAY Photo Classen Ten Penn Neighborhood Association / provided

Vanessa House Beer Release, celebrate the official launch of the Double IPA, Broken Tile. Enjoy special glassware and live music with the staff of the craft brewery, 6 p.m. April 27. The Root, 3012 N. Walker Ave., 405-655-5889, therootokc.com. THU Gathering at the Kettles, bring your ingredients and join the Aha Big Crew while brewing beer and enjoying barbecue, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. April 30. The Brew Shop, 2916 N. Penn Ave., 405-528-5193, thebrewshopokc.com. SUN Patriarch Anniversary Celebration, celebrating the second year with local craft beer and live music from Edgar Cruz, Hosty, Goldie Lahr and Culture Cinematic, May 1-9. The Patriarch, 9 E. Edwards St., Edmond, 405-285-6670, thepatriarchedmond.com. MON-WED

YOUTH Homeschool Overnight: Nocturnal Animals, find out how some animals use their amazing senses to survive at night; enjoy animal demonstrations, a guided night hike, snack and light breakfast, April 28. Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden, 2000 Remington Place, 405-424-3344, okczoo.org. FRI

Newsmakers, join publisher Arnold Hamilton and special guests as they engage in lively political discussion, 6 p.m. April 27. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. THU

Circle of Stories, join Native American storytellers in the Power and Prestige Children’s Gallery and discover new stories, 10-11 a.m. April 29. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT

Norman Music Festival, festival features over 100 acts from all genres at intimate venues and large, outdoor stages. Enjoy poetry slams, comedy shows and an open-air market as well, April 27-29. Downtown Norman, 122 E. Main St., Norman, 405-637-6225, normanmusicfestival. com. THU -SAT

Meet the Gardener, join children’s garden manager Abby Curry for a behind-the-scenes look at composting and newly planted herbs, 10-11:30 a.m. April 29. Children’s Garden, 301 W. Reno and Harvey Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens. com. SAT

Resonance 2017, immersive art and music including a DJ party, experimental composers, sculpture installation, design prints and swag, food and panel discussions from local community members about issues of race, gender and mental illness, April 28-30. Resonator, 1010 N. University Blvd., resonator.space. FRI-SUN Oklahoma Gardeners Association Plant Sale, find new and unusual varieties of plants with gardeners on-hand to answer any gardening questions, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 29. Urban Mission, 3737 N. Portland Ave., 405-946-1556, urbanmissionokc.org. SAT

Nature and Wildlife: Scout Program, learn about plants and wildlife and what you can do to help while completing requirements for the Nature and Wildlife Badge, April 29. Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden, 2000 Remington Place, 405-424-3344, okczoo.org. SAT Early Explorers, program for toddlers and preschoolers, giving them the time to explore science through hands-on activities, 10-11 a.m. May 3. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 405-6026664, sciencemuseumok.org. WED Bodies Revealed, exhibition showcasing real human bodies preserved through a revolutionary process allowing visitors to see themselves in a fascinating way like never before, through October. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org.

PERFORMING ARTS Christine Stedman, wife and mother of two, Stedman began her comedy career late in life when she made a name for herself in the comedy world as a finalist for Nick at Night’s Funniest Mom in America, April 26-29. Loony Bin Comedy Club, 8503 N. Rockwell Ave., 405239-4242, loonybincomedy.com. WED -SAT Eroica Trio, Grammy-nominated trio; three women who make up this celebrated ensemble electrify the concert stage with their passionate performances, 7:30 pm April 27. Armstrong Auditorium, 14400 S. Bryant Road, Edmond, 405-285-1010, armstrongauditorium.org. THU

Opera On Tap If you’d like to pair arias with amber ales or watch a diva while drinking a doppelbock, Opera On Tap OKC has the perfect evening for you. The group performs operatic hits and some lesser-known works while guests sip on craft beer, 1011:30 p.m. Saturday at The Root, 3012 N. Walker Ave., Suite B. The bar features local beers and some brews from around the globe. Admission is $5 and guests must be age 21 or older. Visit facebook.com/OperaOnTapOKC or call 405-655-5889. Saturday

Jimmy Pardo, a seasoned veteran of comedy clubs and late night television, appearing on such shows as The Tonight Show, Conan and his own special on Comedy Central, 8-10 p.m. April 27. ACM Performance Lab, 329 E. Sheridan Ave, 405-9744700, acm.uco.edu. THU The 39 Steps, madcap hilarity when seven actors take on over 100 characters in this send-up of Alfred Hitchcock’s original 1935 suspense thriller, April 2729. OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center, 7777 S. May Ave., 405-682-7579, occc.edu. THU -SAT

Photo Opera On Tap / provided

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State of the Performing Art, fundraising showcase benefiting Oklahoma City performing arts students attending summer programs, 6 and 8 p.m. April 29. Edmond Fine Arts Institute, 27 East Edwards St., Edmond, 405-340-4481, edmondfinearts.com. SAT

FOOD

Robert Con Davis-Undiano book signing, reading from and signing copies of Mestizos Come Home: Making and Claiming Mexican American Identity, 5-7 p.m. April 27. Commonplace Books, 1325 N. Walker Ave., 405-551-1715, commonplacebooksokc.com. THU Yun Wang Poetry Reading, poet and cosmologist presents a special reading of her poetry, 7:30 p.m. April 30. The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., Norman, 405307-9320, pasnorman.org. SUN

Urban Herbs: Herb Sale and Workshops, aromatic and healing herbs for sale with all proceeds benefiting the Myriad Gardens Volunteer Program, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 29. Park House, 125 Ron Norick Blvd., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com. SAT

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

Ladies Only Wine Dinner with Sex Expert Sara Cole French is the language of love, so it only makes sense that La Baguette Bistro would host an evening of food, wine and intimate conversation. The Ladies Only Wine Dinner features a talk from sex expert Sara L. Cole and begins 6 p.m. Sunday at 7408 N. May Ave. Tickets are $65 and include three courses by chef Alain Buthion paired with three wines. Reservations are required. Visit labaguettebistro.com or call 405-840-3047. Sunday Photo Missy Ward / LimeLight Photography / provided

The Three Billy Goats Gruff, performed by students from the University of Oklahoma. Singers will present John Davies’ operatic version of the story, based on scenes from operas by Mozart, Donizetti and Rossini, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. April 22. Weitzenhoffer Theatre, 563 Elm Street, Norman, 405-325-2081, ou.edu/ finearts. SAT Wayne Brady, entertaining audiences with his singing, acting and unmatched improvisational skills for over a decade, the Emmy winner brings his individual variety performance mixed with music and comedy, 7 p.m. April 29. Riverwind Casino, 1544 State Highway 9, Norman, 405-322-6000, riverwind.com. SAT Listen to Your Mother, national movement featuring stories of motherhood to support Boys and Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County; stories range from the laugh-out-loud to heartbreaking tales of a mother’s loss, 3 p.m. April 30. Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden Education Building, 2000 Remington Park, 405-424-3344, okczoo.org. SUN Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science, mixing together a perfect base of science, music and food into two hours of pure entertainment with songs, multimedia presentations, talk-show antics and bigger and better, potentially dangerous food demonstrations, April 30. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. SUN Lea Salonga, performing hits from Broadway including Miss Saigon, Les Misérables and Hamilton along with treasured Disney songs from animated films such as Aladdin and Mulan, May 2. UCO Mitchell Hall Theater, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, 405974-3375, uco.edu. TUE

Grand Night for Winds, the largest Brightmusic wind ensemble performs of a pair of serenades by Dvora¡k and Mozart under the baton of guest conductor Michael Haithcock, 7:30 p.m. May 2. St. Paul’s Cathedral, 127 NW 7th St., 405-235-3436, stpaulscathedralokc.org. TUE

the forms of painting, works on paper and photography, through June 19. National Weather Center, 120 David L. Boren Blvd, Norman, 405325.3095, ou.edu. New Works by Eric Tippeconnic, conveying Indigenous peoples in a way that demonstrates that they are not a remnant of a bygone historical era; but instead are a vital part of the modern world, through May 14. Kasum Contemporary Fine Arts, 1706 NW 16th St., 405-604-6602, kasumcontemporary.com.

Michael Palascak, as seen on Conan, Letterman, The Tonight Show, The Late Late Show, Comedy Central and Last Comic Standing, May 3-6. Loony Bin Comedy Club, 8503 N. Rockwell Ave., 405-239-4242, loonybincomedy.com. Miss Nelson is Missing, when the too-nice Miss Nelson disappears, her replacement is hard-as-nails, detention-loving, recess-canceling substitute teacher Viola Swap, through May 5. Oklahoma Children’s Theatre, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., 405-606-7003, oklahomachildrenstheatre.org. Curtains, follow the mischief and mayhem to solve this hilarious 1950s whodunnit’ musical comedy by the Tony-winning writers of Chicago and Cabaret, 8 p.m. April 28-May 6. Elsie C. Brackett Theatre, 563 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-0538, musicaltheatre.ou.edu. South Pacific, set in an island paradise during World War II, two parallel love stories are threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war, through May 7. Jewel Box Theatre, 3700 N. Walker Ave., 405-521-1786, jewelboxtheatre.org.

ACTIVE OKC Thunder vs Houston Rockets, 7 p.m. April 27. Chesapeake Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., 405-602-8700, chesapeakearena.com. THU Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, OU Medicine hosts the ninth Annual tournament benefiting the Oklahoma Adaptive Sports Association, 5:30-9 p.m. April 27. OCU Freede Wellness Center, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., 405-208-5000, okcu.edu. THU Bowl for Kids Sake, a night of bowling with proceeds helping support the life-changing work of Big Brothers Big Sisters, 3-5 p.m. April 28. Dust Bowl Lanes and Lounge, 421 NW 10th St., 405-609-3302, dustbowlok.com. FRI Health and Fitness Expo, showcasing more than 60 exhibitors featuring a wide array of products and services geared toward runners, walkers and health-minded consumers with a speaker symposium where attendees will learn about running, fitness and more, April 28-29. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, 620 N. Harvey Ave., 405-235-3313, oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org. FRI-SAT National Eating Disorders Awareness Walk, walk to support individuals and families affected by eating disorders, improving access to quality treatment and increasing research funding to better understand and treat eating disorders, 9-11 a.m. April 29. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-418-4448, nedawalk.org. SAT People’s Climate March OKC, bringing awareness to the issue of climate change and demand immediate action to mitigate its effects. Groups will have tables with information, buttons, signs to carry in the march and more, 1-3:30

Experimental Concert, Noise and Sound Art Show For those who doubt the power of certain kinds of music to transport listeners to another place and dimension, this show will make you a believer. The Act Human, Samuel Regan and Candyass Execution team up for an experimental noise concert and art show 7 p.m. Thursday at Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO) gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave. Admission is a $5 suggested donation. Drinks will be available for purchase. Strobe lights will be used during the show. Ear protection is also recommended. Visit individualartists.org or call 405-232-6060. THURSDAY Photo bigstock.com

Squared Up, design showcase and cocktail mixer featuring illustration and artwork created by local creatives, UCO Design students, alumni and faculty, 5:30 p.m. April 28. CHK Central Boathouse, 732 Riversport Drive, 405-974-3774, cfad.uco.edu. FRI The Artistry of the Western Paperback, study the works of A. Leslie Ross, Robert Stanley, George Gross, Stanley Borack, Tom Ryan, and Frank McCarthy and decide: Is it art or something else? Does it belong on a bookshelf, on exhibit or both? through May 14. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org.

p.m. April 29. Bricktown Harkins Plaza, 150 East Reno Ave., 405-605-7767, oklahoma.sierraclub.org. SAT Community Barre3 in the Gardens, bring your yoga mat and water for a season of outdoor fitness, 7-8 p.m. May 1. Great Event Lawn and Band Shell, 301 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com. MON OKC Dodgers vs Colorado Springs, May 2-5. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive, 405-218-1000, milb.com. TUE-FRI Learn-to-Swim Program, allowing residents of all ages and financial situations to learn to swim with proper technique and basic water safety at their own pace offered by King Marlin Swim Club, ongoing, Lighthouse Sports Fitness and Health, 3333 W. Hefner Road, 405-845-5672, marlinswimamerica.com.

VISUAL ARTS Cloudscapes, 16 oil-on-canvas works of art by Oklahoma artist Marc Barker, drawing inspiration equally from his backgrounds in science and art, through May 14. Myriad Botanical Gardens, Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405445-7080, myriadgardens.com. Exhibit C Ledger Art, four contemporary artists experienced in ledger art display their distinctive artwork. Discover a captivating scene showcasing the creations by Paul Hacker, George Levi, Dylan Cavin and Lauren Good Day Giago, through June 30. Exhibit C, 1 E. Sheridan Ave., 405-767-8900, exhibitcgallery.com. Expressionist paintings, Bert Seabourn is a painter, print maker, sculptor and teacher. He makes each piece of art a unique fusion of design, color, form and composition, using a layering of texture with drips, smears, runs and splatters, through April 29. 50 Penn Place Gallery, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-8485567, 50pennplacegallery.com. WED -SAT

Straight Outta Oz The ever-talented Todrick Hall — an American Idol semi-finalist, YouTube sensation and star of MTV’s Todrick documentary series — brings his Straight Outta Oz musical to Oklahoma City. The production uses imagery and themes from The Wizard of Oz and music from Hall’s 2016 Straight Outta Oz album. The show begins 7:30 p.m. Friday at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. Tickets are $15-$80. Visit okcciviccenter.com or call 405-2972264. Friday Photo bigstock.com

Roots of Wisdom: Native Knowledge. Shared Science., stories from four indigenous communities, providing real-life examples of how traditional knowledge and Western science together provide complementary solutions to ecological and health challenges we face today, through May 7. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-325-4712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu.

Gelatin Plate Printing Workshop with Artist Meredith Roberts, use found objects like leaves, flowers, string and bubble wrap to make designs and stencils wile creating and experimenting with monotype printmaking, 1-4 p.m. April 29. Artspace at Untitled, 1 NE Third St., 405-815-9995, artspaceatuntitled.org. SAT Jeffrey Gibson: Speak to Me, multimedia artist Gibson’s first Oklahoma solo exhibit features recent works that draw upon his Native American heritage, aesthetics and traditions, through June 11. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org. Meditative Spaces, exhibition featuring abstract art works by Brandon Mitts and Katie Henderson, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through April 27. Melton Gallery, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, 405-974-2000, uco.edu. WED,THU National Weather Center Biennale Art Show, international juried exhibition focusing on weather in contemporary art in

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

4th Friday at The Market Celebrate the weekend with food, friends and the Farmers Market District as 4th Friday at The Market returns for another season. The monthly gathering brings together fabulous food trucks and local vendors 6-9 p.m. Friday at Delmar Gardens Food Truck Park, 1225 SW Second St. Dig into delicious craft burgers from BlueJ’s Rollin’ Grill, Viet-fusion cuisine from Yum Yum Bites and delectable desserts from That Pie Place while listening to the music of Amanda Bridges and shopping at Green Witch Apothecary and Dallas and Company. Visit delmargardensokc.com or call 405-232-6506. FRIDAY Photo Michelle Spurlock / provided

Submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions cannot be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or email them to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

For okg live music

see page 37

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MUSIC Exene Cervenca third from left with X, circa 1980 | Photo Frank Gargani / provided

said working within the constraints of the typical song format means music writing requires a lot more self-editing. “My poetry kind of lends itself to songwriting because of the way I like to rhyme,” she said. “My first song, I just wrote all the words and it was set to music. Then on certain other songs, I would write most of it or part of it or maybe just the first line, and John would bend it in to fit the song, or I would bend it to fit whatever the music was.”

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Keeping free

Xpert advice

Exene Cervenka relishes her role as a mentor as X celebrates 40 years of punk rock. By Ben Luschen

Early Los Angeles punk rock matron Exene Cervenka was super eager to talk about Skating Polly. Cervenka achieved prominence in American punk’s early years as a vocalist and frequent songwriter for X, the influential, rockabilly-tinged punk act founded in 1977. The band’s earliest albums, including 1980’s Los Angeles and 1981’s Wild Gift, are regarded as some of the most significant projects in rock ’n’ roll history. Her influence extends beyond the L.A. punk scene. Cervenka first crossed paths with Oklahoma City-founded poppunk sister duo Skating Polly in 2010 at a show. She hung out for a while with members Peyton Bighorse and Kelli Mayo (then just ages 14 and 9) and was immediately impressed by their extensive knowledge of punk music. She exchanged contact information with the girls, and they sent her Skating Polly’s 2011 debut Taking Over the World. Soon, Cervenka was personally invested in their artistic development. She produced the band’s sophomore record Lost Wonderfuls. “Their first record was really good and they were just children then, so you could just tell that they were going to get better and better,” Cervenka said in a recent Oklahoma Gazette interview. “They have more amazing stuff to do yet.” Cervenka was eager to geek over 34

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Skating Polly during the recent Gazette interview ahead of X’s 40th Anniversary Tour stop May 3 at Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S. Eastern Ave. Skating Polly opens for X in that show and joins the band for other dates along the tour. Cervenka’s son Henry Blake Mortensen, born in 1988 while she was married to actor Viggo Mortensen, is producing a Skating Polly documentary that she said is nearly finished. For Cervenka, Bighorse and Mayo are now considered extended family. “I think they’re super talented and wonderful to be around,” she said of the duo, who relocated from OKC to Tacoma, Washington.

Creative heart

Cervenka said she grew up in a time and place removed from the opportunities Skating Polly and other young female musicians now enjoy. As an adolescent, the possibility of being in a band — especially one that bucked convention in the ways X eventually would — never occurred to her. As a child growing up in Mokena, Illinois (she moved with her family to Tallahassee, Florida, at age 13), she let her mind take her to places reality could not. “That was the early ’60s, and girls couldn’t even play baseball,” she said. “I lived out in the middle of nowhere in the country, so there was no chance [of start-

ing a band]. Everything was in your mind, and it was all about imagining things — you were a spy or anything through your imagination.” Even outside of a band, Cervenka’s young mind sought ways to express itself. She became interested in writing and poetry. She still writes and has published several books of poetry. Art and writing ambitions are part of what convinced her to move to Los Angeles at age 20. Cervenka said it was a time when young people could live comfortably with little money. She moved in with a friend and began working at the Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center in nearby Venice. Not long after landing the job, she met future X bandmate-slash-husband John Doe (they divorced in 1985) at one of the center’s open mic nights. A few years later, bassist and vocalist Doe invited Cervenka to lead a band he recently formed with guitarist friend Billy Zoom. She agreed, although a music career was never something she had considered. “I didn’t come to California to be in a band, and it never occurred to me to even think of being in a band,” she said. X quickly established its prominence in L.A.’s burgeoning punk community, performing alongside acts like Germs and The Flesh Eaters. X inked a record deal with California punk label Slash Records. Los Angeles, the band’s landmark 1980 debut, was produced by Ray Manzarek, best known as keyboardist in another influential L.A. rock act: The Doors. Manzarek also produced and occasionally played keyboards on X’s next three albums. As a poet, Cervenka naturally fell into a songwriting role. Though similar, she

X’s 40th anniversary tour includes Cervenka, Doe, Boom and drummer D.J. Bonebrake. They are also joined by a fifth member, Craig Packham, who fills in on guitar and drums when Zoom or Bonebrake play saxophone or vibraphone. Cervenka said it would be an amazing accomplishment just to live for 40 years, not to mention being in a band for that long. Hitting the milestone anniversary was a natural cause for celebration. “It’s just logical,” she said. “It’s been 40 years and people like to round things out.” Cervenka was keenly aware of how special the late ’70s and early ’80s punk scene X was part of was. She reveled in every moment and still looks back fondly on the best years of her life. “It was all-encompassing and just fueled by alcohol or whatever,” she said. “It was fun and exciting, and we were young and had all this energy. Life was so easy back then.” It would be harder, she said, for X to break into music the same way in today’s industry-focused climate. Cervenka said X would be like one of the modern independent bands that swears off superstardom in the name of art and fiercely personal expression. “I think now everything is also really sexualized and monetized and corporate,” Cervenka said. “It’s all about winning and being a billionaire and being beautiful and being hot. It’s not about content.” Cervenka admits that she is, to an extent, conflicted about her past. On one hand, she wishes she and her bandmates had taken their music more seriously — perhaps partying less and working more on their craft. Then again, she also had the best times of her life. She regrets nothing. The pioneering punk queen spends little time dwelling on what might have been because there’s no way to change the past. Instead, she focuses on assisting young talent like Skating Polly. And to a degree, the sisters assist her as well. “I’m sure they’ve given me some advice at some point,” she said. Visit xtheband.com.

X: The 40th Anniversary Tour with special guest Skating Polly 8 p.m. May 3 Diamond Ballroom | 8001 S. Eastern Ave. diamondballroom.net | 405-677-9169 $25-$99

event

Distinct Cinco

Selena de Mayo is an all-out tribute to the timeless Tejano icon. By Ben Luschen

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE CLASS OF 2017 Before Stephanie Peña cultivated a deep connection with her Mexican heritage, she had Selena. Peña’s story is similar to many Mexican-American children who are a generation or two removed from their native ancestry. The allure of American culture can be powerful, especially when you grow up surrounded by it. For Peña and many of her generation, the mononymous Tejano-pop superstar was the bridge that connected those two worlds. “The way I actually learned Spanish was teaching myself the lyrics to Selena songs,” she said. Peña stars in Selena de Mayo, a special Cinco de Mayo tribute to Selena, 8 p.m. May 5 at 51st St. Speakeasy, 1114 NW 51st St. The event is produced by Leslie Hensley, also known as local performance artist Balthazar. Peña sings Selena’s classic hits backed by Hensley’s vocals and the Balthazar band. Music starts around 10 p.m. Guests who walk into the Speakeasy that night will be treated to an immersive Selena experience. The eponymous 1997 biopic starring Jennifer Lopez will screen in the background. A large shrine to the star will be set up outside the bar, and guests will be able to contribute to it. A live DJ, character artist and a Selena costume contest will also be part of event. Hensley said she first had the idea for a Selena tribute show shortly after completing her Dirty Dancing tribute, Dirty Christmas, in December. She immediately thought Peña, the official vocalist for the National Council of La Raza Latino civil rights organization, would be perfect for it. The singer was more than enthusiastic about signing on to the project. “She went outside and auditioned for me, even though she didn’t have to,” Hensley said. Selena, born as Selena Quintanilla, is one of far too many young, beloved music superstars who died in the prime of their careers and lives — a list that also

Stephanie Peña performs Selena’s greatest hits with a live backing band during Selena de Mayo. | Photo Seth Lewis / provided

includes artists like Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse, Buddy Holly, Tupac Shakur and others. Selena’s death is perhaps even more tragic because she was shot and killed by her business manager — also her former fan club president — in March 1995. The Texas-born artist made a name singing Spanish-language Tejano hits but grew a new, more expansive audience with her 1995 posthumous crossover album Dreaming of You. “Selena is one of those iconic artists who did make it big, but obviously with her death and all the tragedy, it just continued the momentum,” Peña said. “It uncovered new audiences even after her passing.” Of the songs Peña is set to perform, the most meaningful for her is “No Me Queda Mas.” “It’s Selena’s most famous ballad,” she said. “That song is just tears. I used to sing it to my grandma when she was sick — may she rest in peace and I hope she loves it in heaven. It’s an amazing song that means so much to me personally.” Hensley said she thinks a lot of people will be interested in this show and that it offers a fun alternative to traditional Cinco de Mayo events. It is also a rare opportunity for fans in Oklahoma City to hear Selena’s music performed with a live backing band. “It’s going to be great,” Hensley said. “Listening to [Peña] and the band, it’s just crazy.”

Help us recognize the men and women who are shaping Oklahoma City and its future. To nominate one of Oklahoma City’s brightest young leaders visit okgazette.com today.

DEADLINE IS JULY 7, 2017 brought to you by

Selena de Mayo 8 p.m. May 5 51st Street Speakeasy | 1114 NW 51st St. 51stspeakeasy.com | 405-463-0470 $5 cover

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Folloonw Us

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...all the cool kids are doing it!

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MUSIC

Instrumental spectacle

it’s never like, “Hey, you guys need to have a record done in six months.” I think when we all start feeling antsy to do it and have new stuff is when we start.

Explosions in the Sky is destined to dazzle fans at Saturday’s concert at The Criterion. By Ben Luschen

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Oklahoma Gazette

Songs by Explosions in the Sky are nothing if not emotive. The Austin, Texas-based instrumental post-rock quartet is so keen at giving musical expression to multitudes of life experiences that it is often enlisted to record movie and television show soundtracks, including Friday Night Lights and Lone Survivor. While most of its tunes lack a lyrical component, the band’s tireless attention to detail adds cinematic depth to its work. Local fans can immerse themselves in the aural expanse as Explosions in the Sky performs 8 p.m. Saturday at The Criterion, 500 E. Sheridan Ave. The band is also known for its methodic creative approach. Explosions was founded in 1999 and released its seventh and most recent studio album, The Wilderness, in April 2016. On it, Explosions rerouted its recording routine in an attempt to reconstruct its sound and create a more dynamic experience for their fans. The result earned critical acclaim. Explosions in the Sky is comprised of drummer Chris Hrasky, bassist Michael James, guitarist and keyboardist Munaf Rayani and guitarist Mark Smith. Utility musician Carlos Torres often performs with the band in concert. Hrasky recently spoke with Oklahoma Gazette about the band’s creative process and how its music is often perceived. Oklahoma Gazette: If you had to guess, how long do you guys usually spend working on an album in total? Chris Hrasky: For this record [The Wilderness], writing it all probably happened over the course of a year. That’s not to say it was like eight hours a day every day for a year, but we were sending email files back and forth and talking about stuff. … I think we spent about two weeks in the studio, which is by far the longest we’ve ever spent recording an album. I think we came back a few months later to mix it over three or four days. The process probably started in

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earnest in mid-2014, and by summer of 2015 we were in the studio recording it. OKG: The album came out a little over a year ago. Do you think your fans reacted to the album in the way that you would have wanted? Hrasky: For the most part, it seems that way. You sometimes see Facebook messages and stuff saying, “Why did you change your sound?” or “Why did you do something different?” But, I mean, what are you supposed to say to that? That’s fine; you don’t have to like it. But, for the most part, it seems like people have been into it. They respond to the new songs when we play them live, but going into this album we wanted to change some things up. It just felt pointless to approach everything the same way we had been doing the last 15 years. It felt necessary to approach things in a different way. OKG: How collaborative is the songwriting process usually? Hrasky: It’s completely collaborative. That’s part of the reason I think it takes such a long time. ... Someone comes up with one little idea, and we all just build from there. … Someone will say to me, “Maybe try this with the drums,” and I’ll say, “Well, I feel like there should be this guitar line here.” It’s a very circular process, which makes it take a long time. There’s no one really in charge; we’re all just kind of together working on it. Ultimately, that’s very rewarding, but it definitely makes for a much slower process. OKG: How does an album cycle usually get initiated? Is it a natural thing where it just feels like it’s time? Hrasky: It just sort of happens somehow. … It’s just all of a sudden, we’ve got some ideas floating around and we’re just like, “OK, maybe we should start working on these.” No one ever puts a deadline on us to do anything. There are only just self-imposed deadlines in our minds, so

OKG: It doesn’t sound like there’s ever a lot of outside pressure to create. Hrasky: No. We would have never survived as a band under that sort of system. We’re pretty much in control of our own destinies. OKG: One of the things people like about the music the band makes is that the meaning and feel is open to listener interpretation. Because of that, how often does the popular feedback on a certain song turn out to be something you weren’t expecting at all? Hrasky: I think one that we hear a lot from people is that we make great music to study to. I find that interesting because on some of the more aggressive and rock parts, that seems strange to me. It would be way too noisy and too much going on for me to concentrate. That’s fine. … It’s a good thing. OKG: Your show Saturday is your last stop on this leg of your 2017 U.S. tour. What is usually your mindset heading into the last show? Hrasky: When it’s over, there’s always some relief, a sigh that’s like, “Alright; we’re going home tomorrow and we can have somewhat of a normal life again, at least for a little while.” We’ll be excited to get home, so we’ll probably be in pretty good spirits. OKG: Are you working on anything else over the rest of the year? Hrasky: We’ve got nothing other than shows this year. We’ve got a few things in the summer and then another U.S. tour in September, then I think we’re just going to try and take it easy for a while. I feel like we’ve been going pretty much nonstop, one way or the other, since the inception of the band. … We might end up doing some more soundtracks after that or start working on another record.

Explosions in the Sky with Still Corners 8 p.m. Saturday The Criterion | 500 E. Sheridan Ave. criterionokc.com | 405-840-5500 $25

Explosions in the Sky | Photo Nick Simonite / provided

LIVE MUSIC These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

Gray Wolf, Full Circle Bookstore. BLUEGRASS

The Direct Connect Band, Elmer’s Uptown. R&B

Higher Learning Academy, Brewhouse, Norman. HIP-HOP

MONDAY, 5.1

Michael Summers/The Blue Dawgs, UCO Jazz Lab.

Bleached/LCG and The X, 89th Street Collective. ROCK

JAZZ

Orcanaut/Fun Button, Blue Note Lounge. ROCK

WEDNESDAY, 4.26 Caroline Spence, The Blue Door. SINGER/SONGWRITER Claire Piersol, Will Rogers Lobby Cafe & Bar. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Scott Biram, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. BLUES

SATURDAY, 4.29

THURSDAY, 4.27

Allison Arms, Remington Park. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Aaron Newman, JJ’s Alley. FOLK

Big G, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. BLUES

SONGWRITER

DJ Ku Rx, Coyote Ugly Saloon. DJ Justin Shipley/Justin Flagg/Kevin Kennedy/Sarah Ross, Michael Murphy’s Dueling Pianos. PIANO Lil’Wayne/CyHi The Prynce, The Criterion. HIPHOP

TUESDAY, 5.2

Tyler Draper Band, The Patriarch, Edmond. COUNTRY Zack Baker, Noir Bistro & Bar. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Blake Lankford, JJ’s Alley. SINGER/

Steve Parnell, Bourbon Street Bar. ROCK

The Gypsy Bravado, Sauced on Paseo. ROCK

Oceano, 89th Street Collective. ROCK

Adam Aguilar, Bin 73. ROCK

Spence/Death Box/Art of Deception, Your Mom’s Place. ROCK

Pete Moran/Rick Lauria/Tonya Scot, Malarkey’s Dueling Piano Bar. PIANO

Caught Stealing/Fuera D’Servicio, HiLo Club. PUNK Danielle Nicole, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. BLUES David Wayne Broyles, Okie Tonk Café, Moore. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Eric Andersen, The Blue Door.

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Hook Echo, Newcastle Casino.

A Lot Like Birds/Hearts Like Lions/Owel, 89th Street Collective. ROCK

Birds of Chicago Birds of Chicago is comprised of talented, soulful folk duo Allison Russell and JT Nero, who pride themselves in creating meaningful lyrics and thoughtful, deliberate sounds. The band’s most recent album, Real Midnight, was released in February 2016. The show begins 8 p.m. Thursday at The Blue Door, 2805 N. McKinley Ave. Tickets are $20. Visit ticketmaster.com or call 405-524-0738. Thursday Photo Natalie Ginele Miller / provided

ROCK

Samantha Fish, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. BLUES

Jade Castle, Noir Bistro & Bar. SINGER/SONGWRITER

The Temptations, Sugar Creek Casino, Hinton. R&B

Taylor Atkinson, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY

Joe Dert/Stephen Hooks, 89th Street Collective. RAP Mr. Nasty, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK

SUNDAY, 4.30

FRIDAY, 4.28 Borgore/Disco Donnie/Subsonix/ WhatsHappy, OKC Farmers Public Market. ELECTRONIC Buddy South, The Root. COUNTRY Cross County Revenue/Aaron Woods Band, Stoney LaRue Music House. COUNTRY

Out of Sane, Aloha Bar. ROCK Ravens Three, Full Circle Bookstore. FOLK Stacey Sanders, The Mantel Wine Bar & Bistro. SINGER/SONGWRITER The Mills Band, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. COUNTRY

Piranha Brothers, Othello’s Italian Restaurant, Norman. ROCK The Black Lillies, The Blue Door. FOLK

The Metal Moose, Garage Dayz Studios, Edmond. ROCK

WEDNESDAY, 5.3 Jesse Cook, Will Rogers Theatre. JAZZ Kiel Grove, Red Brick Bar, Norman. FOLK

Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

free will astrology Homework: What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever done? Testify! Go to Realastrology. com and click on “Email Rob.” FreeWillastrology.com. ARIES (March 21-April 19)

I have misgivings when I witness bears riding bicycles or tigers dancing on their hind legs or Aries people wielding diplomatic phrases and making careful compromises at committee meetings. While I am impressed by the disciplined expression of primal power, I worry for the soul of the creature that is behaving with such civilized restraint. So here’s my advice for you in the coming weeks: Take advantage of opportunities to make deals and forge win-win situations. But also keep a part of your fiery heart untamed. Don’t let people think they’ve got you all figured out.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

“One of the advantages of being disorderly,” said author A. A. Milne, “is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.” I wouldn’t normally offer this idea as advice to a methodical dynamo like you. But my interpretation of the astrological omens compels me to override my personal theories about what you need. I must suggest that you consider experimenting with jaunty, rambunctious behavior in the coming days, even if it generates some disorder. The potential reward? Exciting discoveries, of course.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

According to my reading of the astrological omens, it’s time for you to take a break from the magic you have been weaving since your birthday in 2016. That’s why I’m suggesting that you go on a brief sabbatical. Allow your deep mind to fully integrate the lessons you’ve been learning and the transformations you have undergone over the past eleven months. In a few weeks, you’ll be ready to resume where you left off. For now, though, you require breathing room. Your spiritual batteries need time to recharge. The hard work you’ve done should be balanced by an extended regimen of relaxed playtime.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Apparently, a lot of kids in the UK don’t like to eat vegetables. In response, food researchers in that country marketed a variety of exotic variations designed to appeal to their palate. The new dishes included chocolateflavored carrots, pizza-flavored corn, and cheese-andonion-flavored cauliflower. I don’t recommend that you get quite so extreme in trying to broaden your own appeal, Cancerian. But see if you can at least reach out to your potential constituency with a new wrinkle or fresh twist. Be imaginative as you expand the range of what your colleagues and clientele have to choose from.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

In speaking about the arduous quest to become one’s authentic self, writer Thomas Merton used the example of poets who aspire to be original but end up being imitative. “Many poets never succeed in being themselves,” he said. “They never get around to being the particular poet they are intended to be by God. They never become the person or artist who is called for by all of the circumstances of their individual lives. They waste their years in vain efforts to be some other poet. They wear out their minds and bodies in a hopeless endeavor to have somebody else’s experiences or write somebody else’s poems.” I happen to believe that this is a problem for non-poets, as well. Many of us never succeed in becoming ourselves. Luckily for you, Leo, in the coming weeks and months you will have an unprecedented chance to become more of who you really are. To expedite the process, work on dissolving any attraction you might have to acting like someone other than yourself.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

On numerous occasions, French acrobat Charles Blondin walked across a tightrope that spanned the gorge near Niagara Falls. His cable was three and a quarter inches in diameter, 1,100 feet long, and 160 feet above the Niagara River. Once he made the entire crossing by doing back flips and somersaults. Another time he carried a small stove on his back, stopped midway to cook an omelet, and ate the meal before finishing. Now would be an excellent time for you to carry out your personal equivalent of his feats, Virgo. What daring actions have you never tried

before even though you’ve been sufficiently trained or educated to perform them well?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Ready for some subterranean journeys? They may not involve literal explorations of deep caverns and ancient tunnels and underground streams. You may not stumble upon lost treasure and forgotten artifacts and valuable ruins. But then again, you might. At the very least, you will encounter metaphorical versions of some of the above. What mysteries would you love to solve? What secrets would be fun to uncover? What shadows would you be excited to illuminate?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Why would you guzzle mind-clouding moonshine when you will eventually get a chance to sip a heart-reviving tonic? Why spoil your appetite by loading up on nonnutritious hors d’oeuvres when a healthy feast will be available sooner than you imagine? I advise you to suppress your compulsion for immediate gratification. It may seem impossible for you to summon such heroic patience, but I know you can. And in the long run, you’ll be happy if you do.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

“You’ll always be my favorite what-if.” Many years ago, I heard that phrase whispered in my ear. It came from the mouth of a wonderful-but-impossible woman. We had just decided that it was not a good plan, as we had previously fantasized, to run away and get married at Angkor Wat in Cambodia and then spend the next decade being tour guides who led travelers on exotic getaways to the world’s sacred sites. “You’ll always be my favorite what-if” was a poignant but liberating moment. It allowed us to move on with our lives and pursue other dreams that were more realistic and productive. I invite you to consider triggering a liberation like that sometime soon.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

I’d love to see you increase the number of people, places, and experiences you love, as well as the wise intensity with which you love them. From an astrological perspective, now is an excellent time to upgrade your

appreciation and adoration for the whole world and everything in it. To get you in the mood, I’ll call your attention to some unfamiliar forms of ardor you may want to pursue: eraunophilia, an attraction to thunder and lightning; cymophilia, a fascination with waves and waviness; chorophilia, a passion for dancing; asymmetrophilia, a zeal for asymmetrical things; sapiophilia, an erotic enchantment with intelligence.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You could go online and buy an antique Gothic throne or a psychedelic hippie couch to spruce up your living room. For your bathroom, you could get a Japanese “wonder toilet,” complete with a heated seat, automated bidet, and white noise generator. Here’s another good idea: You could build a sacred crazy altar in your bedroom where you will conduct rituals of playful liberation. Or how about this? Acquire a kit that enables you to create spontaneous poetry on your refrigerator door using tiny magnets with evocative words written on them. Can you think of other ideas to revitalize your home environment? It’s high time you did so.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Among America’s 50 states, Texas has the third-highest rate of teenage pregnancies. Uncoincidentally, sex education in Texas is steeped in ignorance. Most of its high schools offer no teaching about contraception other than to advise students to avoid sex. In the coming weeks, Pisces, you can’t afford to be as deprived of the truth as those kids. Even more than usual, you need accurate information that’s tailored to your precise needs, not fake news or ideological delusions or self-serving propaganda. Make sure you gather insight and wisdom from the very best sources. That’s how you’ll avoid behavior that’s irrelevant to your life goals. That’s how you’ll attract experiences that serve your highest good.

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes /daily text message horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700. O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a p r i l 2 6 , 2 0 1 7

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puzzles New York Times Magazine Crossword Puzzle Saddle up!

By Timothy Polin | Edited by Will Shortz | 0423

ACROSS 1 Tripartite commerce pact 6 Nickname for Angel Stadium, with “the” 10 Inspiration 14 They might pop up in the morning 19 Juno actress Page 20 Visa alternatives 22 Figure seen on [circled letters below] 23 Most wanted 24 1976 blaxploitation film that was a sequel to Dolemite 26 Fascinated 27 Is overcome with emotion, with “up” 28 It has two poles 29 Shelter 31 Tinder, for one 33 Boor 34 “Poppycock!” 35 Figure seen on [circled letters below] 38 Marquis’ subordinate 41 Like flowers’ stamens 42 Made-for-TV western co-starring Travis Tritt 44 ____ king 45 Moriarty, to Holmes 47 Asked a lot of questions, say 48 Vittles 50 Figure seen on [circled letters below] 55 Homes by churches 57 “I’ll pass” 58 Detroit-area stadium that hosted Super Bowl XVI 59 Down in front? 61 Disseminate 63 “Evidently” 64 French greeting 68 Part of a set 70 & 72 “If ever, oh ever a ____ there ____” (classic song lyric) 73 Exam with a reading- comprehension sect. 74 Figure seen on [circled letters below] 77 Hoedown partner 79 Pester 81 Setting off 83 [Right in the kisser!] 85 Lament of the defeated

90 Job-search time, maybe 91 Go postal 93 Figure seen on [circled letters below] 94 Dreyer’s ice cream partner 95 Go on a run? 96 Brownie, e.g. 98 Emails discreetly 101 Check 102 Overdo the criticism, say 103 It may be brown or blond 104 Santa Fe summer hrs. 106 Many a Wall St. recruit 108 Like a goner 110 Figure seen on [circled letters below] 114 Many a BYU attendee 117 “Pick me! Pick me!” 119 Rich breakfast item 121 Played out 122 Fiat 123 Collides hard with 124 48th vice president 125 Modern-day problem solvers 126 Meyers of late-night 127 In a foul mood 128 Interjected DOWN 1 Close 2 Prayer figure 3 Decide somehow by chance 4 Offers at motorcycle dealerships 5 Pharaoh ____ 6 Luxury-hotel amenity 7 “Here’s what I think,” briefly 8 Poindexter 9 Something getting stuck in a trunk? 10 Answer to “Are you …?” 11 Grayish 12 Hairspray matriarch 13 Kind of plane 14 Vox co-founder Klein and others 15 Signal for dinner 16 White-bearded sort 17 Hell week, e.g. 18 Assuage 21 Point of transition 25 Meditation syllables 27 South American cash crop 30 Cuts on the back? 32 Wedding rings?

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89 Rug rat 92 One looking to grab a bite? 97 Sphinx, in part 98 Probable money loser 99 Composer Debussy 100 Boston athlete 101 Philatelist’s collection 102 Vernacular 104 Satisfies 105 TiVo, for one 107 Amigos 109 Sweetly, on a score 111 Mark indelibly 112 River through ancient Nubia 113 Casino opening 115 365 giorni 116 Native Rwandan 118 Mind 120 Electric-bill unit: Abbr. 121 Place for a bachelorette party

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Account EXECUTIVES Stephanie Van Horn Saundra Rinearson Godwin Christy Duane Elizabeth Riddle EDITOR-in-chief Jennifer Palmer Chancellor jchancellor@okgazette.com Assistant EDITOR Brittany Pickering Staff reporters Greg Elwell Laura Eastes Ben Luschen Contributors Christine Eddington, Jack Fowler Ian Jayne, George Lang, Lea Terry Photographer Garett Fisbeck Circulation Manager Chad Bleakley Art Director Chris Street Production coordinator Arden Biard

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New York Times Crossword Puzzle answers Puzzle No. 0416, which appeared in the April 19 issue.

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