Step Into the 40 Over 40: Women Artists of Oklahoma Exhibition

One week ago, Norman Arts Council was set to host the closing reception for the 40 Over 40: Women Artists of Oklahoma exhibition at MAINSITE Contemporary Art. As it became clear that public gatherings were not in the best interest of public health, we made the difficult decision to cancel the reception for this wonderful exhibition that many have loved so much and the last chance for those who were unable to make it to see it for themselves.

But we also quickly documented the exhibit so that those who didn’t get that last chance — or were just interested in seeing this wonderful collection of works again — had the opportunity to do so!

MAINSITE Contemporary Art is closed to the public at this time and is re-evaluating its upcoming exhibition schedule. We’ll keep you updated and excited to see you again as soon as it is safe to re-open!

Bring Some Color Into Your Day With These Norman Arts-Inspired Coloring Sheets

Looking for something for the kiddos (or yourself) to do at home in the weeks ahead? Well, we put together some Norman Arts-inspired coloring sheets — celebrating some of our favorite pieces of public art and community events — for you to print out and express yourselves with!

From the Red Tail Hawk to Art Walk to Norman Music Festival, it’s a fun little reminder of all the things that await on the other side of this!

Feel free to share the results with us on Instagram (@normanarts) or Facebook!

Norman Red Tail Hawk by Rick Sinnett

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Jazz In June Coloring Sheet-01.jpg
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Norman Arts Update in Regards to COVID-19 Pandemic

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Firstly, we love our Norman community and hope that you are doing everything in your ability to stay safe and healthy. Community-wide leaders are banding together to work to assure that Norman stays strong in this trying time. 

Spring time is arts time in Norman. Many of Norman’s favorite events, festivals and traditions were set take place in the coming months, and here’s an update of what we know as of now:

Alice in ONEderland
Norman Arts Council was set to host its annual fundraiser Alice in ONEderland on Saturday, March 28, 2020. It has been postponed, and we will announce the makeup date soon. Any ONE tickets claimed or purchased will be valid on the new date. 

If you are unable to attend on the makeup date when announced, please reach out to Norman Arts Council, as we will honor refunds, though we hope you might consider forgoing a refund to instead serve as a donation to Norman Arts Council to help us weather the difficulties this situation is presenting us all.


2nd Friday Norman Art Walk and Artful Inlets
Norman Arts Council will not hold the monthly 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk set for Friday, April 10, 2020, which was also set to be the installation of the next round of Artful Inlet installations. The status of other upcoming art walks will be evaluated in the coming weeks as the situation is better understood, and decisions will be made in keeping with the CDC’s guidelines on public gatherings.

2nd Fridays are a vital time for our Downtown Norman partners and our creative community, and we hope you might consider finding ways to safely support the shops, studios, galleries, restaurants, bars and more who make this event possible every month. 

MAINSITE Contemporary Art
MAINSITE has long held the opening and closing receptions for its exhibitions in conjunction with 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk. With the cancellation of the April 2nd Friday Art Walk, we will not be hosting the previously planned opening reception of the OU MFA Thesis Exhibition.

We are currently evaluating the upcoming exhibition schedule and will update you all as decisions are made. MAINSITE is closed to the public at this time. 

Greater Norman Arts Community

Norman Medieval Fair has been cancelled and will return in 2021. Norman Music Festival is currently rescheduled to take place from August 27-29, 2020. All events at Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art have been cancelled through Friday, April 3, and many other concerts, performances, exhibitions and more have been cancelled or postponed at this time. This is a rapidly developing situation, so please check in directly with your favorite arts organization, performance space or museum/gallery as to their current status.

Norman Arts Council Offices

Norman Arts Council staff will be working remotely at this time. If you are needing to get into immediate contact with us, please do so by emailing the staff member you have previously been in contact with or by sending a message to pr@normanarts.org. 

If not already, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the CDC website on the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential to stay informed and do everything in your power to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Our mission is to support Norman Arts and artists and will be working hard to continue to do so both now and as we return to some sense of normalcy in the time ahead. Thank you all for your continued support!

With love, 
Norman Arts

Norman Arts Council, Norman Public Arts Board Host Workshop on Accessibility, Inclusiveness in Public Art Design

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Norman Arts Council and Norman Public Arts will host Public Art: Inclusion by Design — a workshop on mindfulness of accessibility and inclusion in public art to serve the whole community — from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 22 in the Red Bud Room of the Norman Public Library Central, 103 W. Acres, Norman. The workshop is free and open for all to attend.

Presenters at the workshop will be Miranda Steffen, Executive Director of Among Friends in Norman; Ann Cunningham, tactile artist from Lakewood, Colorado; Matt Peacock, AIA, LEED, WPM Design Group, PLLC; and Debby Williams, Norman Public Art Manager.

Public art is such an important part of our cultural identity that it should always be inextricably linked to full accessibility and inclusion. When considering to whom that “public” in public art is referring, it must embrace not just some people but all people.

In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reported that 1 in every 4 American adults has a disability; which is approximately 61 million people in the United States. So insuring that everyone has the same opportunity to appreciate and participate in the art that is in our public spaces should be of utmost importance.

The artists who create works of art for the public arena represent a large segment of our most creative and artistic population. Integrating artistic, physical, and logistical solutions so their art is accessible and inclusive can be challenging and rewarding to all artists. These solutions, which don’t have to be expensive or limiting aesthetically, can draw on the full range of human diversity.

This workshop has been created to help artists be mindful of why accessibility and inclusion is important, what some of the issues are, how one artist creates tactile art specifically with the blind and sight impaired in mind, and how ADA, Universal Design, and Human Design can all work together in the enduring artwork they create.

Firehouse Art Center 2020 Healing Studio Exhibition offers a look through participant’s eyes

The FAC Gallery hosts the 2020 Healing Studio Exhibition through February 22, 2020. This annual exhibition highlights the creativity and self-expression of participants of the Firehouse Art Center’s weekly Healing Studio program. The Firehouse invites the Norman community to join us in celebrating these individuals during a reception this Friday, January 24, from 10 AM - 12 PM.

The Healing Studio program nurtures and provides an outlet for the creative expressions of individuals with varying degrees of cognitive, physical, and learning abilities. The program’s weekly sessions are conducted in a positive, supportive atmosphere with projects that help students link visual art expression to their personal experiences and emotions in a way that is communicative, healing, and confidence building.

The exhibition supports the artistic endeavors of these individuals, while providing gallery attendees with insight into the Healing Studio program. Artwork in the show reflects the topics of eyesight, perspective, introspection, and individual expression. Inspiration is drawn from a multitude of subjects including the work of master artists in a way that directly builds connections between the program’s participants, their community, and their self-expression.

The Firehouse Art Center is funded in part by select grants from the Oklahoma Arts Council, Norman Arts Council, Allied Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the City of Norman, as well as corporate sponsorships from Republic Bank & Trust and Fowler Automotive. The FAC’s programming would not be possible without the support of individual donors and memberships.