Programming for adults and kids will be available throughout the summer.
OKLAHOMA CITY (June 14, 2023) – An exciting programming schedule will accompany the Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s (OKCMOA) summer blockbuster True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism, which opens to the public Saturday, June 17.
“With lectures, tours, a newly established Book Club, and more, OKCMOA seeks to deepen our community’s connection to this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition,” said Museum educator and Senior Manager of Programs and Partnerships Bryon Chambers.
Recognized as one of the greatest sculptors since the Renaissance, French artist Auguste Rodin pioneered an approach to his art that aimed not only to capture the physicality of his subjects but also their psychology. Organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, True Nature delves into the Classical influences on Rodin’s sculpture, the artist’s focus on portraiture, and his exploration of movement and the human body.
Don’t miss the chance to be among the very first to experience this extraordinary exhibition as a Museum Member or attend one of the events thoughtfully organized by the Museum team. Below is a schedule of OKCMOA’s True Nature-related programming.
SUSTAINERS’ PREVIEW
Wednesday, June 14 | 5-8 p.m.
Exclusive to Sustainer-level members and sponsors.
Sustainer members and exhibition sponsors are invited to join us in celebrating the opening of True Nature, examining the rich story of Auguste Rodin’s sculptures, and understanding the artist’s place in fin-de-siècle France. This event offers an exclusive exhibition preview experience, cocktail reception, and educational lecture for the Museum’s premier supporters.
MODERNS’ PREVIEW EVENT
Thursday, June 15 | 6-8 p.m.
Free and exclusive to Moderns members.
Travel to Paris with OKCMOA Moderns and enjoy a French wine tasting and an exclusive private tour through True Nature featuring insights into how Rodin’s Classical beginnings evolved into the founding of modern sculpture. Join us for light bites, live music on the rooftop, and a chance to win a one-night stay at Bradford House. To become a Moderns member, visit okcmoa.com/moderns.
Friday, June 16 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Members’ Preview Day
OKCMOA members are welcome to preview the new exhibition between 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, June 16. Click here to reserve members-only daytime preview tickets before the exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, June 17.
Members’ Preview Celebration
Then, gather with OKCMOA members to celebrate the opening of True Nature later that evening with entertainment, drinks, light bites, and a lecture by Leah Lehmbeck, PhD, exhibition curator from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
- 5 p.m. | Celebration Begins
- Entertainment, light bites, and a cash bar on Roof Terrace
- In the case of inclement weather or extreme heat, activities will be moved indoors to the Museum Lobby
- 6 p.m. | Rodin Revisited Lecture in Noble Theater
- Leah Lehmbeck, PhD, Curator and Department Head, European Painting & Sculpture and American Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- Seating for the lecture in the Noble Theater is first-come, first-served
- 8 p.m. | All Galleries Close
Free for OKCMOA members and $39.95+tax for non-members.
To learn more about Museum membership levels, visit okcmoa.com/membership and join today!
Saturday, June 17 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free with admission and for members.
Join us on opening day for this come-and-go Rodin-inspired sculpture activity that is suitable for all ages and provides a perfect opportunity for visitors to connect with the galleries and tap into their creativity. Drop-In Art is available on the third Saturday of every month and features a new activity for each session.
Thursday, July 20 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 27 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Registration is $28 for members and $36 for non-members. | Space is limited.
In conjunction with the exhibition True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism, this class will explore how to look at the sculptures of Auguste Rodin and the work of his Impressionist contemporaries like Monet and Degas. We will discuss why Rodin and his peers were considered groundbreaking radicals in the nineteenth-century art world and how their work paved the way for modern art of the twentieth century. In addition to the art historical context, this practical class will also offer participants the tools to analyze and decipher these works of art.
This four-hour class will convene over two sessions.
Thursday, June 22 | 5:30-7 p.m.
$25 for members and $30 for non-members | Registration is required.
Visitors can further connect to True Nature by reading You Must Change Your Life: The Story of Rainer Maria Rilke and Auguste Rodin by Rachel Corbett. Participants will enjoy a curated snack and beverage available from the Store Bar, and a custom guided tour/discussion of the book and exhibition. Copies of the book are available for purchase at the OKCMOA store.
Friday, July 28 | 6 p.m.
$85 | Limited to 20 registrants.
Join OKCMOA President and CEO Michael Anderson, PhD, for an exclusive after-hours tour of True Nature. Following the tour, attendees will sample new “Wines with a Cause” in the Museum Store.
Saturday, July 29 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
$10 for in-person; free for virtual.
This professional development opportunity will connect educators to OKCMOA as a classroom resource with a special emphasis on True Nature.
Sunday, August 6 | 2 p.m.
Saturday, October 7 | 2 p.m.
$25 for members and $35 for non-members.
These guided tours provide conversation-based insights from artist LaQuincey Reed and OKCMOA Educator Bryon Chambers.
Saturday, August 26 | 11 a.m.
Sunday, September 10 | 2 p.m.
Thursday, October 12 | 6 p.m.
$25 for members and $35 for non-members.
Join Director of Curatorial Affairs Rosie May, PhD, for an in-depth tour, exploring major themes and highlights from the exhibition.
OKCMOA will host group exhibition tours, in-person field trips, and virtual field trips throughout the summer and into fall. Additionally, a number of docent-led ask-me sessions will be held during the length of the exhibition. No reservation is required, and the program is included with admission. For a full list of dates and times, please visit okcmoa.com/events.
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Image Credit: Auguste Rodin, Minotaur or Faun and Nymph (detail), circa 1886, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Gift of Leona Cantor Palmer,
photo © Museum Associates/LACMA
photo © Museum Associates/LACMA
