Two Norman artists will be given the opportunity to attend a renowned workshop and hands-on learning experience abroad, respectively, thanks to the Norman Arts Travel Grants program. Selected from a talented pool of deserving artists, Alejandro Vaca and Wesley Kramer will receive $1,500 each to fund exciting opportunities in their artistic journey in the months ahead.

Alejandro Vaca, a fashion designer, will use the funds to travel to his native land of Ecuador to learn traditional weaving techniques form the Salasacas community. He plans to bring his newly learned skills back to his studio in Norman and present demos and interactions with this unique technique.

A print by Wesley Kramer displayed at his recent exhibition at MAINSITE Contemporary Art

Wesley Kramer is a printmaker featured in the OU MFA Thesis exhibit at MAINSITE in April 2022. Wesley will use the travel funds to attend Frogman’s Printmaking workshop in Omaha, Nebraska. He will display his thesis work and lead a printmaking class. This experience will help him prepare for his new role as an adjunct professor of art.

Administered by the Norman Arts Council, the arts travel grant fund was designed to benefit artists of demonstrated merit and ability, providing the opportunity and freedom of travel. Since 2014, Oklahoma artists Marwin Begaye, Douglas Shaw Elder, Sarah Engel-Barnett, Skip Hill, Debby Kaspari, Mayumi Kiefer, Solomon Mahlatini, Beatriz Mayorca, Eric Piper, Liz Roth, Craig Swan and Holly Wilson have been able to travel to conferences, retreats and journeys of inspiration across the world because of awards from the fund, spreading Oklahoma’s creativity to others in the process.