Mosaic of Midsummer
Written by Angelina Lang
As Oklahoma settles into the thick of summer, we invite you to unwind and rejuvenate with a walk through our three new exhibitions. July features Man + Nature by David Gipson, Print on Paseo juried by Kathryn Combs, and Life in Stitches by Amy Jo Garner. Exhibits are on display from July 5 through 27, 2024. A pop-up show by Sam Echols will occur between July 11 through 13, 2024. See the art for the first time on Friday, July 5 from 6-9pm at our First Friday reception at 3024 Paseo.
Upon entering the galleries, visitors are first welcomed into the immersive world of David Gipson.
Gipson’s work employs an array of media including, but not limited to encaustic wax, oils, and charcoal. The homegrown Oklahoma artist creates pieces that serve as an expression of his lived experiences. Man + Nature embodies contemporary thought with the portraiture and environments it captures.
David Gipson is a local artist and owner of Gipson Design + Build Company in Oklahoma City. Graduating from Oklahoma City University with a bachelor’s degree in art, he studied with artists Brunel Ferris and Cheryl Cozad of OCU! The homegrown Oklahoma artist creates pieces that serve as an expression of his lived experiences. Gipson has been practicing his craft for over 30 years, exhibiting all around Oklahoma.
Reflection by Meera Abuelshar
Next, guests are greeted by the multitudes of works in the Print on Paseo gallery. Sponsored by Artspace at Untitled, Print on Paseo is the district’s annual juried printmaking exhibition. This year, we are delighted to have internationally-showcased printmaker Kathryn Combs as our juror.
Combs is a Midwest-based artist and educator specializing in printmaking. She boasts a wide range of techniques and approaches from screenprinting to installation art. Her recent work takes a dive into how AI technology interprets data!
Print on Paseo tells the tantalizing tale of printmaking—one that is multifaceted in its nature and unbounded by the rules of the ordinary. This sentiment is reflected by the 23 featured artists in Gallery II. Their work, ranging from classical to contemporary, strives to invoke conversation about the ever-present depth and diversity of printmaking.
Artists of Print on Paseo: Meera Abuelshar, Gleny Beach, Julia Boydston, Todd E. Clark, Jennifer Cocoma Hustis, Elizabeth Czaplinski, Amy Jo Garner, Paul Acevedo Gomez, Ismael Izaguirre, Samantha Kickingbird, Brianna Lucas, Morgan Mackert, Lumen Miramontes, Aztrid Moan, Patti Morgan, Mike Muller, Paige Nguyen, Evangeline Noah, Christine Poyner, Tully Roensch, Hershel Self, Charlie Street.
Air Plant by Amy Jo Garner
Following after, guests are attracted to the charm of Amy Jo Garner’s Life in Stitches.
Garner, a resident fiber artist in our Paseo Creativity Center, is a master of transformation. Hand and machine-sewn stitches are applied to unwanted textiles (with a touch of magic!) to create a reborn, unending narrative to a piece of fabric once teetering at the end of its lifespan. Her pieces play into the ideals of fantasy and imagination, believing in the possibility of the impossible.
Amy Jo Garner takes inspiration from nature and pop culture in her work. She effectively takes simple, sometimes overlooked elements and sheds light on their beauty.
Lady of Jazz by Sam Echols
Lastly, to add a special touch to the month of July, Sam Echols will be hosting a pop-up from July 11 through 13.
Echols, who mainly focuses on portraiture, captures the essence of humanity through his work. The relationships of color, value, and shape come together in his pieces to develop expression, communicating factors such as mood and personality effectively. By painting from life, Sam is proudly able to represent the vibrancy of his subjects, putting life into oil pieces.
Sam Echols started his journey studying painting and drawing by doing art with Dick and Edith Goetz in Oklahoma City. They encouraged him to continue pursuing his studies to which he did by being mentored at The Cape School and then going onto the Arts Students League and New York Academy of Art. For over 30 years, he has been a part of the Paseo Arts District, creating hundreds of portraits and often asking the people of Paseo to sit for him! Join us on Thursday, July 11 through Saturday, July 13 and experience the many faces of Sam Echols in Gallery II of the Paseo Arts & Creativity Center at 3024 Paseo.
