In celebration of its first full year of existence, the George Kaiser Family Foundation is teaming up with 108|Contemporary to host the first curated art exhibition of work from the first class of the Tulsa Artist Fellowship (TAF). Syncretic, the name coined for the exhibition, will open on Friday, December 2nd and remain open through Sunday, January 22, 2017.
“The first year has flown by and we can’t wait to show off the work our artists created over the last year,” said Julia White, program director for TAF. “We are very fortunate to have a partner like 108|Contemporary who is willing to collaborate and make this curated exhibition possible. There is no doubt the creativity of the fellows benefits our community and this show will provide the public the opportunity to enjoy their work.”
Comprised of 12 visual artists, the inaugural class moved to Tulsa from across the country in January 2016. In addition to participating in symposiums and local art programs, the fellows teach workshops at The University of Tulsa and host open studios during the Brady Arts District First Friday Art Crawls. Additionally, the TAF and 108|Contemporary partnership has spurred the contemporary craft-based organization to broaden its scope for this show to include non-craft works created by some of the TAF artists.
"We are excited to show the artwork of the inaugural TAF class fellows,” said Kathy McRuiz, executive director at 108|Contemporary. “The exhibition will be a chance for Tulsans to see what they've been creating in their studios for the past year. At 108|Contemporary, we have visitors from all over the world and they are always amazed to see what is going on in Tulsa.”
With the fellows working in a wide range of themes, styles and mediums, curator Louise Siddons will tie it all together to create an energetic and cohesive exhibition. Siddons, an associate professor at Oklahoma State University and independent curator, specializes in American art and the visual culture of modernity. With a doctoral degree in art history from Stanford University, she has been an active curator throughout her career including for the Kresge Art Museum, Michigan State University and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
“As the curator of this exhibition, my goals are twofold,” said Siddons. “First, seek out visual and conceptual affinities between the artists in order to create a group show that looks fantastic and enhances visitors' experience of each individual piece. Second, highlight the impact of the Tulsa Artist Fellowship on the city of Tulsa and the contemporary art world.’’
Created to retain and recruit artists, TAF awards a stipend, housing and studio workspace to visual artists and writers from all over the country. The fellowships are merit-based and fellows are selected by a national panel of respected artists, curators, educators and arts administrators.
“This past year has been an invaluable gift of time, space, community and support,” said Rena Detrixhe, current TAF fellow. “This exhibition will offer us the opportunity to share a glimpse of our recent work with the community and highlights the diversity of work created within the program. I’m excited to see how TAF continues to grow and expand along with the greater Tulsa community.”
The opening reception will take place on Friday, Dec. 2 with Siddons speaking on Saturday, Dec. 3. Both events are open and free to the public. There will also be a panel discussion on January 12th at 6 p.m. that will include the artists discussing their first year in the TAF program.
