Is A Graduate Degree Right for Me?

Ever wonder if graduate school is the next step in your artist career? Wondering if there is another way to structure your career without an MFA? What opportunities are opened with graduate degrees that are closed without it? Join the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC) on Wednesday, December 9th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM (Central) for an artist panel that will dive into these questions and more! Our panelists will discuss their own experiences with graduate school, their reasoning for attending or not, and their paths following their education.

We are excited to have this conversation with our three panelists:

Scott Stulen, Director of the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, OK

Katelynn Knick, Visual artist living and working in Oklahoma City, OK

Jessica Harjo, Graphic designer, artist, researcher, and educator living and working in Tulsa, OK

Our panel will be moderated by Jarica Walsh, Director of Art in Public Places of the Oklahoma Art Council and a visual artist from Oklahoma City, OK

Creative Growth for Artists: Grants, Residencies, Exhibitions (and how to get them)

Jennifer Scanlan, Curatorial and Exhibitions Director at Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, will speak about improving your portfolio materials and presenting yourself and your practice in a professional and cohesive way.

Topics covered will include:
– the studio visit: what is it for? How to prepare
– the website: yes, it is absolutely necessary. How to create a website that works for you
– the portfolio: dos and don’ts
– the cv: what are the necessary elements? How to use a cv to figure out the next step in your career
– the dreaded artist statement: explaining your work, clearly and concisely

The Artist Forum will also include a panel discussion with established artists about how they support and grow their practice through exhibitions, residencies, and other opportunities.

Writing about Yourself

Visual artists are adept at expressing themselves with imagery, but often struggle to put intentions and stories into words. Most opportunities such as Calls for Entry and Exhibition Proposals require a Bio in addition to the Artist Statement and CV. Tracey White Zeeck, Founder and President of Bumbershoot PR will share how to craft your bio through a series of writing exercises.
The Artist Forum will also include a panel discussion on the ins and outs, and ups and downs, of writing and editing bios and other marketing materials.

Panelists:
Tracey White Zeeck, Founder and President of Bumbershoot PR
Nathan Gunter, Managing Editor of Oklahoma Today,
Marissa Raglin Art, Visual Artist and SPACE Artist in Resident 2017-2018
Moderator:
Jarica Walsh, Associate Director of Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition – OVAC

Inclusion In Art

Join us Wednesday, May 16th from 5:30-7:30 pm for a panel discussion on Inclusion In Art moderated by Christina Burke and including artists Narciso Argüelles, Anita Fields, Lawrence Naff, and Anh-Thuy Nguyen. In partnership with statewide organization Inclusion In Art, the discussion seeks to address issues of opportunities and inclusion among diverse communities in Oklahoma’s visual arts.

Opportunities for Female Artists Over 40

In response to a discussion in Artist Opportunities in OK, we held a forum for Female Artists over 40. The forum was moderated by Alyson Atchison and Jarica Walsh, to include sharing of resources and opportunities, and a panel discussion featuring Laura Warriner, Marilyn Artus, and Sue Moss Sullivan.

Presenting Your Work with Jennifer Scanlan

In this Artist Forum, Oklahoma Contemporary Curator Jennifer Scanlan went through some of the basics for presenting your work to curators and juries for exhibitions, grants, and residencies.

Topics covered:
the studio visit: What is it for and how should you prepare?
the website: Yes, it is absolutely necessary; How to create a website that works for you; the portfolio: Dos and don’ts; the cv: What are the necessary elements? How to use a cv to figure out the next step in your career; the dreaded artist statement: Explaining your work, clearly and concisely