BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ROCK PHILBROOK!

What a marvelous group of kids. What a great day. Have a look.

FIELD TRIP

Today, in partnership with the Salvation Army, we hosted hundreds of children from the local Boys and Girls Clubs. The kids had an opportunity to see the current exhibition, tour the gardens, take part in art projects, hear a concert and eat lunch on the lawn. It was a fantastic sight to see. Thanks to all of the partners in the community we worked with to make this happen. What a day!

FLORENCE WHEN IT SIZZLES

Just a few days ago, Tanya Paul, our Ruth G. Hardman Curator of European Art, returned from a hot summertime trip to Florence to view a Caravaggio exhibition. Here are a few pictures she snapped while in this beautiful city.

MEMBERS ONLY MOVIE THIS FRIDAY

To close out our 2010 Summer Films on the Lawn, we will be showing the 1998 animated hit "The Prince of Egypt" for our members only. The cost for members is usually five dollars, but on Friday it will be 100% FREE. Bring the kids, a picnic and have a great time.

FROM GERMANY WITH LOVE (FOR ART)

My name is Saskia and I am an intern at Philbrook while I’m on summer break. I’m a student from Germany where I study German and English at Mannheim University (seen here). It’s hard to believe I’ve already been doing this for four weeks – time flies by so fast here!







You may wonder how I learned about the Philbrook from so far away. Thanks to the website, YouTube and Facebook, I became really enthused about it. The mixture is appealing: gardens, sculptures, paintings, special exhibitions plus weekly special events. There is so much going on all the time. Anyway, it really turned out to be even better than it looked online.

On my first day I was shown what goes on behind the scenes. I had a chance to tour the storage area where the majority of the museum’s pieces are kept, like African artifacts containing poisonous ingredients. You really have to be careful when working with those. So far I’ve been assisting the Curatorial and Education Departments. I’ve been involved in so many diverse projects which include, among others, organizing files, creating slideshows for classes and evaluating surveys. I had the chance to assist at the Free 2nd Saturday in July and got to create Art Cards for upcoming ones. For this I was doing research at the Chapman Library and really got drawn ever more deeply into the background stories. And then I literally fell in love with the painting and the mysteries about Isabel Harpel Storm (below). Isn’t it just downright amazing?


The most challenging project was working on the docent guide for an upcoming exhibition, a show in which classic literature, paintings, films, ballets, and even e-mails are adapted for new video installations. This was just one of many projects that turned me into a Philbrook fan, which leads to the next point: the staff. My time here at Philbrook enables me to gain so much experience for my future career. I am mostly free to choose what I want to work on, so I also wanted to gain deeper insight into the Communications and Development departments.

The staff is so very appreciative and open-minded. I was even invited for a “thank you” lunch and also to join a pot luck lunch at the museum. I am already a little bummed that all this will be over in two weeks. The long journey was definitely worth it!

With The Curator: Myths & Memories

WHITNEY AT PHILBROOK

Catherine Whitney joined Philbrook as Chief Curator and Curator of American Art on July 12.
Whitney will oversee the curatorial department’s ambitious and expanding special exhibition programs, and research, interpret, install and further develop Philbrook’s collection of American Art.

Whitney comes to Tulsa via Washington, DC and Santa Fe, NM where she has worked in various museum and gallery positions. A graduate of Bowdoin College in Maine (BA in Studio Art and Art History) and University of Maryland (MA in Art History), Whitney worked at the National Gallery of Art in the conservation, education, and curatorial divisions. While DC, she also led tours at the Sewall-Belmont House (historic headquarters of the National Woman's Party) and held a graduate internship in education at the Hillwood Museum. In 1995, Whitney moved to Santa Fe to become Curator of American Art and, later, Director of Twentieth-Century American Art at the Gerald Peters Gallery.

While her area of specialization is American Art, 1890-1940--particularly modernism and the regional Taos and Santa Fe painters--she also co-chaired the Contemporary Department at the gallery. She is board Vice President of the Southwest Art History Conference held annually in Taos, NM.

PHOTO: ZACH GRAY/Tulsa World

AND THEN THERE WERE THREE

We have a little Egyptian-themed treat before this week's movie on the lawn...

Don't miss Friday night's screening of this and the 1932 version of "The Mummy" starring Boris Karloff. Gates open at 7:30. Film begins around 9.

LINK OF THE DAY

Every so often we like to highlight another site or blog that has something nice to say about us.

Today we are sharing Urban Art & Antiques www.urbanartantiques.com

The visitor found a specific interest in Laura Clubb, a fascinating person and donor of some of our better-known pieces. Read here for more.

MY TIME AT PHILBROOK

During the summer months, college students intern at the museum. One of those interns, Aimee Deal, wrote a piece at the beginning of her time with us about what she expected and thought about the upcoming experience she was about to embark on. Her time with us is almost over, so we thought it would be nice to get a closing note as well.

MY TIME AT PHILBROOK

by Aimee Deal

In a span of 10 weeks I have seen Egyptian mummies, innovators and historical changes at the Philbrook Museum. Each day has been an encouraging one that led to a bright idea, or an inspiration to do something great. The Egyptian exhibit came to life during my stay and became an interest to me. I was able to see behind the curtain what it was like to create a new exhibition at Philbrook. Each exhibition requires a new layer of paint on the walls, and after speaking to employees at Philbrook, it was concluded that over 50 layers of paint lay on those walls. 50 layers. 50 exhibitions. Endless memories for those who created and attended them.

The people that work at Philbrook are imaginative people who seek the best for the museum and with that, it has been a joy to work with each person at the museum. During my stay I have attended meetings, been asked to conceive new marketing, PR and advertisement tactics, photographed summer camp, organized files, written and edited articles, and created possible future promotional events. Each thought or idea that I proposed was considered and treated with respect.

It has been more than a pleasure to be part of Philbrook’s mission and part of their celebration of the arts and history. My favorite part during my stay here at has been participating with events and contributing to and helping the people who work here every day. Being an intern in the Communications department and helping achieve their goals has more than fulfilled my desire and expectations of Philbrook.

MY TIME AT PHILBROOK

During the summer months, college students intern at the museum. One of those interns, Aimee Deal, wrote a piece at the beginning of her time with us about what she expected and thought about the upcoming experience she was about to embark on. Her time with us is almost over, so we thought it would be nice to get a closing note as well.

MY TIME AT PHILBROOK

by Aimee Deal

In a span of 10 weeks I have seen Egyptian mummies, innovators and historical changes at the Philbrook Museum. Each day has been an encouraging one that led to a bright idea, or an inspiration to do something great. The Egyptian exhibit came to life during my stay and

became an interest to me. I was able to see behind the curtain what it was like to create a new exhibition at Philbrook. Each exhibition requires a new layer of paint on the walls, and after speaking to employees at Philbrook, it was concluded that over 50 layers of paint lay on those walls. 50 layers. 50 exhibitions. Endless memories for those who created and attended them.

The people that work at Philbrook are imaginative people who seek the best for the museum and with that, it has been a joy to work with each person at the museum. During my stay I have attended meetings, been asked to conceive new marketing, PR and advertisement tactics,

photographed summer camp, organized files, written and edited articles, and created possible future promotional events. Each thought or idea that I proposed was considered and treated with respect.

It has been more than a pleasure to be part of Philbrook’s mission and part of their celebration of the arts and history. My favorite part during my stay here at has been participating with events and contributing to and helping the people who work here every day. Being an intern in the Communications department and helping achieve their goals

has more than fulfilled my desire and expectations of Philbrook.

BACK ON THE LAWN

After two weeks of being rained out, it looks like this week our Summer Films on the Lawn will be back on the lawn where they belong. This Friday we will be showing the 1994 blockbuster STARGATE starring Kurt Russell.

YOU REVIEW: Myths & Memories

We are starting a new series here called YOU REVIEW in which whenever we open a new show, we will have one of you, our audience, come in and write a review. The first show we are looking at is our new works on paper show, "Myths & Memories: Highlights from the Walker Collection of Native Art". The review is by Ken Hess.


Review: Myths and Memories: Highlights from the Walker Collection of Native Art

It’s hard to pick a favorite from the 19 Native art pieces that adorn Philbrook’s upper level Works on Paper gallery walls. The colors and designs aren’t the usual Native art fare although you’ll recognize the familiar themes. In this highlights collection, you’ll find everything from linocut and woodcut prints to silkscreened prints to original watercolors and mixed media works. The range of motifs covers Ahmoo Angeconeb’s Canadian perspective to Jeanette Katoney’s Southwest Indian petroglyph-inspired renderings.

For those of you who enjoy a more modern touch to the traditional, check out Don Montileaux’s ledger paper mixed media work or the similarly crafted embossed work of Jackie Sevier. Perhaps best known for his carvings, Beau Dick’s two-color screen print, “Blue Heron,” is an absolute show favorite as is Dawn Dark Mountain’s hand-colored linocut, “Sandhill Crane Spirits.”

If you love Native art, you’ll love “Myths and Memories.” If you aren’t a Native art fan, you’ll emerge a convert after seeing this show. Spend some time getting to know the pieces, artists and details of these contemporary works. The pieces are light and lively with no heavy spiritual themes or political messages. Each image stands on its own and only attempts to appeal to your basic reaction to color, contrast and design.

The complete Walker Collection of Native Art contains 124 paintings but this 19-piece show gives you a feel for the variety of North American Native art and the breadth of styles and subject matter. The show will leave you wanting more and searching online for more work from your favorites among the represented artists. The "Myths & Memories" exhibit runs from July 11 through October 17.

This show is a “must see” event and receives five out of five stars for its beautiful execution of color, theme and overall artistic excellence.

Ken Hess is a Tulsa, Oklahoma freelance writer who writes on a variety of topics including art, politics and technology. You may reach him through his website at kenhess.com.

A Diverse Gathering

Last Saturday was our monthly FREE DAY and what a crowd. Several thousand people attended the museum to take part in kids activities, walking the gardens, eating at la Villa and seeing all that the museum has to offer. These monthly happenings are not only lots of fun, they also bring together one of the most diverse crowds in the city. People from all different walks of life come together to enjoy Philbrook. We couldn't be happier.

If you haven't joined us for a 2nd Saturday, don't miss the next one!



Photo by Andy Waddington via Twitter

Tomorrow is FREE DAY

As many of you know, the 2nd Saturday of every month is free for EVERYONE!

We hope you, your family and your friends can join us.

RAINY DAY MOVIE

So it looks like it's going to rain again tomorrow, so our Film on the Lawn, Cecil B. DeMille's CLEOPATRA (1934) starring Claudette Colbert, will be moved inside. But we will have our Egyptian show open. So come by, see the show and enjoy this wonderful cinema classic. It's not quite as great as a nice evening on the lawn, but it's dry and still tons of fun.

Doors open: 7:30
Film starts: 8pm

MEET FRITZ HAEG

Our next 3rd Thursday guest is artist/designer FRITZ HAEG.

This guy does some pretty amazing and diverse projects. Check this out.
And join us on Thursday, July 15th at 5:30 pm

It will be a great event!

Fritz Haeg Saves the World! from gary nadeau on Vimeo.

THE MAN IN THE FUNNY HAT

Philbrook Museum Of Art Opens New Egyptian Exhibit - Click here for another funny movie.

THE SURVEY SAYS...

Over on our Facebook page today, in honor of July 4th, we asked who YOU consider the most iconic American artist.
The answers came fast and furious. Several names came up often, Warhol, Wyeth, Wood and others. But one took the prize and it's really no shock.

Ladies and Gentlemen...NORMAN ROCKWELL!

SHOWTIME!

Summer Films on the Lawn start tonight!

COMING SOON (AS IN TOMORROW)

Tomorrow. 7:30 pm. On the lawn. Be there!