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When Shelley Pruitt and John Sexton walked through the Museum doors for ARTonTAP in 2010, they never would have imagined they would meet at the event and get married in the exact same spot three years later. Fast forward to 2016, the couple is now sponsoring tomorrow night’s ARTonTAP with a fun story to tell!
You and your husband John Pruitt met at ARTonTAP in 2010! Can you explain how you met during the event and what made you both want to learn more about each other?
Shelley Pruitt: I was a sponsor of Art on Tap in 2010 with my mortgage company and I invited a dear friend, Brenda, to go with me. She knew John Sexton through his partner, Cynthia Post, who had passed away with cancer in 2009. Brenda loved John and really thought of him as an angel to her friend during her illness, so she was very excited to see him out at ARTonTap. She announced, “Oh John, you have to meet my friend Shelley!” I turned around smiling and he stepped back and smiled with a very kind greeting. As the evening progressed to the rooftop where Born in November was playing, we danced the whole night away! John’s travel schedule took him to Singapore that week, but on his return we attended many fun events and art shows with dinner. We also went to some OU games and tailgated, which was extra convenient because my son Luke was a current student. He too fell in love with John along with my other sons, Ben and John C.
You got married in 2013 under the Chihuly Waterford Crystal Chandelier at the Museum. What made you decide to have your wedding here?
SP: Not only is the chandelier the most fabulous and pure thing I have seen, but it’s also the spot we were introduced [during ARTonTAP.] We followed up with a grand brunch in the Museum Cafe—one of our go-to places for dinner and drinks in OKC!
SP: We dated and visited the Museum many times together, as I lived in a condo downtown and had been a member of the museum since 2007. John proposed in 2012 as we were meeting friends at ARTonTAP, then we married under the chandelier on April 22, 2013 before flying to Hawaii for our honeymoon/wedding with 17 of our good friends on Hapuna Beach.
SP: We love art. John and I collect works of art and simply love the story each piece tells as we entertain family and friends in our home. This love and appreciation of art draws us to the museum for both the established pieces and the amazing art on tour. We visited the Matisse exhibit three times and would have been there more often, but our summer was filled with travels. We will use our ROAM membership this next week, as we will be at our condo in Santa Fe for the week and visiting the museums there! Our other favorite part of the Museum is the films. It’s the best theater in town! The gift shop is my stocking stuffer go-to spot and also where I buy gifts for friends. Thanks for offering so much right there in that amazing place!
What is your favorite part about ARTonTAP?
SP: ARTonTAP is a favorite spot to meet friends and because John loves craft beer almost as much as we love art, it’s a win, win event!
