MAINSITE Contemporary Art is excited to present three new exhibitions featuring an artistically rich assortment of Oklahoma talent to close out its 2021 exhibition schedule. Greenwood Imagine — a multimedia project that asks what world would exist if the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre hadn’t occurred — and Water Fables by multidisciplinary artist Uriel Marín will populate the two respective sides of the main gallery at MAINSITE Contemporary Art, while new works by Sharon Burchett will be showcased in the Library Gallery.

The exhibits debut with an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 10 as a part of the 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk. The show continues through Friday, February 11 with a closing reception set for that night, also from 6 to 9 p.m. A midway reception occurs from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, January 14 with a special Greenwood Imagine performance scheduled for Saturday, January 29 (more details to come).

MAINSITE Contemporary Art — located at 122 E. Main, Norman — is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday weekly, though it will remain closed from Friday, December 24 through Saturday, January 8 for the holidays. Both daily gallery hours and receptions are free and open to all.

The creators of Greenwood Imagine — poet Anthony Curtis Brinkley artist Ebony Iman Dallas and filmmaker Derick Tinsley — combine live performance, poetry, video, and visual art in an effort to immerse visitors in an experience that dissolves the line between past and present. The artists want visitors to contemplate a world that might have existed if the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre had not occurred. Bringing generational trauma to the surface, Greenwood Imagine envelops viewers in the terror Greenwood citizens felt and asks them to link it to their current moment, moving them to acknowledge the trauma, respect it, and subsequently whisk it away to make room for future ideas and identities.

The work is inspired by Brinkley’s poem, “When Dreams Lose Wing''. A combination of poetry, live singing, a short monologue, and a 4-sided, interactive mural created by Ebony invites the audience to imagine Greenwood in a different state. This mural visualizes Greenwood’s proud past, a moment during the massacre, and the future that shares what the future might have been if the massacre had not occurred.

Featured artists include: Tony B, Black Moon Collective Artists (Melody Allen, Aunj Renee Braggs, Elizabeth Henley, nosamyrag and Erica Martez), Marie Casimir, Ebony Iman Dallas, Jeremy Drayton, J'aime Griffith, Tyler James, Leslie Johnson III, Gay Pasley and Derick Tinsley.

Uriel Marín is a visual artist from Veracruz, México. In his creative process, he explores multiple and expandable graphics based on drawing and knowledge of traditional printmaking techniques. He uses intuitive experimentation to create iconography that is harmonious and dynamic. Uriel has built his artistic career in Oaxaca City, Mexico, often referred to as the printmaking capital of Latin America. He founded the graphic art collective, Arte Cocodrilo, with a group of emerging artists in 2005, then founded Radio Rizoma arts and culture community radio program in 2015, and the art studio and artist-in-residence program, Gallo-Dragon, in 2017. He has also served the Oaxacan Ministry of Culture as a visual arts instructor in Indigenous communities around the state. Uriel's work is influenced by the ukiyo-e traditional Japanese prints, which he has explored through three trips to Japan in which he worked as an artist-in-residence at Osaka University of Arts. His work has appeared in solo and collective exhibitions in South Africa, Germany, Slovakia, England, Japan, and Mexico as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles, California. His art has received honors from the national and state ministries of culture. Uriel is currently a Visiting Artist at the University of Oklahoma.

Pictured: *Blue Marble Philosophy* by Sharon Burchett

Mainly a mixed-media abstract artist originally from Chicago, Sharon Burchett has had solo exhibitions in Illinois and Oklahoma, including such locations as the Lightwell Gallery at the University of Oklahoma School of Visual Arts, the Schaumburg Township Library, and the Gingko Tree Art Studio and Gallery.Notable past shows include a stairwell show at Gallery 1-2-3, two-person exhibits Stark Art Gallery and Firehouse Art Center, a five-person exhibit at Paseo Art Space, and participation in two regional art exhibits at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art.Burchett has a two-year art degree from William Rainey Harper College in Illinois and a master's degree in art history from the University of Oklahoma School of Visual Arts.She has over 130works in private collections in at least tenU.S. statesplus a couple of paintings in Thailand. Sheworks in a manner based on inspiration and personal expression.Typical mediums include acrylic, enamel, watercolor, pastel, chalks and pencils.

This micro-exhibition is by local artist Sharon R. Burchett and it is to accompany the completion of her commission work, Blue Marble Philosophyfor Illinois collectors Mark and Rebecca Miller.The artist was provided with the dimensions for the work as well as with a selection of expert acrylic paints and their hope that the painting would be calming. The location for the work is to be the Miller’s dining room, in a home they had built in Dixon, IL.As the Millers are activein their lake adjacent location, working with the community in various capacities, the artist chose to make this work all about the Millers and their dream location.Rebecca is a long-time friend, since high school.She serves as the administrative manager of the office of the Lost Lake River Conservancy District of Illinois.Mark is the Ogle County Planning and Zoning Administrator. Additionally, she and her husband are volunteer EMTs.Becky is also a 4th degree (master) black belt in Taekwondo and a poet.One of her poems is included in this catalogue, “Just As.”Mark is a musician, bass and vocals, and the two play in a local band (Becky sings).The flora and fauna are all from their area and all aspects relate to their life, including the depictedshape of the lake by which they live.The additional imagesare included as recent works by the artist and images are typically created based on current events and life experiences as well as thoughts and feelings.

Exhibitions at MAINSITE Contemporary Art are made possible by the generous support of the likes of The City of Norman, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Fowler Auto, Kirkpatrick Foundation and more.