Photo by Helen Grant. Can you imagine a montage of iconic “Oklahoma City” images without the Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s 55’ tall tower of Dale Chihuly art glass? In a relatively short time, the Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick Memorial Tower–that is the title of this piece–has become indelibly linked to the public image of downtown [...]
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The Asian District is A Little Saigon, A Little Oklahoma
Between the gold geodesic dome, the giant milk bottle, the distant spires of a neo-gothic church, the giant LED palm trees flickering in the distance, and the cell phone store shaped like a Buddhist Stupa, you could be forgiven for asking “where the hell am I?” The intersection of NW 23rd St. and Classen is [...]
2nd Friday Art: Istvan Gallery Opens New Exhibit
Photographer Lori Oden will be one of four artists included in Istvan Gallery’s opening exhibit this Friday. The photo is from Lori Oden’s series entitled, “A Cautionary Tale.” (In conjunction with 2nd Friday Art Walks happening around the metro, each 2nd Friday OKC.NET will feature a local art gallery. -ed) Istvan Gallery 1218 North Western [...]
Bavinger House is History
After months of concerned speculation, crazy rumors, and crossed fingers that all couldn’t be as bad as it seemed, it appears that, sadly, the worst fears are true. The Bavinger House is history. Bruce Goff’s most spectacular architectural creation was severely damaged last spring, whether due to storms or to the owner following through [...]
Oklawhaaa? Totem Pole Park in Foyil
The urge to create massive works of folk art out of scrap and concrete is a uniquely American tendency. There may be the occasional Aussie building a massive Dropbear out of railroad ties somewhere in Queensland, but no nation on earth has a higher density of eccentric backyard sculpture than the USA. This is the [...]
Masterpiece in Peril: Bruce Goff’s Bavinger House
In a state with a great abundance of unique and diverse architectural treasures, the other-worldly Bavinger House in Norman is considered by many to be Oklahoma’s — and even the nation’s — finest example of organic Modernism. And now, sadly, it may be lost forever. But, more about that in a bit. Let’s [...]
Art In Public Places on the Chopping Block
Please consider contacting your state legislators today and asking them to vote against HB 1665 and SB 14. These bills would halt Oklahoma’s Art in Public Places Act for three years or eliminate it altogether. Why is this bill – and the Art in Public Places (AIPP) Act – important enough for okc.net to call [...]
What the heck is that? Alexander Liberman’s Galaxy
Public art is democratic art. It brings fine art out of museums and galleries and places it in front of real people: people who live or work in downtowns, people who travel through busy intersections, people who visit sites of historical importance. Sometimes, you can walk right up and touch public artwork. Public art also [...]
City of the Future: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
I first became aware — well, REALLY aware, I should say — of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church a few years ago when my friend David and I, for seemingly the millionth time, found ourselves discussing local mid-century architecture. (If you’re thinking that we’re a couple of geeks to spend our time on such topics, [...]
Bruce Goff – Human Architect or Pan-Dimensional Alien Genius?
A new exhibit celebrating Oklahoma’s most famous architect, Bruce Goff, and his work opened last weekend at the Fred Jones, Jr. Museum of Art on the OU campus in Norman. The exhibit is rather lamely titled, “Bruce Goff: A Creative Mind.”
