The Oklahoma City Museum of Art, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Art Education Association, again sponsored Portfolio Day on Friday, January 13, 2012. The event was open to all Oklahoma High School Junior and Senior students who have interest in furthering their arts education to college. Representatives of art faculties from Oklahoma and other regional colleges and universities, private and public, evaluated and made recommendations to students interested in the arts on portfolio development for the purpose of admissions and scholarships.

The art inspired students enjoyed their day at the Museum by going on tours in the galleries, eating lunch and getting great advice on their portfolio

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By Chandra Boyd, Senior Associate Curator of Education

Painting by Jim Cobb

I remember having lunch in the Museum Cafe last fall with a potential instructor, Jim Cobb. He had called, and we set up a time to meet and talk about his ideas for a Museum School class. I’ll never forgot sharing dessert and chatting about his work as a physician, our families, and our shared love for northern New Mexico. He was incredibly kind, humble, talented, and anxious to share his knowledge with others.

After a successful career as a physician and surgeon, Jim began a second career in art over the last 20 years, including teaching at the University of Oklahoma and privately. He studied for several years with hand-picked instructors from the Art Students League of New York City and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Jim now paints at his studios in Norman and Taos, New Mexico, with subjects ranging from portraits and the human figure to still life and landscapes. He has won a number of awards through the Oklahoma Art Guild’s National Juried Shows and has taught courses over the past year at the Museum including a portrait and figure two-day workshop and “Introduction to Drawing.”

This January, Jim will be teaching “Classical Approaches to Painting.” The class meets Sundays, January 15—February 12. Previous students have commented how much they appreciate his individual attention and encouraging attitude. According to one participant, “I found out I actually can draw. As someone with no art background, everything he said or demonstrated was a pearl for me.”

To sign up for Jim’s upcoming class, go online to tickets.okcmoa.com or call Neely Simms at (405) 236-3100, extension 213.

Join the Oklahoma City Museum of Art on Saturday, January 21, 2012, to visit the Dallas Museum of Art and see The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk. Organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in collaboration with the Maison Jean Paul Gaultier, this is the first exhibition devoted to the designs of world-renowned French couturier Jean Paul Gaultier, dubbed fashion’s “enfant terrible” from the time of his first runway shows in the 1970s and one of the most important fashion designers of recent decades.The trip, accompanied by OKCMOA staff,  includes travel by luxury motor coach and admission to the museum. A continental breakfast, refreshments, wine, and a light supper will be served on the coach. Price per person is $150. Reserve your space today by contacting Brenda Kelly at Journey House Travel, (405) 463-5811 or brenda@journeyhouse.com.

By Jennifer Allmanm
Instructor, The Art of Photography for ages 11-13

Almost all kids love to take pictures, whether that is pictures of themselves and friends, or of a more artistic nature.  Buying a camera today though is a lot more complicated than it used to be.  The first thing you need to do is determine what your child wants to use the camera for.  Do they want to just be able to use their photos on Facebook or e-mail them to friends?  Do they want to make prints or enlargements?  Knowing what they want to do with their pictures will be very helpful in narrowing down your options.

If your child just wants to have pictures on the computer to share online or to even make prints with, then the megapixels number is not quite as crucial.  Two good options are the Canon PowerShot A800 and the Kodak Easyshare M580, both of which are under $100.  They are point and shoot and have minimal adjustments for settings.

The next step up from there would be a camera where they are able to make large prints, share photos online, or even take video with the camera.  They will also have more creative control over their settings, which will allow for more artistic creations.  A couple of good options would be the Samsung NX11 or Canon Powershot SD4000.

And finally if you have a budding photographer who is looking for the ability to have absolute control of their images, you really need to go to a digital SLR (single lens reflex).  This will allow them to control everything or nothing depending on what the situation is.  The Canon EOS Rebel T3 is a great camera under $500.  And then the Nikon D3100 as well, although it tends to run right around $600.  Both come with detachable lenses where you can add to your camera bag at your own pace.

When shopping for a camera, allow your child to look and browse with you. This will help you know what they are looking for in style as well.  No matter your price range, all of the above cameras will help your child express themselves in photos.

Jennifer Allman is a graduate of the New York Institute of Photography. Currently, she is a freelance photographer and teaches Photography I, II, and III at Harding Fine Arts Academy in Oklahoma City. Jennifer will be teaching the camp, The Art of Photography for ages 11-13, during winter break. The dates are Tuesday-Friday, December 27-30, from 9 am-4 pm. Cost for members is $120 (nonmembers $130). Space is available but limited. Call (405)236-3100, extension 213, or enroll online at tickets.okcmoa.com today!

By Amanda Harmer, Education and Community Outreach Coordinator

Around the holidays, I’m always approached by parents wanting easy, personalized, homemade art items that are perfect for gifts but also fool-proof.  Here are just a few that have been successful in my classroom, and in my home, over the years.

Model Magic Ornaments

Materials:

• Model Magic in assorted colors, especially green, red, and white
• Ribbon for hanging, about an 8” length per ornament
• Cookie cutters in desired shapes
• Toothpicks 

• OPTIONAL: glitter glue, photographs to collage, Elmer’s glue or Modge Podge, clay tools or textural items like butter knives, forks, combs, etc.

Model Magic can be purchased in a variety of colors, and it can also be colored with markers.  Begin with a white piece of clay, about 1 oz.  Color clay with one color or several colors of markers.  Then, twist, roll, and smash the clay until blended to desired color.  Flatten clay into a slab, making sure it is slightly larger than the cookie cutter.  Use cookie cutter to cut out shape and apply desired textures.   A child’s hand could also be used as a stencil.  Simply use a pencil or toothpick to trace around the child’s hand.  Be sure to poke a hole near the top of the ornament so that a ribbon can be attached.  Allow clay to dry overnight.  Then, details may be added with glitter glue.  If desired, photographs may be cut out and collaged with Elmer’s glue or Modge Podge.  Attach ribbon and give as a sweet, personalized gift!

Mommy (or Daddy) & Me Portraits

Materials:

• Watercolor paper – choose a size like 8”x10” or 11”x14” that will be easy to frame
• Pencils and erasers
• Crayons or oil pastels – You will need at least one white crayon/pastel
• Watercolors
• Paintbrushes
• Water container
• Newspaper or tablecloth to protect table

• Optional:  mirrors, frame

Turn watercolor paper landscape style and begin portraits.  It can be fun to draw a self-portrait, and have your child draw him/herself.  Don’t be intimidated by trying to make it too realistic.  Have fun with it, and be sure to include identifying features like glasses or freckles, in addition to eyes, ears, noses, etc.   Dress yourselves in warm, winter clothing like scarves, mittens, and hats.  Add any details that you would see outside on a wintry day.  Color yourself by pressing hard with crayons.  I like to use oil pastels with really young children because they don’t have to press as hard.  Be sure to color every part of your body, all details in the background, and use a white crayon/pastel to make snowflakes all around.  Leave sky and ground blank for now.  Then, use watercolors to paint sky and ground.  Concentrate on using cool colors:  greens, blues, and purples.  It’s always fun to watch the snowflakes “magically” appear when watercolor is added.  Allow to dry and frame if desired.

Just a few more suggestions:

• Create a fun calendar online by using your child’s seasonal artwork throughout the year.

• Use old, artwork destined for the garbage as wrapping paper.

• Use old holiday cards and wrapping paper as collage material for artwork.

Winter break is just around the corner! OKCMOA’s Museum School is offering classes for ages 5-7 & 8-10. Additionally, there’s another camp for ages 11-13 called The Art of Photography. Since this runs after Christmas – perhaps a new digital camera will be in the family! Register online by clicking here or call (405) 236-3100, ext. 215

WINTER BREAK (AGES 5–7 & 8–10)

Tuesday–Friday, December 27–30, 9 am–4 pm
$120 members/ $130 nonmembers per child (materials provided; bring a non-perishable sack lunch, drink, and two snacks each day)
Before and after care is available from 8–9 a.m. and from 4–5 p.m. at a charge of $5 per child, per day (no after care on Friday).
Maximum enrollment is 12 students. Children must meet the minimum age requirements for each class to participate.
Amanda Harmer and Natasha Corso

Looking for something fun and unique for your child to do during winter break? Send them to the Museum to learn how to find art in everyday life! They’ll draw, paint, sculpt, and craft fantastic creations in our studio classrooms, while studying works of art in the galleries. On Friday, December 30, at 4 pm, students will display their artworks in the main lobby, enjoy a reception with punch and cookies, and take their families on a tour of the Museum.

THE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY (AGES 11–13)

Tuesday–Friday, December 27–30, 9 am–4 pm
$120 members/ $130 nonmembers per child (materials provided; bring a non-perishable sack lunch, drink, and two snacks each day)
Before and after care is available from 8–9 a.m. and from 4–5 p.m. at a charge of $5 per child, per day (no after care on Friday).
Maximum enrollment is 12 students. Children must meet the minimum age requirements for each class to participate.
Jennifer Allman

In this class, students will learn the basics of how cameras work and the techniques of picture taking. Students also will learn how to constructively critique photographs, so they have the ability to continue improving on their own. Our project for the week will be to showcase a small portfolio of images highlighting projects completed during the camp, including still life and portraits. On Friday, December 30, at 4 pm, students will display their creations in the main lobby, enjoy a reception with punch and cookies, and take their families on a tour of the Museum.

In the past few years, I have read with great delight as Oklahoma City has repeatedly been recognized as one of the most livable cities in the nation. Thanks to the hard work of Oklahomans and the efforts of our business and civic leaders, we’ve emerged as a city that boasts a vibrant culture and lifestyle all our own. And one of the institutions leading this emergence is the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.

Less visible but no less important parts of the museum are its education programs. These initiatives play a vital role in our community and state, enriching the lives of Oklahomans through visual arts. Through these programs, more than 10,000 students tour the museum’s collections annually, while thousands of adults and children take hundreds of art classes.

One of the museum’s newest and most innovative programs is Healing Arts Outreach, which uses art to enhance the lives of senior citizens with Alzheimer’s disease in assisted living and memory care centers in Oklahoma City.

Through my own research on Alzheimer’s at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, I have learned how the disease relentlessly robs people of their capacity to remember, think and reason. So it warmed my heart to see the passion these Alzheimer’s patients displayed in drawing with pastels or sculpting and the joy they derived from exhibiting their works. With this program, the museum is reaching out to Oklahomans who need it most.

A vibrant, growing city needs an art museum that is a paragon of artistic excellence yet also is intimately grounded in the community. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is both these things. I urge all Oklahomans to visit and enjoy it. Your patronage will support the museum and help make Oklahoma City an even better place to live.

Tang is a member of the board of directors of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and holds the J.G. Puterbaugh Chair in Medical Research at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

The William Randolph Hearst Foundation recently awarded a $50,000 grant to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art in support of educational programs and outreach efforts.  Museum School classes and camps, Family Day events, Drop-in Art every Saturday afternoon, lectures, and group tours are just a few of the ongoing activities that will benefit from this generous gift. Outreach efforts include establishing relationships with underserved communities and individuals through the Museum’s new Healing Arts Program at The Zone at OU Children’s Hospital as well as at Epworth Villa and Cypress Springs memory care centers.

“The William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s grant award is a prestigious affirmation that the Museum’s educational efforts are significant programs for the community,” said Museum President and Chief Executive Officer Glen Gentele.

The William Randolph Hearst Foundation is a part of The Hearst Foundations, which includes The Hearst Foundation, Inc. Combined, they are national philanthropic resources for organizations and institutions working in the fields of education, health, culture, and social service. Their goal is to ensure that people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to build healthy, productive, and inspiring lives.

The charitable goals of The Hearst Foundations reflect the philanthropic interests of William Randolph Hearst. The Hearst Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1945 by publisher/philanthropist William Randolph Hearst. In 1948, Hearst established the California Charities Foundation, renamed the William Randolph Hearst Foundation in 1951. Both foundations are national private philanthropies operating independently from The Hearst Corporation. The two foundations are managed as one entity, The Hurst Foundations, sharing the same funding guidelines, leadership, and staff. In addition, it administers two operating programs, the United States Senate Youth Program and the Hearst Journalism Awards program.

 
About Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art serves over 125,000 visitors annually from all 50 states and over 30 countries and presents exhibitions drawn from throughout the world. The Museum’s collection covers a period of five centuries with highlights in European and American art from the nineteenth through twenty-first centuries, a growing collection of contemporary art, and a comprehensive collection of glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly. The Museum boasts the region’s premiere repertory cinema, which screens the finest international, independent, and classic films, and is home to the Museum School, which offers classes for students of all ages as well as art camps for children. Amenities include the Museum Store, a roof terrace, and the Museum Cafe, a full-service restaurant, offering lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, afternoon tea, a full bar, and catering services.

Visitor Information
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is located in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City’s Arts District, at 415 Couch Drive. Visit the Museum online at okcmoa.com for admission pricing and hours of operation.