FAI to feature work of artist Tanner Muse in July

Edmond Fine Arts Institute is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated July Gallery Opening, featuring the talented, up-and-coming artist, Tanner Muse, on Thursday, July 6th, 2023, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Edmond Fine Arts Institute located at 27 E. Edwards St. Edmond, OK.

Tanner Muse, an emerging local artist known for his innovative artwork, has captured the attention of art enthusiasts with his unique contemporary western style and artistic vision. With an impressive portfolio focusing on acrylic work, Muse has garnered recognition within the local art community, setting him apart as an artist to watch.

"We are delighted to host Tanner Muse's gallery opening and provide a space for local artists to share their creative endeavors," said Shannon Price, the Executive Director of the Edmond Fine Arts Institute. The gallery opening on July 6th promises to be an unforgettable evening, celebrating the fusion of artistic expression and community engagement. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the artist, explore Muse's captivating artwork up close, and immerse themselves in a vibrant atmosphere of creativity and inspiration.

This event is open to the public, and art enthusiasts, collectors, and members of the community are encouraged to attend the gallery opening. The Edmond Fine Arts Institute and Tanner Muse look forward to welcoming everyone to this exciting event.

The Edmond Fine Arts Institute Gallery is open daily for public viewing Monday – Thursday or by appointment. Monthly gallery exhibits are a program of the Edmond Fine Arts Institute, with support from presenting sponsor, BancFirst. FAI is Edmond’s nonprofit community arts organization providing year-round visual and performing art classes for children and adults and the Art in Schools Program for 3rd and 4thgrade students in Edmond Public Schools. For more information, visit EdmondFineArts.com or call 405-3404481.

RedBud Award Winners

Pictured left to right: Stacie and Doug Peterson (Edmond City Council) Derek Lee and Allison Snider (Edmond History Museum), Jennifer Seaton, Jodi Fetrow, Miranda Petre, Terry Lanham (Visit Edmond) Amy Stephens (Edmond History Museum) and Marian Free (Cycle 66) The award stemmed from a Visitor’s Guide put together by Visit Edmond last year. Please see Page 17 for more photos and an article on the awards.

2021

By Jamie Prisco -Rudolph, M.A.,-LPC-C Edmond Family Counseling

Have you ever stared out of the car window on a long drive and thought to yourself: “Who am I?” If you have, you are certainly not alone! Establishing a true sense of self is an important process to achieve personal goals and feel secure in personal values and ideals.

Individuals with a strong sense of self typically feel more confident when making decisions, whether that be deciding what to cook for dinner or deciding to move across the country to a new state. A strong sense of self aids in identifying core beliefs and values and people who feel sure of their beliefs are often more assertive when explaining them to others. Individuals who lack a sense of self-worth may often feel disengaged or uncertain about making decisions or struggle identifying their beliefs and values. Lacking a sense of self may lead to feelings of confusion, misalignment, and unhappiness. With some insight and introspection, finding your true sense of self is possible.

To begin identifying a true sense of self, ask some clarifying questions.

• On a scale of 1-10, how sure of myself do I feel?

• What are my strengths and abilities?

• What are my values? Do I behave in a way that demonstrates these values?

• What brings me happiness?

• Do my choices and decisions reflect the person I want to be?

Once these questions are answered, take some time to consider where a true sense of identity comes from.

There are several factors that contribute to finding a true sense of self. These factors include individuation, family of origin, and societal expectations. The process of developing a sense of self begins in childhood. Erik Erikson, an ego psychologist, created a theory that highlighted stages of psychosocial development from infancy and mature adulthood. The 5th stage in his theory, called Identity versus Role Confusion, highlighted a child’s desire to be more independent and unique. If a child is provided the opportunity to learn and express their own thoughts and desires, this will help them feel more individualized from their peers, increase their level of self-confidence, and help them to feel more independent. Early childhood development also plays a role in defining a sense of self. As we grow up, we are taught values and beliefs by parents, caregivers, and family members. These initial beliefs that we are taught help build ideas about the world around us. Throughout development, we decide if these values still make sense or if we need to identify new values to replace old ones. Societal standards and influences also play a role in how we see ourselves. Social media, gender roles, and cultural traditions can impact feelings of identity and must be considered as a true sense of self is formed.

Developing a strong sense of self takes time and a dedicated effort to self-reflect and evaluate. Some tools to help develop a strong sense of self include:

• Determine interests, likes/dislikes, and hobbies: Reflecting on personal likes, dislikes, and hobbies can help to find common themes and preferences in areas of interest. Defining these interests can assist in trying new hobbies or finding social groups with similar interests and ideas.

• Identify personal values, goals, and beliefs: One place to start when defining personal values is to consider what values were taught in childhood. If these values still apply, determine how to make them an integral part of setting and completing personal goals. If not, discover new values to replace old ones. Completing a value assessment is one way to discover personal values and beliefs.

• Try new things and embrace alone time: Occasionally, societal pressure and influences can make it difficult to understand individual ideas and values. Use alone time to complete self-exploration by journaling or note taking. Reflect on personal strengths and abilities and how past experiences have shaped your personality.

• Practice decision making skills: Being able to trust your instincts and make decisions is another way of defining your sense of self. Start with making small choices to make your day more successful to build up confidence in decision-making skills. Take time to reflect on these choices and the results of them. Over time, you may begin to feel more confident in being assertive and voicing your choices with others.

Feeling like you are unsure of yourself can make it difficult to set goals and feel successful. Spending some time to reflect on who you are and where you want to be will help develop a strong sense of self and confidence in personal strengths and abilities.

Jamie Prisco-Rudolph, M.A., LPC-C is a staff therapist and Intern Coordinator at Edmond Family Counseling. We may be reached at 405-341-3554 to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed professional counselors.

Oklahoma History Center Workship will show how to create a simple ring

On Tuesday, June 27, from noon to 5 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center will host a workshop to teach participants how to create a simple sterling silver ring while learning basic jewelry-making skills.

The class is for ages 16 and up, and the cost is $65 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $80 for nonmembers. The class cost includes all materials for each participant to make and take home their silver band ring. Registration is required, and the registration deadline is June 20. The class is limited to 12 participants.

The Oklahoma History Center is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. It is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Please call 405-522-0765 or visit www.okhistory.org/histo- rycenter for admission costs and group rates.

The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.