Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition's grant programs aid state artists with diverse projects

A version of this story appears in the Sunday Life section of The Oklahoman.

Artistic assistance: OVAC's quarterly grants help Oklahoma creatives with a variety of projects

Known for her experimental filmmaking, stop-motion animation and installation works, Nicole Emmons is relishing opportunities to apply her artistic knowledge to exploring her Native American heritage.

"I've definitely been embracing that part of my identity more," said Emmons, who is Citizen Potawatomi. "I'm excited to present myself more in this context of Native contemporary art."

So, the Oklahoma City artist applied for and was accepted to "Re/Convening," an upcoming show at the ahha Tulsa art center that will feature works by contemporary Native artists who are from, have lived or worked in or presently reside in Oklahoma.

And she applied for and received a $1,500 grant from the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition to make her concept of a thought-provoking interactive slot machine a reality.

"It basically takes it to a totally different production level," Emmons said. "What I was originally going to do was make a quad-screen or tri-screen video installation that was just kind of running randomly on its own. That's what actually got accepted into the show ... but because slot machines are interactive it will just be a lot more exciting for the viewer to have it be running as a slot machine. ... It's another opportunity to engage with your audience because it's another level of interaction."

The Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition has announced the recipients of its spring 2020 quarterly grants, which are cash funds intended to help artists at all stages of their career to develop creatively and grow professionally. Through its quarterly grant program, OVAC not only tries to offer opportunities to artists, but also to ensure creative communities throughout the state continue to thrive.

“We are thrilled to award these grants and to be able to support these artists’ practice. We believe these funds give artists the leverage they need to push their career further,” said OVAC Executive Director Krystle Brewer in a statement.

Eclectic projects

Organized in 1988, OVAC is a nonprofit organization that supports Oklahoma visual artists realize their potential through education, exposure and funding.

OVAC's grants committee meets quarterly and scores proposals according to their merit, based on the particular grant category and its associated criteria.

Grant recipients must have been Oklahoma residents at least 12 months prior to the submission deadline.

Last year, OVAC awarded $16,000 to 24 diverse projects. This spring, the organization has announced grants to seven artists in four different categories.

Recipients of a Professional Basics Grant, which offers up to $500 and requires the artists to match the awarded funds, are Amber DuBoise-Shepherd, of Shawnee, for framing for her works reflecting experiences from her everyday life and how she interprets the world around her with her Native heritage, and Gabriel Rojas, of Tulsa, for project supplies to create paintings that recognize the ancestral traditions from the Andes region.

OVAC's Education Grant also awards up to $500 and requires the recipients to match the funds. Spring recipients include Carol Webster, of Oklahoma City, for a layers and plates workshop, and Maria Leticia Galizzi, of Norman, for a painting residency assistance.

Artistic anniversary

Oklahoma City photographer and writer M.J. Alexander received in January an OVAC Community/Artist Partnership Grant for her work with her husband, composer Ed Knight, on the Canterbury Voices world-premiere production "Of Perpetual Solace."

The Community/Artist Partnership Grant awards up to $1,200 - the partner organization must match the funds - for initiating community-based projects.

"Of Perpetual Solace" was developed as a large-scale artistic response to community loss and healing. A poetic work for full orchestra and 250-voice chorus was developed to be debuted in March to honor the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.

Commissioned to commemorate the bombing anniversary as well as Canterbury Voice's 50th anniversary, the performance had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The world premiere - intended to feature more than 200 singers, including Canterbury adult and youth performers, the Oklahoma City University Chamber Choir and University Singers, accompanied by the OCU Symphony Orchestra - has been rescheduled for 3 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Civic Center Music Hall.

"Part of the idea behind 'Of Perpetual Solace' was not just to have the music or not just to have the words but to just kind of expand it out and have this alchemy with visuals and words and music. It was going to be this multifaceted experience and performance - and it will be when it's done," said Alexander, who is the piece's visual artist and librettist.

"In some ways, it might have even more resonance by the time everybody comes out the other side of all this that we've been through, because it's all about change and mourning and rebuilding and going forward. And this is just a reminder that it's an ongoing process."

Vital support

For Alexander, who previously received an OVAC grant to show a retrospective of her Oklahoma portraits at London's Crypt Gallery, the nonprofit's support has helped to elevate her projects.

"For me, OVAC's schedule of speakers, workshops, grants, calls for entry and exhibitions offer a combination of inspiration and deadlines that are great motivators in a field where it is easy get lost in thought and slip into yeah-someday-I-should-do-that mode," she said.

Emmons and Jordan Vinyard, of Mustang, received spring Creative Projects Grants for up to $1,500 to create new works from OVAC. With narratives concerning media, manipulation and mechanization, Vinyard's "Scummy Scummy No Fun Bunny Bunny" will incorporate kinetic sculptures, installations and performances and employ antiquated media, kitsch, propaganda, and science fiction.

Titled "Commodification of the Sacred," Emmons' new work will explore the complexities and prevelance of gaming in modern-day tribal life.

"I'm building a slot machine, and it's kind of using stop-motion ... and there's going to be different icons inside of the machine. Those will all be shot using miniatures with set lighting, and then they'll put into a software and then people will be able to play a game," she said.

"Icons of a spiritual nature, like medicines, and everything that has to do with culture will be the winning icons. The losing icons will be like a variety of cultural pitfalls, like appropriation. I don't want to reveal too much because I want it to be a surprise."

Although the American Indian nations headquartered in Oklahoma all have rich artistic and cultural traditions, Emmons said many people primarily think of casinos when they think of the state's tribes.

"It's kind of the overall picture of how casinos and gambling have filled this economic gap for a long time and just looking at that as a whole and how that evolved and what that means. ... Obviously, I am super grateful. I have definitely benefited from the money that has come from that, directly or indirectly through tribal services and all kinds of things. But it's just a comment on our relationship ... with that as an income source," Emmons said.

"It is tricky to comment on it, because, well, of course I'm grateful for ... the fact that this helps provide for tribal government and that they're able to provide all these services. But then on the other hand, how close are we to our culture? How much are we practicing our culture day to day and our spirituality? How much is that central to everything that we're doing? I guess it's about priorities."

Although ahha Tulsa is closed through at least July 1 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Emmons is continuing to work on her piece for "Re/Convening," which is slated to open in July.

With so much other uncertainity, Emmons said being able to rely on OVAC's assistance is reassuring.

"For artists like me, when I have an art show, I don't usually have very much to sell. ... When you're doing installation, there's not a lot of opportunity to get revenue back from all work that you put into it. So, having OVAC to support things like this is really critical. It makes all the difference in the world," she said.

TO KNOW MORE

For more information on the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition's quarterly grant program, go to www.ovac-ok.org/grants-for-artists. The next application deadline is July 15.

-BAM