Art Biz Workshop

Norman, OK – On Saturday, May 17, from 9 am to 4 pm the Norman Arts Council hosted the Art Biz: Simplify Your Art Marketing Strategy Workshop at MAINSITE Gallery led by Alyson Stanfield. The workshop was designed to help artists cut through the noise and focus on what truly works for their art career and life.

This workshop was designed for artists who are professionals with an active body of work and committed studio practice. At the workshop, artists learned strategies to build visibility and attract the right audience for their work, develop a personalized marketing plan tailored to their goals, receive feedback, gain insights on landing gallery shows, and give artists tools to help stay on track. The hands-on workshop helped them develop a clear, actionable plan with expert guidance from Stanfield and the support of fellow artists. Artists left with a strategy that aligned to their unique goals.

Alyson B. Stanfield is an art-marketing consultant, workshop leader, and artist advocate. Since 2002, she has helped thousands of artists around the world to gain visibility and sell more art through her private coaching, Essentials for Artist Success classes, The Art Biz Podcast, and her book, I’d Rather Be in the
Studio. Alyson believes that all artists deserve to be paid fairly for their work and is committed to helping them take control of their marketing with confidence and clarity.

Please contact
leslie@normanarts.org for more information.

Seika, Japan: The 20th Anniversary of Our Sister City

Seika, Japan: The 20th Anniversary of Our Sister City

The exhibition opens Friday, May 9 and runs through Friday, May 30, 2025

Norman Arts Council is pleased to announce MAINSITE Gallery’s exhibit: Seika, Japan: The 20th Anniversary of Our Sister City in partnership with the Japan Outreach Initiative Program and Norman Cultural Connection. The show features the history of the sister city relationship, traditional textiles from Seika town, and traditional craft from Kyoto.

Takaaki Saida and Miho Harada, two artists from Japan will be presenting their work. Takaaki Saida is a fifth-generation artisan of Saida Stoneworks (est. 1902) and certified traditional craftsman. Takaaki Saida creates Kyoto stone crafts and lanterns using tools passed down through generations. Miho Harada is a Japanese textile artist and founder of PARANOMAD. Inspired by the beauty of woven fabrics and skilled artisans, she shares the charm of the Tango region with audiences in Japan and abroad.

The exhibition debuts with an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 9, and runs through Friday, May 30, 2025. The reception is free, open-to-the-public and coincides with the 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk taking place in Downtown Norman each month.

On Saturday, May 10th at 1:00 pm at MAINSITE Gallery, Takaaki Saida and Miho Harada will also host an Artist Talk, Demonstration & Interaction. Visitors will learn more about the traditional crafts, see them in action, and try the techniques themselves.

MAINSITE Contemporary Art is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The gallery has free daily admission.

The exhibit is made possible with additional support by the Kirkpatrick Foundation, Japan American Society of Oklahoma, Japan Foundation New York, Seika Town, and the City of Norman. Questions regarding the exhibition, artists or requests for photos may be directed to Leslie Nottingham at Leslie@NormanArts.org or (405) 766-0720.

Norman Arts, City of Norman Accepting Submissions for Seventh Round of Artful Inlets Storm Drain Murals

Call for Artists: Seventh Annual Artful Inlets

Deadline for Submission: 11:59 p.m. Friday, February 28, 205

SUBMIT HERE

The City of Norman operates and maintains a series of underground pipes, open channels, ditches, and roadways used to collect or convey stormwater runoff from our homes and businesses to the nearest body of water, such as a creek, stream, or lake. In urban areas, stormwater runoff from hard surfaces, like roofs and driveways, flows along the side of the road until it reaches a storm drain, which is an opening or grate in the curb connected by a series of pipes and drainage channels to the nearest water body.  Water and other materials that enter these storm drains are transported directly to our creeks and streams without any treatment.  Some of the pollutants that enter our local creeks and streams with stormwater runoff include grass clippings, oil, trash, fertilizers, pesticides, and pet waste.

For the 7th Annual Artful Inlets program, the Norman Arts Council, Public Arts Committee, and City of Norman are inviting artists to submit designs that will transform city infrastructure into works of public art. These artful inlets will educate and raise awareness that pollutants that go down storm drains have a devasting impact on our local water quality. This year's theme is: Clean Stream Champions.

There are currently 25 Artful Inlets in the community in the Walker Arts District, Lion’s Park, and Colonial Estates Park. They are located in Vineyard Park (3111 Woodcrest Drive), Sequoya Trail Park (410 Sequoya Trail), and Chisolm’s Cattle Trail Park (2515 Wyandotte Way).

In support of this initiative, all designs for this round of Artful Inlets must include the tag line: Clean Stream Champions

Submission Rules

  • Artists Artists (or a team of artists) must be 18 years or older and a resident(s) of Cleveland County, Oklahoma.

    ·  Artists who completed an Artful Inlets design in the past are eligible to submit in 2025.

    ·  All designs must be submitted on the provided Design Worksheet.

    ·  Design proposals must be submitted through the designated online submission platform via the Norman Arts Council and no later than Friday, Feb 28, 2025. Only applications submitted through the on-line process will be considered. 

    .  Designs should incorporate this year's theme: Clean Stream Champions

    ·  Artists must submit and install their original designs.

    ·  Submissions must include a short biography and information about the proposed design.

    ·  A list of materials to be used that are not provided by the City of Norman and Norman Arts Council must also be included and approved. 

Design Criteria

All submissions we be evaluated on the following:

  • Artistic excellence

  • Each design must include the slogan “Think Blue, Act Green!” within the design.

  • When designing artwork, each artist is asked to consider the following themes:

    • Stormwater Pollution

    • Environmental Protection: the importance of cleaner water

  • The design must be appropriate for a public space.

  • Any materials supplied by the artist must be eco-friendly, not contribute to stormwater pollution, and be pre-approved by the selection panel at least two weeks before the designs are painted.

  • The design may not contain any business references, promotions, or advertisements.

  • It may not contain any breach of intellectual property, brands or trademarks, or depiction of illegal activity.

  • The final painting must match the proposed design.Design Criteria – All submissions we be evaluated on the following:

    ·  Artistic excellence

    ·  When designing artwork, each artist is asked to consider the following themes:

    1. Stormwater Pollution Prevention

    2. Environmental Protection:  the importance of cleaner water

    ·  The design must be appropriate for a public space.

    ·  Any materials supplied by the artist must be eco-friendly, not contribute to stormwater pollution, and be pre-approved by the selection panel at least two weeks before the designs are painted.

    ·  The design may not contain any business references, promotions, or advertisements.

    ·  It may not contain any breach of intellectual property, brands or trademarks, or depiction of illegal activity.

    ·  The final painting must match the proposed design.

    Selected Artists or Teams of Artists will receive:

    ·  A $750.00 stipend when installation and sealing is completed

    ·  A clean, primed area stationed off with appropriate traffic control devices while painting

    ·  A tent to provide shade over the area while painting

    ·  Sherwin-Williams Armorseal paint – black, white, yellow, red, and blue with a non-slip additive

    ·  Artists will have an opportunity to mix paint colors prior to installation

    ·  Water for painting

    ·  Tubs and containers for water and paint

    ·  Drinking water

    Artists must provide:

    ·  The original design

    ·  The ability to execute the accepted design within the allotted time

    ·  Brushes

    ·  Any other supplies or tools they deem necessary to execute their design

    The artists will be selected based on the materials submitted. Artist selection for this project will be made by a panel including City of Norman and NAC staff and members of the Norman Public Arts Committee who will choose 5 artists and 1 alternate.

    Soon after the selected artists are notified, a staff member from NAC or the City will meet with artists at the parks to assign designated areas and to discuss the specific size and shape of their design relative to their assigned space.

    Timeline

    ·  Submission deadline is Friday, Feb 28, 2025

    ·  Artists will be selected and notified by Friday, March 29, 2025

    ·  Artist meeting at Parks on Wednesday, April 2, 205

    ·  Paint mixing day on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 9:00-11:00 AM and 1:00 – 3:00 PM

    ·  Installation of the artwork will be on Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11, 2024

    During the two days of installation, the artists will be photographed and interviewed, and a video will be made to allow each artist to talk about their design, their motivation for participating, and their process. These will be used to create a feature segment for on the Norman Arts Council’s YouTube channel and other social media platforms.

    Please note that if there are any changes to the installation schedule due to inclement weather, selected artists will be contacted with alternate installation dates. 

    Defined space for artwork 

    The area that artists are allowed to paint is approximately three (3) feet wide by ten (10) feet (see template) on a variety of concrete surfaces. 

    Artists must use the template to propose designs. Be mindful that some changes to your design may be required to accommodate the specific location. 

    Please use the submission template as a guide but understand the design may be slightly altered if chosen. Artists, the City of Norman, and NAC will all agree on needed alterations. 

    Copyright

    The design must be original and must not infringe on any other person’s intellectual property rights.

    Each selected artist further grants the City of Norman and the Norman Arts Council the exclusive rights to reproduce the design (including electronic images) for fundraising, educational, and promotional purposes.

    Vandalism

    While the City of Norman will provide a clear vandal-resistant varnish, artists should also be aware that the City of Norman cannot prevent vandalism to said artwork, although every effort will be made to protect it.

    Maintenance

    The Artful Inlet murals are expected to last approximately one year. They may last longer, but the City of Norman and Norman Arts Council only guarantee the preservation of the installation for one year from completion. Due to regular park traffic and weather, the installations will eventually fade and degrade. If after a year and in the opinion of the City and NAC the artwork can be touched up or refreshed, reasonable attempts will be made to contact the artist to see if they want to do that work without additional compensation. The City reserves the right to remove the installation if repair is not feasible or a year has passed since completion. 

    Removal

    Artwork must be consistent with submitted and selected artwork. If, in the opinion of the selection panel, the artwork does not reflect the submitted design, the City has the right to remove it partially or completely. The City and NAC have the right to remove the artwork at any time if they jointly agree that the artwork is inappropriate due to design, condition, or vandalism. The City reserves the right to remove the artwork immediately if it presents a danger to public safety or if the drain needs maintenance, repair, or replacement.

    Liability

    Each artist agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the City of Norman and the Norman Arts Council from any loss or damage, any third-party claims, demands, actions, legal fees, or costs for which the Artist is legally responsible, including those arising out of negligence, willful harm, or crimes by the Artist or the Artist’s employees, agent or subcontractors. This “hold harmless” agreement shall survive beyond the term of the Artist’s service contract.

    The City of Norman and Norman Arts Council will not be liable or responsible for any bodily or personal injury or property damage of any nature that may be suffered by the Artist, their employees, agents, or subcontractors in the performance of this Project, except to the extent of any negligence or misconduct on the part of the City of Norman and Norman Arts Council.

    Commissioning of artists is implemented without preference to racial or ethnic origins, sex, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability, or age.

    The Norman Arts Council and the City of Norman reserve the right to modify this solicitation and to request additional information or proposals from any or all participating artists. The Norman Arts Council and the City of Norman also reserve the right to accept or reject, at any time before the commissioning of a work, any or all proposals when the acceptance, rejection, waiver, or advertisement would be in the best interest of the project. In addition, they may solicit proposals from artists not responding to this call and reserve the right to select an artist outside of the pool of artists responding to this call.

    Submission Entry Checklist:

  • Completed ONLINE Entry Form

  • Completed design template

  • Design description and information – one page maximum

  • Up to 10 images of past work

  • List of any additional materials or supplies

  • Artist’s bio – one page maximum

Norman Art's Council's Annual Fundraiser ONE Happening March 29

Join the Norman Arts Council for ONE Spring Night, an evening blooming with drinks, food, live music, and more. Channel Mother Earth and dress up in our Springtime theme, however you interpret it! All proceeds help us grow our garden, impacting Norman Arts Council's operations and programs like 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk, exhibitions at MAINSITE, arts education scholarships, artist grants, public art, grants to local arts organizations like Sooner Theatre, Norman Music Festival, and Jazz In June ... and so much more!

Join Norman Arts Council from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at MAINSITE Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main, Norman by purchasing a ticket in advance of the party!  Click here to purchase your ticket.

Artists are invited to participate in the ONE Spring Night art auction and raffle! This is an exhibition and auction of works to support the Norman Arts Council. Deadline to confirm participation via this form is February 21, 2025 at 11:59pm CST. Artwork MUST be delivered to the Norman Arts Council between February 25, 2025. Click here to submit.

Now Accepting Exhibition Proposals for MAINSITE Contemporary Art

After a brief pause of accepting exhibition proposals for MAINSITE Contemporary Art while transitioning between executive directors, Norman Arts Council is happy to again accept those from interested artists and curators.

While generally booked out upwards of two years in advance, MAINSITE has availability beginning in 2025 that Norman Arts desires to showcase exciting artistic voices from Oklahoma and beyond. Exhibition proposals for both the entire main gallery and half of the space will be considered.

Emerging artistic talent can also submit to be featured in the Library Gallery, a smaller exhibition space at the back of the main gallery that has been utilized for new art talent over the past decade.

MAINSITE Contemporary Art has been operated by Norman Arts Council since 2012, becoming a hub of 2nd Friday Norman Art Walks and displaying work from the likes of local, regional, national and international art talent. It boasts 4,000 square feet of exhibition space with 13.5 foot ceilings and floor to ceiling glass fronts bringing in bountiful natural light from Main Street in the Walker Arts District of Downtown Norman.

Exhibition proposals should include:

  • Exhibition narrative to illuminate the purpose and themes behind the proposed exhibition

  • Artist statement

  • CV

  • Examples of previous work and/or link to portfolio

  • Social media handles and/or artist’s website

  • Any other relevant information

If you are interested in an exhibition in the Main Gallery of MAINSITE Contemporary Art, please email Leslie Nottingham at leslie@normanarts.org, while those interested in the Library Gallery should reach out to Travis Catalano at travis@normanarts.org.

Proposals are currently being accepted on an ongoing basis, but availability fills fast, so those interested in exhibiting at MAINSITE should submit their exhibition proposals in a timely manner.

For more information on exhibiting at MAINSITE, please reach out to the aforementioned contacts for each gallery space.