FILLING IN THE GAP: Art for All People by B. L. Eikner
Webster Wortham, June Riot, artwork submitted to the Greenwood Art Project poster contest
Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District was one of the recipients in January 2019 of a million-dollar Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge Grant. The Challenge is being transformed into a real and living art experience as it works along with the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission on its 2021 Commemoration. The Greenwood Art Project management staff consists of Rick Lowe (2014 MacArthur Fellow, artist, professor), Lead Artist; William Cordova (artist, cultural practitioner, sculptor), Lead Artist; Jerica Wortham (poet, owner of J’Parle’ LLC) Project Director; Jeff Van Haken (Professor, film maker), Project Coordinator; Marlon Hall (Tulsa Arts Fellow, anthropologist), Social Media Archivist; and Kode Ransom (community activist, artist), Minister of Travel.
The Greenwood Art Project has a wide assortment of projects scheduled for the Tulsa and Oklahoma communities starting in March 2021 and running through December 2021. Greenwood Art Project has provided funding for thirty-three artists and teams which has resulted in twenty-seven art projects. The projects range from a parade, online directory, anthology of poetry and essays, HipHop Album, Jazz Performance, Theatrical production and many more. Some of the venues that will host the events include ahha, Greenwood Cultural Center, First Baptist North Tulsa, OSU Tulsa, Church of the Restoration. The ever-shifting safety concerns brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic will determine the final dates of many of the activities and exhibitions.
A few of the Greenwood Art Project artists include: Chuck Cissel, former Broadway actor, recording artist, producer, director, choreographer, and former CEO of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. Cissel is a Tulsa native and graduate of the University of Oklahoma. His project is entitled, ‘All that Jazz and Blues in Greenwood.’ Katherine Mitchell is a jeweler and owner of Beads Please LLC as well as an author, former adjunct professor, graduate of Southern Nazarene University and college administrator. Her project is entitled, ‘Greenwood A Trilogy in Reflection.’ Dawn Tree is a professional abstract surrealist, author, graduate of the University of Oklahoma and owner of Underground Tree Studios, a creative marketing agency. Her project is entitled, ‘The Greenwood Joy Experience’. For a full listing of artists, projects, and dates, see their website at www.greenwoodartproject.org (continued to page 8)
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