Breathing New Life Into Humanities At Rose State College
A humanities mural project at Rose State College provided students with hands-on experience in public art, from research and planning to execution. The process involved consulting with local arts professionals, budgeting supplies, and presenting designs to a committee. The selected mural, created collaboratively by students, emphasized the role of public art in reflecting community values. The project not only beautified the campus but also deepened students’ understanding of public art’s impact.
This blog was written by a humanHello readers and writerly friends!
If you’re a returning reader, welcome back and if you’re new to the blog, thanks for stopping by! In this blog post I’ll be doing an in-depth article discussing the murals and public art scene in Oklahoma. This article was originally written for The 6420 Magazine at Rose State College in 2020 and is the first part of a three-part series spanning a range of topics to do with Oklahoma’s public art stage. You can find the first and second articles in the series linked in the “Related Topics” section towards the end of this post.
In part one of this series, we discussed the research and development the Fall 2019 Mural class conducted in preparation of the new humanities mural. They visited with Randy Marks from The Oklahoma City Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, Adjunct Curator, Pablo Barrera from Oklahoma Contemporary, and the heads of the Arts Division from Oklahoma City University (OCU), to gain a glimpse into the process of getting a mural up in public spaces, what Oklahoma Contemporary was doing to make public art more accessible, and what new courses and features OCU’s art division had to offer art majors transferring from Rose State College.
The Beginning Of A More Beautiful Campus
Even though the process for getting a mural up at Rose State was different than the process for public art, they still had to render out their ideas, budget their supplies, and put together a presentation for the Humanities Building Interior Mural Committee on the Rose State College campus. They narrowed down their ideas down to two mural concepts, one done by Fine Arts major, Ashley Gilliland and one done by myself. The committee chose Ashley's design due to time constraints and planned for my mural to be done next semester.
Once all of the prep work was complete, the mural was set to begin. They started sketching the design out on the wall and in days, had the first layers of paint up. Over the past few months, they've been working on it, each Tuesday and Friday, and they made considerable progress for only working two days out of each week of the semester. They just finished the mural and sealed it on Tuesday, December 10th, 2019, so it's officially finished.
Suzanne Thomas described her thoughts on the mural class, how it differed from previous years’ classes, and her thoughts on the mural:
“This mural class was more about the process and procedures that an artist must go through before they create artwork. Especially artwork that is meant to be viewed in public. I think a lot of art students have this idea that art is just about their personal expression, but public art, i.e., like murals, are about the reflecting the values within the community at large. This class was different in that there was more research that had to be done, more collaboration among the students, and Humanities faculty. I am really proud of the mural and their work!” (Thomas 2020)
No Limitations Mural At Rose State College
A slideshow of images showcasing the No Limitations mural at Rose State College, including three physical photos of the mural and one digital mockup of the mural, created with Canva. Photos by Payton Hayes.
Two Sides To Humanities (Brain) Mural Planned For The Spring 2020 Semester
When the mural class rendered out their concepts for the first painting, at least three of five students came up with a left brain versus right brain type of design. They said this happened with zero communication or collaboration on their part and thought it was a good sign that they were on the same page. However, due to the fall semester moving so quickly, the students of the mural class, Suzanne Thomas and the Humanities Building Interior Mural Committee agreed it made more sense to do Gilliland’s mural in the fall semester and save my mural for the spring semester.
The Humanities Building Interior Mural Committee was torn between the two mural concepts and voted to have both done since they couldn’t pick one over the other. The second design is planned for the spring semester. I will be completing the mural as an honors credit project for my painting class, with the help of volunteer high school students from Midwest City High School. We’re still getting all our ducks in a row but so far, Humanities Dean, Toni Castillo’s approval we have a few students who have volunteered to work on the mural, and Suzanne Thomas’ has agreed to mentor me on the project.
Since I will be spearheading the project, it is my job to organize all the logistics from reaching out to the high school to recruit students, obtaining liability waivers, and getting everything approved between both schools. This project is exciting because it benefits all three parties—the MCHS students who will be receiving recognition for their volunteer work on the project, Rose State College which is using this as a recruitment opportunity for the Fine Arts Department, and myself who will of course receive recognition for the concept as well as an opportunity to participate in a leadership program.
Toni Castillo, Dean of Humanities provided her thoughts on both of the murals and her plan for breathing new life into the Humanities building:
“The mural project is a perfect opportunity for the Humanities Division Art Program to showcase the exceptional talents of Rose State students. I am particularly gratified that the project is completely student driven—their vision, their presentation, their implementation—so that eventually that entire upstairs corridor of our building will be a legacy of their values left for all who come here. Professor Suzanne Thomas, who has headed the project, has shown particularly strong leadership in the way she has structured the class and worked with dedicated Honors Program students to complete the project, as those students have in turn reached out to involve area high school students. The project in that corridor will be ongoing for several years until we finally have a true venue for experiential art here at Rose.” (Castillo 2020)
UPADTE: Spring Humanities Delayed Until Summer 2020 Due To COVID-19 Pandemic
Unfortunately due to the pandemic, I had to push my mural back until the summer where I was one of the only people allowed in the building. Since then, I have completed it and was awarded honor’s credit for it’s completion. It was an incredible opportunity I will be indefinitely grateful to Rose State College and Suzanne Thomas for the experience. Below is a slideshow of the completed mural as well as progress pictures from the painting process.
Two Sides To Humanities (Brain) Mural At Rose State College
A slideshow of images showcasing the Two Sides To Humanities (Brain) mural at Rose State College, including three physical photos of the mural and one digital mockup of the mural, created with Canva. Photos by Payton Hayes.
That’s it for this reposting of my article about the beginning of an amazing new mural project blooming on the walls of the Humanities building at Rose State College. If you’re in the area and interested in art, I cannot recommend a visit to Oklahoma Contemporary enough and I also suggest that you get involved with the art community here in Oklahoma!
Bibliography
Castillo, Toni. “Breathing New Life Into The Humanities At Rose State College.” (Interview With Toni Castillo). December 11, 2020.
Hayes, Payton. “A digital mockup of the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College.” Created with Canva. (Slideshow 1, photo 16). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 1.” (Slideshow 1, photo 1). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 2.” (Slideshow 1, photo 2). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 3.” (Slideshow 1, photo 3). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 4.” (Slideshow 1, photo 4). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 5.” (Slideshow 1, photo 12). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 6.” (Slideshow 1, photo 13). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 7.” (Slideshow 1, photo 14). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 8.” (Slideshow 1, photo 15). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the Special Topics In Art: Murals Class painting the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 1.” (Slideshow 1, photo 5). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the Special Topics In Art: Murals Class painting the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 1.” (Slideshow 1, photo 6). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the Special Topics In Art: Murals Class painting the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 1.” (Slideshow 1, photo 7). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the Special Topics In Art: Murals Class painting the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 1.” (Slideshow 1, photo 8). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the Special Topics In Art: Murals Class painting the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 1.” (Slideshow 1, photo 9). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the Special Topics In Art: Murals Class painting the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 1.” (Slideshow 1, photo 10). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the Special Topics In Art: Murals Class painting the No Limitations Mural At Rose State College 1.” (Slideshow 1, photo 11). December 10, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A digital mockup of the Two Sides To Humanities (Brain) Mural At Rose State College.” Created with Canva. (Slideshow 2, photo 4). December 11, 2020.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the Two Sides To Humanities (Brain) Mural At Rose State College 1.” (Slideshow 2, photo 1). December 11, 2020.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the Two Sides To Humanities (Brain) Mural At Rose State College 2.” (Slideshow 2, photo 2). December 11, 2020.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the Two Sides To Humanities (Brain) Mural At Rose State College 3.” (Slideshow 2, photo 3). December 11, 2020.
Thomas, Suzanne. “Breathing New Life Into The Humanities At Rose State College.” (Interview With Suzanne Thomas). December 11, 2020.
Related Topics
Making Space With Oklahoma Contemporary: Interview With Pablo Barrera
Exploring Murals In Oklahoma: Where Public Art Is More Than Just Paint
Writing Exercises from Jeff Tweedy's Book, How To Write One Song
Experimentation Is Essential For Creators’ Growth (In Both Art and Writing)
Screenwriting for Novelists: How Different Mediums Can Improve Your Writing
“Twenty Little Poetry Projects” Writing Exercise by Jim Simmerman
How To Write Poems With Artificial Intelligence (Using Google's Verse by Verse)
Why Fanfiction is Great Writing Practice and How It Can Teach Writers to Write Well
Recent Blog Posts
This blog post was researched, written, and published by a human author without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (gen-AI). Gen-AI models are trained on text written by humans, therefore, the presence of specific punctuation, verbiage, tone, or predictable, marketing-style phrases alone are not sufficient indicators of gen-AI usage. I implore readers to use context clues, critical thinking, pattern recognition, research, and employ their best judgement when determining the validity of human authorship of print and digital media today. If you want to learn more about my stance on gen-AI and it’s role in media and the publishing industry, I plan to release a blog post on this topic very soon, so stay tuned for that. This disclaimer will be updated once that post goes live. In the meantime, I will continue to be transparent about which tools and resources I use in my work.
I Visited The Full Circle Bookstore In Oklahoma City
I took my bestie on a bookish, friend date to the Full Circle Bookstore in OKC…
And we loved it.
Yeah, we’re hitting the ground running in Reader Life this week, because I just cannot wait to tell you all about it.
Neither me nor my best friend Allie have ever been to Full Circle before and needless to say, we a first-time FC converts, if there is such a thing. When we rolled up to the shop at the bottom of the 50 Penn Place building, we were greeted with a quaint little storefront, painted mint green and black with chalkboard signs and jazzy music playing softly from an outdoor speaker. We were already so excited, and we hadn’t even entered the building.
Full Circle Bookstore’s Storefront inside of the 50 Penn Place Mall. Courtesy of the Full Circle Bookstore Website. Click here to visit the site.
This blog is written by a humanHi readers and writerly friends!
I took my bestie on a bookish, friend date to the Full Circle Bookstore in OKC…
And we loved it.
Yeah, we’re hitting the ground running in Reader Life this week, because I just cannot wait to tell you all about it.
Disclaimer: Yes, we went while the pandemic is still going on, but we went early in the week during a time when hardly any people where there, we wore masks and we kept our distance from people while we were browsing the store. We tried our best to keep ourselves and others safe but it was a nice little treat for us to go and spend time together and enjoy a wonderful, bookish place we’ve never been before.
Okay, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
An inside peak into the Full Circle Bookstore where guests can get lost in the seemingly endless shelves of books. Courtesy of the Full Circle Bookstore Website. Click here to visit the site. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Neither me nor my best friend Allie have ever been to Full Circle before and needless to say, we a first-time FC converts, if there is such a thing. When we rolled up to the shop at the bottom of the 50 Penn Place building, we were greeted with a quaint little storefront, painted mint green and black with chalkboard signs and jazzy music playing softly from an outdoor speaker. We were already so excited, and we hadn’t even entered the building.
Then, when we did go inside, we were greeted for the second time, only this time it was by a very friendly employee named Brent who told us all about the bookstore—some of the events they have on weekends, the different types of books they had available and where to find them, and where to find the café in the back of the shop. Did I mention they had a café? Hello—book nerd/coffee addict heaven!
The inside of the store was much like a Tardis from the hit series, Doctor Who, in that it seemed much larger on the inside than it did on the outside. And on the other hand, it was also like a hobbit hole, in that it had all these wonderful little winding hallways and hidden alcoves tucked within one another. It was like and endless maze of books and I wanted to get lost in there forever. I was constantly enchanted by all of the books there were, all of the fun little bookish knick-knacks, and even the signed first edition copies and box sets of some books. It was everything I’d ever dreamed it would be.
And can we just take a moment to talk about the incredibly vaulted ceilings, the enormous floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled to the brim with books of every size, shape, and color, and the ladders scattered all throughout the bookstore so a book can never be out of a guests reach? It was incredible. It reminded me so much of the Hogwarts library, only it was a little less dusty and a lot more modern. Also, there weren’t screaming faces coming from the pages of the books…
Bookshelf with a ladder at the Full Circle Bookstore. Photo by Payton Hayes.
So, we stopped for coffee first, and I must recommend the toasted marshmallow latte—get it hot or cold, either way will be scrumptious. Allie and I shared a chocolate mouse and a cheese danish, both of which were delicious. We would have stayed for lunch, but the kitchen officially closes at 2pm every day, so we’d just barely missed it when we arrived around 3pm.
Then we made off for the books.
Stack of the books I bought from the Full Circle Bookstore. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Like I mentioned, the shop was seemingly endless—I found myself drooling over the fantasy books one second and suddenly, I was in the classic literature drooling over the books there too. They had just about every book you could imagine, and we certainly snagged a few for ourselves. I think Allie ended up with a few classics— A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, and The Call of The Wild by Jack London. I sort of went overboard and ended up with six books—Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Ghosted by Rosie Walsh, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and The Languages of Tolkien’s Middle-earth by Ruth S. Noel. There were so many more books I wanted to buy but I was reminded by that little voice in my head—my TBR Conscience, if you will, who kept reminding me that I had over a hundred books at home, most of which I still have not read yet. So, I figured I’d take what I could carry and come back later, because I am absolutely coming back again later.
When we got to the checkout, the cashier gave us a bunch of bookmarks, a pamphlet that described upcoming events for October 2020, and stamped a couple of rewards cards for us to use when we inevitably returned (every $10 spent contributes to a total of $200 spent which rewards customers with a $30 off coupon to use in-store when they’ve met that goal).
Suffice it to say, we had a truly wonderful time, and hopefully we can go back again once things are back to normal. It would be really fun to attend a live reading from one of our local authors or stop in for a concert from one of the regular bands that play every couple of weekends or so. If you’ve never been to this book store before, be sure to check it out next time you’re in Oklahoma City and say hi to Pearl the Buffalo for me!
The Full Circle Bookstore is Located in 50 Penn Place, 1900 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Phone: 405.842.2900 or 800.683.
Visit the Full Circle Bookstore’s website here. Hours are located on their home page and events can be found here.
Neither this website, nor Payton Hayes are affiliated with The Full Circle Bookstore. I just really enjoyed my first trip there and wanted to share my experience with all of you. There are Amazon affiliate links present in this blog post.
Check out more posts in Reader Life!
Have you ever been to the Full Circle Bookstore in OKC? Where is your favorite bookstore? What bookstore should I visit next? Let me know below! Thanks for reading!
This blog post was researched, written, and published by a human author without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (gen-AI). Gen-AI models are trained on text written by humans, therefore, the presence of specific punctuation, verbiage, tone, or predictable, marketing-style phrases alone are not sufficient indicators of gen-AI usage. I implore readers to use context clues, critical thinking, pattern recognition, research, and employ their best judgement when determining the validity of human authorship of print and digital media today. If you want to learn more about my stance on gen-AI and it’s role in media and the publishing industry, I plan to release a blog post on this topic very soon, so stay tuned for that. This disclaimer will be updated once that post goes live. In the meantime, I will continue to be transparent about which tools and resources I use in my work.
Rose State College: Attending Art School In The Midwest
I went to art school in Oklahoma…
It was nothing like going to RISD, Parsons, or The Art Institute of Chicago, or any of the other top art schools in America.
I finished high school with a very picturesque idea in mind of what art school would be like when I finally headed off to college. I had watched videos from YouTubers like Annabelle Gao, Jasmine Chan, and Linh Truong, which not only excited me about art school, but it intimidated me as well. I wondered if I had what it took to make it in to any one of the top art schools in the country. I never really found out. I went to art school in Oklahoma. Specifically, I studied Fine Studio Art from Midwest City’s own, Rose State College, and it was nothing like I’d imagined.
I had imagined bustling hallways lined with student art, a student art gallery, rigorous classes, brutal critiques, and an almost palpable competitiveness that just wasn’t there. The art classes at Rose State College weren’t particularly hard, but the school, teachers, and students have a commitment to excellence that you would find just as well, at the larger art schools in the country. Just because I attended an art program at a smaller, community college doesn’t mean I haven’t gained a greater understanding of the arts, a substantial appreciation for the artistic process, and wider knowledge of mediums, principles, elements, and techniques. Community college is just as great as the prestigious art schools and there’s seral reasons why.
The blank exhibit wall in the student art gallery hall at the Oklahoma City University. Photo by Payton Hayes.
A photo of the first still life composition from the Painting I class of the 2020 spring semester. The composition features a small table covered in a teal tablecloth, colored glass bottles, fake flowers and fruit, and a delicate lace fabric draped all around tabletop. My fellow Painting I classmates and I were positioned at different spots all around the room and tasked with painting this still life from unique perspectives. Photo by Payton Hayes.
The student art gallery hall at the Oklahoma City University. Photo by Payton Hayes.
The Classes
Rose State College prides itself on having the golden 20-to-1 ratio, meaning unlike the larger schools in the state, there are fewer students to each teacher. This allows for more meaningful connections, wider possibility for discussion, and provides a space where students can really work one-on-one with their professors to achieve the education they are seeking. However, what the school is lacking is the vastness of a larger school, and perhaps this is a good thing. Rose State College has visibly been making strides to grow the campus and the student body from the new and improved Learning Resources Center and student housing built in 2016 and the new student center which began construction in 2018 and is set to be completed in late 2020.
Unlike the well-known art schools in the country, Rose State College is not strictly an art school, and in fact, it’s quite the opposite. Rose State College, is similar to OSU, OCU, and OU in that they are schools that offer a wide variety of majors. RISD and the Art Institute of Chicago focus primarily on majors within the field of art from digital art, to fine studio art, to textiles and more. The closest art design degree that Rose State College offers is in Fine Studio Arts which includes several survey art courses, several painting and drawing classes, a ceramics class and more. Alternatively, students can study animation and digital art under the Multimedia Digital Design degree. While these are exciting and essential classes for any art major, they are somewhat baseline when compared to schools like RISD. With that being said, Rose State is a 2-year school and not yet a four-year school, so aspiring art majors, keep that in mind.
The Atmosphere
As mentioned, the school is relatively small, compared to the other, much larger schools in the state and the other art schools in the country. However, the atmosphere was much more laid back and provided a space for connection and open discussion. The classrooms were not particularly outstanding, but they served their purpose well. The painting room, for example could seat up to 20 at most, but since there typically aren’t many art majors attending RSC the classrooms never felt cramped. In several art classes, the work is primarily student-driven and advised by the professors. Professors would often outline a general idea and basic requirements for each assignment, but the students had a lot of freedom to execute their visions. Music was often put on in the background and the laid-back vibe of the classroom encouraged students to converse and walk around the room to observe the techniques of other artists in real-time. Some classes had semi-formal critiques, where students would hang their work on a wall, and one-by-one observe and critique each other on the strengths and weaknesses of the work.
A photo of the first still life composition from the Drawing I class of the 2019 spring semester. This composition features an acoutsitc guitar, a replica of a human skull, a ceramic cat figurine, andfake flowers in opaque vases against a black backdrop. Photo by Payton Hayes.
A photo of paint buckets and paint trays sitting on a beige drop cloth. Photo by Payton Hayes.
A photo of several portrait studies painted by students from the spring 2020 Painting I class. The colorful full-body portrait of the tattooed lady with brown hair was my painting. I also hand-stretched the canvas over a wooden frame I built for a custom-sized painting. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Key Differences
Of course, there are always pros and cons when comparing the bigger art schools to the smaller, non-art schools—the latter offers smaller, more connected classes, provides a space for greater, more meaningful discussion, and allows students to form more tight-knit bonds with each other, while the former offers greater diversity and challenges students to rise to higher standards. Which school is best for you will depend on what you want to get out of your art degree.
What Did I Gain From Attending Art School At RSC?
Studying art at Rose State College taught me all the basics—everything I needed to know about different art mediums and techniques, all the different elements and principles of art, and of course, how to identify artist, style, and time period when looking at a piece. However, I also learned some valuable skills in addition to the basics. I learned skills in time management, craftsmanship, and presentation. I also learned how to be expressive and let go of expectations in art—this mindset shift has greatly improved my own craft as well as increased the joy and love I have for observing and creating art. It’s very much like Bob Ross says—happy accidents.
By attending Rose State, I was also able to participate in a few unique and incredible opportunities, such as getting to paint two different murals in their Humanities building, helping organize and put on a student-led art exhibition, and getting a closer look into how public art is created in the greater OKC area. I have made valuable connections with other art opportunities and mentors across the state, such as Pablo Barrera from Oklahoma Contemporary, Randy Marks from the OKC Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs. I feel confident that I could hold a candle to the students graduating from the top art schools in the country because of what I’ve learned and where studying art in Oklahoma has taken me.
I think, if you are dead set on attending RISD or Parsons, you should totally do that. But they aren’t the only schools to study art from in the country. Likewise, they are incredibly competitive and often hard to get into in the first place. If your heart is not set on attending one of these elite schools, consider attending a community college or art program in the Midwest because there is so much, they can offer that the bigger schools just cannot. Additionally, by attending the smaller art schools/programs, you’re supporting a growing art community—be it in Oklahoma or elsewhere.
A photo of six student paintings in the glass case in the Communication Center at Rose State College. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Thanks for reading my reflection on attending a smaller non-art school in Midwest City, OK, as opposed to going to RISD or one of the bigger, better-known art schools in the country. I just wanted to shed some light on what it was like for me. Of course, I am sure my fellow students may have had slightly or vastly different experiences at Rose State, but these were just my observations.
Bibliography
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the first still life composition from the Drawing I class of the 2018 spring semester.” January 27, 2019.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of the first still life composition from the Painting I class of the 2020 spring semester.” February 11, 2020.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of six student paintings in the glass case in the Communication Center at Rose State College.” February 24, 2020 (Thumbnail photo).
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of several portrait studies painted by students from the spring 2020 Painting I class.” March 3, 2020.
Hayes, Payton. “The blank exhibit wall in the student art gallery hall at the Oklahoma City University.” March 24, 2020.
Hayes, Payton. “The student art gallery hall at the Oklahoma City University.” March 24, 2020.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of paint buckets and paint trays sitting on a beige drop cloth.” July 21, 2020.
Related Topics
Making Space With Oklahoma Contemporary: Interview With Pablo Barrera
Exploring Oklahoma Murals Where Public Art Is More Than Paint
Breathing New Life Into The Humanities At Rose State College
Writing Exercises from Jeff Tweedy's Book, How To Write One Song
Experimentation Is Essential For Creators’ Growth (In Both Art and Writing)
Screenwriting for Novelists: How Different Mediums Can Improve Your Writing
“Twenty Little Poetry Projects” Writing Exercise by Jim Simmerman
How To Write Poems With Artificial Intelligence (Using Google's Verse by Verse)
Why Fanfiction is Great Writing Practice and How It Can Teach Writers to Write Well
Recent Blog Posts
Written by Payton Hayes | Last Updated: March 19, 2025
Making Space With Oklahoma Contemporary: Interview With Pablo Barrera
A mural series in Oklahoma City, called Making Space provides opportunities for emerging artists to collaborate with mentors and contribute to the city’s visual landscape. The project was developed as a way to maintain public engagement with art while Oklahoma Contemporary’s new arts center was under construction. Artists were selected based on style, diversity, and mentorship potential, with an emphasis on community representation. By pairing newer artists with established mentors, it fostered professional growth and artistic collaboration. The murals, displayed on temporary walls, brought vibrancy to the community while reflecting local culture and diverse perspectives. The initiative also encouraged public engagement with art, increasing visibility for underrepresented artists.
A photo of Pablo Barrera, Oklahoma Contemporary’s inaugural curatorial fellow and adjunct curator. Photo by Oklahoma Contemporary.
Hello readers and writerly friends!
If you’re a returning reader, welcome back and if you’re new to the blog, thanks for stopping by! In this blog post I’ll be sharing an interview with Pablo Barrera, Oklahoma Contemporary’s inaugural curatorial fellow and adjunct curator. In this interview, we discussed Oklahoma Contemporary and their new arts center—which, at the time of writing this article, is still yet to be completed and Making Space, Oklahoma Contemporary’s series of murals showcasing local artist’s work along the fence surrounding the construction site.
This article was originally written for The 6420 Magazine at Rose State College in 2020 and is the second part of a three-part series spanning a range of topics to do with Oklahoma’s public art space. You can find the other two articles in the series in the “Related Topics” section, and additional information about Pablo Barrerra, Oklahoma Contemporary, or the arts center’s delayed opening celebration in the “Further Reading” section at the end of this post.
A photo of Oklahoma Contemporary’s temporary showroom fashioned from four recycled shipping containers. Photo taken by Payton Hayes.
What Oklahoma Contemporary’s Making Space? Why Did Oklahoma Contemporary Decide To Decorate Their Construction Site?
Barrera: Making Space: Summer Mural Series was designed to support emerging artists through mentorship in order to expand the number of artists contributing to Oklahoma City’s visual culture. Making Space reflects a new version of Guerrilla Art Park, an annual exhibition of outdoor public art by Oklahoma artists, held in the summers of 2016, 2017 and 2018. The mural series shares Guerrilla Art Park's goals: to showcase local talent, give artists an opportunity to grow and develop their skills, and offer free public art to enrich downtown Oklahoma City. The mural series had two rotations of three murals in June and September 2019.
How Did Making Space Come To Exist? What Inspired The Project?
Barrera: This summer and fall, Oklahoma Contemporary’s former space at the State Fairgrounds was closed in preparation for the move into our new building site in winter. This meant that we would not be able to offer exhibitions or programming during those months. We saw an opportunity to continue our mission to provide the public with free access to art, as well as to support the local art scene, by exhibiting a series of murals along the construction fence of our new location. In this way, our new home was able to provide art experiences for OKC before its doors even open.
Can You Speak On The Artist Selection Process? How Were Artists Selected? How Were Complementary Mentors and Mentees Paired Together? How Were Solo Muralists Chosen?
Barrera: Each rotation of murals features work from established Oklahoma artists collaborating with up-and-coming artists. Preference was given to those from backgrounds/communities not widely represented in Oklahoma City public art. These murals serve as a mentorship project to introduce new artists to public mural creation. Artists were found through a combination of research, networks, and artist submissions, in which artists themselves introduced us to their portfolio.
Artists were selected based on their style: we wanted a range of mediums and techniques, but we also wanted to show styles side-by-side that complemented each other. We researched each artist’s color palette, preferred subject matter, and aesthetic, then we created a short-list of artists that could work well within the scale of the painting surface and share powerful messages. In choosing the mentors, we looked for artists that demonstrated or expressed enthusiasm about helping a new generation of mural artists to gain experience. Finally, we approached these selected artists to see who was available and felt strongly about participating in this project.
How Long Did Each Mural Take To Complete?
Barrera: It depends on the experience of the artist, the medium, and the design. In the first rotation of murals this past June, Tank Ramirez and his mentee, Iliana Barrientos, finished their mural in a matter of hours during our Second Saturday Live Painting event. Tank is an experienced graffiti artist, so he could have probably finished it much faster, but as a mentor, he was making sure to give his mentee, Iliana, many tips and opportunities to develop her skills. Some murals took about a week or two because of family and work obligations. We try to accommodate the various life contexts that artists come from: supporting emerging artists means maintaining enough flexibility to work alongside their lived realities.
Were The Muralists Asked To Sign VARA Rights Waivers? Did They Know Their Artwork Would Be Displayed Temporarily?
Barrera: Yes, currently, Oklahoma City regulations for mural projects require a VARA waiver in order to obtain the necessary permits. All artists were made aware of this fact before formally agreeing to participate. One of the goals of the Mural Series is to help guide artists on how to better navigate the lengthy proposal process for murals in OKC. Our aim is to demystify the application for getting a mural design approved by the city. We worked with artists to generate drawings and proposal diagrams in accordance with the Arts Commission Mural handbook. We also presented to the Arts Commission on behalf of artists, and revised all materials for the Downtown Design Committee review and permit process. We also let artists know that the lengths we would display artwork are similar to the run-time for a gallery exhibition, which ensures that the contemporary art on display is fresh and more accurately reflecting the art world today. However, since the life of a mural usually doesn’t exist beyond the display period, we provide an online platform where the works can remain visible, and we take professional, high-resolution photographs that artists may use to sell prints. We defend the artists’ rights to owning their artistic ideas, and we do not use the images for commercial purposes. Our goal as an institution is to support artists and address challenges so that they can continue to make work and be recognized for their artistic contributions.
What Is The Title of Each Mural and Who Were The Artists That Painted Them? Can You Elaborate On The Thought Process Behind Each Work? What Unique Lens Does Each Artist Bring To The Canvas?
When the Rose State College Fall 2019 Special Topics In Art: Murals class met with Barrera, he told them all about the artworks, the meanings behind them, and elements present throughout each piece. Below is a peek into each mural, the artists that painted it, their creative process, and a bigger picture view of how each piece fits in with Oklahoma Contemporary’s public art puzzle.
Barrera: The first rotation of murals were on display from June 8-September 3rd. These murals were painted live during our Second Saturday event on June 8th. The second rotation of murals were painted live on Thursday, Sept. 5th, and will be coming down soon as we remove the construction fence.
A photo of the mural Rosa (2019) by Checo "Tank" Ramirez (mentor) and Iliana Barrientos (mentee), for Oklahoma Contemporary’s Making Space: Summer Mural Series, Part I.” Photo by Brandon Seekins.
Rosa (2019) by Checo "Tank" Ramirez and Iliana Barrientos
Rosa depicts a woman wearing vaguely traditional clothing, gazing over her shoulder, and surrounded by Monarch butterflies. Tank and Barrientos combine two art styles: the Graffiti “Piece” and the “National” style of Diego Rivera, to create a more “Chicanx” style of painting to celebrate Latinx communities’ contributions toward contemporary visual culture.
Checo “Tank” Ramirez has been painting for over 15 years until finally being discovered by local artist, Dusty Gilpin, who recognized Tank’s contributions to Oklahoma City’s burgeoning mural scene. Some of Tank’s public works can be found in 23rd and N. MacArthur Blvd or in Capitol Hill. You can also find his murals at The Mayan in Paseo, and you may have seen his murals commissioned by the Oklahoma City Thunder during the playoffs throughout April. Tank will also have an upcoming mural at Diamond Dawgs in Norman, OK. Tank thinks that the most meaningful aspect of Oklahoma Contemporary’s Summer Mural Series is the opportunity to mentor the next generation of artists.
Iliana Barrientos is a mixed-media artist, whose paintings tend to use a mix of acrylics, inks, and colored pencils. Making Space: Summer Mural Series was her first big project with the city; previous work has been exhibited for Latino Heritage Month at the University of Oklahoma in 2018. Barrientos plans to continue learning about murals and taking on any projects that will require her acquired skills. As a young artist she feels like there's so much to learn, and is excited to take what she learns from artists more experienced than her so that one day she could do the same for any upcoming artist.
A photo of the mural Same Source (2019) by Jaiye Farrell (emerging artist), for Oklahoma Contemporary’s Making Space: Summer Mural Series, Part I.” Photo by Brandon Seekins.
Same Source (2019) by Jaiye Farrell
Same Source uses white lines on a black background to create a rhythm and circulation of marks. The black “void” immerses the viewer, and the white patterns act as moments where light touches this “void” to reveal forms. Same Source explores how in previous works, people from diverse backgrounds have mentioned seeing fragments of patterns that resemble motifs from their particular cultural heritage.
Jaiye Farrell is an Oklahoma-based artist that has cultivated his style of painting from abstract patterns that transcend societal and cultural divides and remember the communal roots of humanity. From his infatuation with archeology emerged a creative and ambitious talent: to craft signature designs that inspire self-reflection. Farrell has exhibited work at Art Hall under Inclusion in Art, as well as various live-painting events. He continues to develop and express his signature style throughout the city.
A photo of the mural Resilience (2019) by Amanda Zoey Weathers (mentor) and William Walker Larason (mentee), for Oklahoma Contemporary’s Making Space: Summer Mural Series Part I. Photo by Brandon Seekins
Resilience (2019) by Amanda Zoey Weathers and William Walker Larason
For Resilience, Weathers and Larason painted flowers surrounding a face arranged in Weathers’ geometric, paint-by-numbers style. The larger composition is composed of separate fields of color that never intersect, carefully arranged to form features that feel harmonious and uplifting. Native foliage represents the locality of Oklahoma City.
Amanda Zoey Weathers has been cultivating her art form over the years in a variety of expressions. From painting to jewelry design to her recent works with paper and metal, she incorporates these interests into pieces that depict her personal experience and life philosophies. With a background in art and graphic design, in 2007 she began her full time artist career and launched an artist-made retail store and gallery in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District. For the past few years she has begun expanding her media to large-scale murals and public art projects in Downtown Oklahoma City.
William Walker Larason is an artist living in Oklahoma City, with an emphasis in working with the medium of gum wrapper foil. They also work in painting, printmaking, and photography. After completing a spotlight exhibition in Oklahoma Visual Art Coalition’s Momentum OKC in 2016, Larason began at Factory Obscura. Larason continues to work on their own personal art.
A photo of the mural Voodoo Fairy (2019) by Kris "GERM" Ermey (mentor) and Jonathan De Luna (mentee), for Oklahoma Contemporary’s Making Space: Summer Mural Series, Part II. Photo by Brandon Seekins
Voodoo Fairy (2019) by Kris "GERM" Ermey and Jonathan DeLuna
GERM and De Luna’s collaborative mural celebrates women of color entrepreneurs. GERM renders a Zimbabwe model/designer, Manaka Voodoo Fairy, in his gray monochrome portrait style. De Luna completely transforms a quote from renowned artist, Banksy, into a bold, colorful calligraphic pattern.
Kris “GERM” Ermey has been writing graffiti for over 20 years. Known for his clean, crisp lines and detailed illustrations, GERM’s skill and importance in the Oklahoma graffiti scene was recognized in fall of 2017 when he was one of ten featured artists in Oklahoma Contemporary’s exhibition, Not for Sale. His work has been featured in many events/showcases, from the outdoor graffiti exhibition, Made You Look, to the Oklahoma State Fair Mural Demo. He curated the showcase When Letters Collide (2018) and creates private and public commissions, with clients including the Linked Church. He is very involved in educating youth, partnering with both Youth Services of OKC and Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation, most recently helping to teach a 10-week hip-hop workshop for students at John Rex Elementary.
Jonathan DeLuna has been developing his style for the past 12 years inspired by west coast artists. He works on large-scale murals and small panels, and has become known for his unique calligraphic style. DeLuna’s work has been featured in the Inclusion in Art exhibition at Art Hall (December 2018 to March 2019) and in Oklahoma Contemporary’s Dia de los Muertos exhibition during their Celebration of Latino Culture (2018). His work is part of several private collections. In addition to his artwork, Jonathan is inspired by his role as a father. His 3-year-old daughter is already painting, and carrying the family skills on to the next generation.
A photo of the mural Invisible No More (2019) by J. NiCole Hatfield (emerging artist), for Oklahoma Contemporary’s Making Space: Summer Mural Series, Part II. Photo by Brandon Seekins
Invisible No More (2019) by J. NiCole Hatfield
Hatfield’s mural raises awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (#MMIW), a movement to bring an end to violence against Indigenous women. Dancer, Kayla Marie (Kiowa/Comanche/Omaha), is painted in Hatfield’s signature colorful, expressionistic style. Four figures standing in a sun represent the four directions. A red handprint over the mouth has become a symbol of #MMIW, and handprints on the dresses are from an interactive painting session with the Oklahoma Contemporary Teen Council.
J. NiCole Hatfield (Nahmi-A-Piah) draws inspiration from archival images of her proud tribal women, painting them to acknowledge and honor their voice within a contemporary world. Her art frequently incorporates Indigenous language to teach it as well as keep it alive. J.NiCole uses her preferred medium of acrylic to translate bold colors to canvas; after attending the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, J. NiCole explored other mediums and was launched into a successful art market career, winning numerous awards and becoming part of many exhibitions, private collections, live-painting events, lectures, and workshops throughout the region. Born and raised in the Southern Plains of Oklahoma, J. NiCole, of the Penetukah band of Comanche’s and the Kiowa Nation, has a profound understanding of the unique paradox in which Native American artists find themselves, challenged with Art’s demand to “make new” while still honoring and appreciating the unchanging spirit in all things, as well as traditional tribal values.
A photo of the mural Blooming (2019) by Brooke Rowlands (mentor) and Shakurah Maynard (mentee), for Oklahoma Contemporary’s Making Space: Summer Mural Series, Part II. Photo by Brandon Seekins.
“Blooming” (2019) by Brooke Rowlands and Shakurah Maynard
Rowlands and Maynard's collaborative mural uses blocks of intense color and delicate line drawings to create a whimsical painting. Rowlands is known for her flowers within fields of paint, but experiments with Maynard to contribute a different style for the jellyfish and vivid color combinations.
Brooke Rowlands comes from central New Jersey, and has been a proud resident of Oklahoma since 2002. Brooke is inspired by artist Franz Kline and illustrator Clare Leighton, experimenting with ideas/methods to develop a homogenous blend of both contemporary art and still life, often incorporating flowers, birds, trees and fish into abstract backgrounds. Color is a driving force behind Brooke’s art, whether it be acrylic painting or paper collage, and her strong contrast and sense of complimentary hues and patterns command attention toward their simple beauty. Her work has been featured nationally from Texas to Times Square including features in national television series like The Vampire Diaries and Houzz project with Actress Olivia Munn.
Shakurah Maynard is a fine artist and graphic designer. Born in the historic West End neighborhood in Atlanta, Shakurah is currently a student at Oklahoma City University School of Visual Arts. Her work is whimsical, colorful, and dynamic, interested in the ever-changing way we express identity on the internet. In 2017, she was selected to participate in Symbiotic, a collaborative show between working and student artists on the importance of art in communities, organized by the OVAC. Recently, she worked with local muralists to paint and distribute homes for the feral cat population in OKC.
Would Oklahoma Contemporary Be Interested In Continuing Making Space—Or Doing Something Similar, Such As A Spring Mural Series—Once Construction Is Complete And The New Arts Center Is Officially Open?
Barrera: In light of the success of the mural project and excitement from the artistic community, we have decided to continue the mentor/mentee pairing for a new rotation of murals throughout the year. We are in the process of setting up a mural wall near our new art studio buildings hopefully before the closing of the inaugural exhibitions, Bright Golden Haze and Shadow on the Glare. Oklahoma has a growing and thriving mural art scene, and we hope to support this exciting part of our city’s artistic landscape.
How Likely Is Oklahoma Contemporary To Collaborate With Other Construction Projects In Oklahoma To Integrate More Local Public Art Into Our Community In The Future?
Barrera: We will always help Oklahoma City celebrate and support art in all its forms, and we are happy to lend our experience and expertise in realizing such projects across our communities. Our Curatorial and Exhibitions Director, Jennifer Scanlan, is involved in the Oklahoma Public Art Network (OPAN), which helps both artists and organizations work through the public art process. (You can find more information on the OPAN website and Facebook page [linked in the “Further Reading” section below]). Additionally, stay tuned for exciting information about projects connected to Oklahoma Contemporary that will bring art to many different spaces across the city!
What Insights Have You Gained From Making Space?
Barrera: I have seen that Oklahoma City and our neighboring towns have a wealth of artists waiting for an opportunity to showcase their artistic abilities. I have also come to admire Oklahoma City’s spirit of collaboration, and I have learned that we are ready for the types of conversations these underrepresented voices carry. We are giving artists a chance to share incredible perspectives, but we are also giving the city a chance to appreciate the complex, wonderful diversity that makes Oklahoma City’s visual culture so special. These artists are making OKC beautiful, both literally and as a community.
How Does Making Space Show How Artists Can Benefit From Collaborating With Each Other?
Barrera: Every rotation of murals saw artists trading tips and networking for future collaborations. Emerging artists were able to witness the power of mentoring, and experienced artists were able to see their art as part of an inter-generational process. I imagine that if artists continue to harness this spirit of collaboration, the projects will become more ambitious and far-reaching. Also, on a practical level, mural arts becomes sustainable as more artists share their experiences.
Closing Statements
Barrera: In March, 2020, Oklahoma Contemporary will open its new downtown on 11th and Broadway. This is a rare moment in the history of the city, and we want everyone to be a part of this major achievement. You may find more information on our website. As our mission statement says: “Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center encourages artistic expression in all its forms through education, exhibitions, and performance.” Our 30 year history of activates and exhibitions are too numerous to list, but you can read more about what we do [online].
That’s a wrap for my interview with Pablo Barrera of Oklahoma Contemporary. Thank you so much to Pablo Barrera for chatting with me about Making Space and thank you to Oklahoma Contemporary for continuing to make our beloved Oklahoma City even more beautiful. Last, but certainly not least, thank you dear reader, for making it to the end of this blog post. If you enjoyed this post or found it insightful or inspiring, please consider sharing it with your community or leaving a comment below!
Support for Making Space: Summer Mural Series provided by Downtown Oklahoma City Initiatives.
All images in this post were used with explicit written permission to do so. Please do not repost, repurpose, or redistribute these images in any way without expressed written consent from the owner.
Bibliography
Barrera, Pablo. “Making Space With Oklahoma Contemporary: Interview With Pablo Barrera.” March 16, 2020.
Hayes, Payton. “A photo of Oklahoma Contemporary’s temporary showroom fashioned from four recycled shipping containers.” March 16, 2020.
Seekins, Brandon. “A photo of the mural Rosa (2019) by Checo "Tank" Ramirez (mentor) and Iliana Barrientos (mentee), for Oklahoma Contemporary’s Making Space: Summer Mural Series, Part I.”
Seekins, Brandon. “A photo of the mural Same Source (2019) by Jaiye Farrell (emerging artist), for Oklahoma Contemporary’s Making Space: Summer Mural Series, Part I.”
Seekins, Brandon. “A photo of the mural Resilience (2019) by Amanda Zoey Weathers (mentor) and William Walker Larason (mentee), for Oklahoma Contemporary’s Making Space: Summer Mural Series, Part I.”
Further Reading
“Making Space: Summer Mural Series.” Oklahoma Contemporary, Summer 2019 through January 2020.
“Showroom Opens Doors, Sets Scene for Organization’s Future.” Oklahoma Contemporary, March 20, 2015.
Seekins Light & Motion | Oklahoma City, OK (Brandon Seekins Photography) Page on Facebook.
Connect with Checo “Tank” Ramirez (@tank_lord138) on Instagram.
Connect with Kris “GERM” Ermey (@_the_germ_one) on Instagram.
Visit the Oklahoma Public Art Network (OPAN) Facebook group.
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Written by Payton Hayes | Last Updated: March 25, 2025
Lady Gaga’s Joanne World Tour : Oklahoma City Concert Recap
On December 9, 2017, Lady Gaga performed at Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Arena as part of her Joanne World Tour. Despite a delayed start, the concert opened with an electrifying rendition of "Diamond Heart," setting the tone for an evening filled with dynamic performances, powerful vocals, and elaborate costumes. The setlist included fan favorites like "Poker Face," "Just Dance," and "Bad Romance," engaging the audience in sing-alongs and dance routines. Midway through the show, Gaga addressed the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing unity and acceptance before performing "Come to Mama." She also delivered an emotional piano version of "The Edge of Glory," dedicating it to those affected by the California wildfires. In a heartfelt moment, Gaga donned a fan-made jean jacket tossed onstage and read a letter from the fan before performing "The Cure." The concert concluded with an emotional performance of "Million Reasons," leaving the audience deeply moved.
Gaga performing “Dancing In Circles” at the start of the show. Photo by Guin Holland.
This blog post was written by a human.Hello readers and writerly friends—and fellow Monsters!
If you’re a returning reader, welcome back and if you’re new to the blog, thanks for stopping by! This was an article I wrote for The 6420 Magazine back in 2017, following Gaga’s Joanne World Tour. I went to the concert with my sister and we had an absolute ball. Of course this article is completely biased because I am a HUGE fan of Gaga, but I tried to be as level-headed as possible when looking back over my concert footage. This article did not make it into the magazine due to time-sensitivity and the nature of the article being more of a review than newsworthy. Regardless, this is my blog so I’m posting it here for my fellow Monsters to enjoy! If you attended Oklahoma City tour date, leave me a comment below!
Third to last, in the long lineup of world-wide shows for the Joanne World Tour, Oklahoma City welcomed Lady Gaga with open arms. Although the show started over an entire hour later than originally scheduled, Gaga did not disappoint. She opened the show with “Diamond Heart,” a stunning performance filled with rocking theatrics, killer vocals and fabulous costumes that could only scratch the surface of the night to come.
The Joanne World Tour Concert featured throwbacks from “Pokerface,” to “Just Dance,” to “Bad Romance,” and many more. Fans danced, cried, screamed and sang their hearts out with Gaga, on December 9th at the concert which, like many others in the lineup, was sold out.
Towards the middle of the concert, Gaga took a slight political turn by asking the audience who was and wasn’t part of the LGBTQ+ community. She told concertgoers that they may have been dragged to her concert by someone and that they might lean over and whisper, “hey, Dad, I’m gay, this is Lady Gaga,” or “hey, Mom, I’m gay, this is Lady Gaga.” This earned her a collective chuckle from the audience.
Lady Gaga performing "Come to Mama" at Joanne World Tour in Tacoma. Photo by Ronald Woan.
She said that it was okay because “we’re all family here.” She began reciting the lyrics to “Come to Mama,” the 9th track on Joanne and fans chimed in, supporting her and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Before she jumped into the song, however, she paused and added, “to all of those here, who don’t believe in equality, I’ve got something to say. Come to Mama.”
After the upbeat tune, Gaga took a moment to say a few kind words about the families suffering the rampaging fires devastating southern California. Following her speech, she sang and played the piano, treating fans to a special performance of “Edge of Glory.” Fans cried and sang along as the star poured her heart out in song. “Put on your shades, ‘cause I’ll be dancing in the flames,” she sang, then paused. “Man, does that have a different meaning, tonight?” she said, referring to the California wildfires.
Lady Gage donned Jayce Green’s hand-painted jean jacket while onstage. Photo by Katie Pennington.
Later on, fans tossed gifts onto the stage and the star shrugged on a fan-made, custom jean jacket with her face painted on the back and read a heartfelt fan letter before treating fans to a spectacular performance of “The Cure.” She danced it out, belting even the highest notes of the song, whilst continuously moving to the music. “Million Reasons” was one of the most emotional and heartfelt songs of the entire show, not only because fans knew as soon as the song came to a close, so did their time with the singer, but also because of the meaning behind the song, itself, and Gaga’s phenomenal piano playing and extraordinary vocals. Even at the end of a show, she was able to hit each and every single note in the song, seemingly effortlessly.
Lady Gaga singing “Million Reasons” at the end of the Joanne World Tour concert in OKC. Photo by Jasmine Turner.
Lady Gaga is nothing short of an entertainer and she did just that -she entertained among many other things including speaking out on issues such as the status of the LGBTQ+ community and the amount of hatred in the world. She also spoke about loving each other and spread an overall positive message to fans and non-fans, alike. She flawlessly interwove old and new songs, costume changes, pyrotechnics, electronic, rock and western music and put on an incredible show that concert-goers will remember for the rest of their lives.
THANK YOU to everyone who allowed me to use your photos for this article. I know this concert was a pretty spiritual experience for everyone who could attend and it means everything that you not only capture some of the most iconic moments of the show, but that you’d let me use them to show others what a wonderful time we all had. I hope to see some of you at her next tour! #chromatica
And that’s it for my recap of Lady Gaga’s Joanne World Tour Concert in OKC. Didn’t get enough of Gaga? Well, good news for you, I have another article where I reviewed Gaga’s Five Foot Two Netflix documentary for The 15th Street News, which you can find in the Further Reading section below. If you enjoyed this blog post, please like and consider leaving a comment!
Bibliography
Holland, Gun. “Gaga performing ‘Dancing In Circles’ at the start of the show.” Instagram, December 10, 2017.Pennington, Katie. “Lady Gage donned Jayce Green’s hand-painted jean jacket while onstage.” Photo by Katie Pennington.Turner, Jasmine. “Lady Gaga singing ‘Million Reasons’ at the end of the Joanne World Tour concert in OKC.” Instagram, December 10, 2017.Woan, Ronald. “Lady Gaga performing ‘Come to Mama’ at Joanne World Tour in Tacoma.” Flickr, August 7. 2010 (Thumbnail image).
Further Reading
Related Topics
Exploring Oklahoma Murals Where Public Art Is More Than PaintBreathing New Life Into Humanities At Rose State CollegeRose State College: Attending Art School In The MidwestMaking Space With Oklahoma Contemporary: Interview With Pablo BarreraI Visited The Full Circle Bookstore In Oklahoma City
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This blog post was researched, written, and published by a human author without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (gen-AI). Gen-AI models are trained on text written by humans, therefore, the presence of specific punctuation, verbiage, tone, or predictable, marketing-style phrases alone are not sufficient indicators of gen-AI usage. I implore readers to use context clues, critical thinking, pattern recognition, research, and employ their best judgement when determining the validity of human authorship of print and digital media today. If you want to learn more about my stance on gen-AI and it’s role in media and the publishing industry, I plan to release a blog post on this topic very soon, so stay tuned for that. This disclaimer will be updated once that post goes live. In the meantime, I will continue to be transparent about which tools and resources I use in my work.