The Arts

By Ken Busby, Route 66 Alliance

With great anticipation, the Bob Dylan Center opened to the public in May 2022, and guests from around the world have steadily streamed in ever since. Designed by Olson Kundig, the Bob Dylan Center houses and exhibits exclusive cultural treasures created and owned by Dylan from over seven decades. This includes everything from handwritten lyric manuscripts to some of the world’s most treasured songs, as well as previously unreleased recordings, neverbefore-seen film performances, rare and unseen photographs, visual art and other priceless items. Welcoming you as you enter the Center is an original 15-foot-tall iron sculpture created by Bob Dylan. In accompanying text about the artwork Dylan said, “Gates appeal to me because of the negative space they allow. They can be closed, but at the same time they allow the seasons and breezes to enter and flow. They can shut you out or shut you in. And in some ways, there is no difference.”

The City of Tulsa has long recognized the importance of the arts to the cultural life and economic well-being of our community. The Oklahoma Historical Society oversaw the construction of OKPOP, a museum of popular culture located in the Tulsa Arts District across from the historic Cain’s Ballroom. With the building complete, attention now turns to creating world-class exhibits showcasing the outstanding collection of creative artists and musicians from across Oklahoma.

And speaking of popular culture, Route 66 continues to raise its profile across the state as excitement builds for the centennial of Route 66 in 2026. AAA hosted the Route 66 Road Fest in June, welcoming thousands of visitors from the region who learned about the history of Route 66 through a series of creative vignettes called “The Journey,” which allowed visitors to learn about the route decade by decade.

With COVID-19 cases on the decline, the Tulsa Performing Arts Center began welcoming crowds back to see Broadway shows, as well as the best from our local performing arts organizations. The PAC also launched a new Luminary Circle to raise funds to support programmatic and capital improvements.

Tulsa Symphony celebrated its 2022-2023 season with a concert with the acclaimed concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony, Robert Chen. “Sensational” featured a standingovation-worthy performance by Chen of “Butterfly Lovers’ Concerto” by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao.

Tulsa Opera opened its season with Gioachino Rossini’s “The Italian Girl,” followed by “Aida” and “Into the Woods.”

Tulsa Ballet presented “Creations in Studio K,” its annual celebration of new works from the most in-demand choreographers in the world. This year featured Australian-born choreographer Craig Davidson whose prize-winning pieces have been described as, “a breath of fresh air” and “explosive.” Nicolo Fonte, currently the resident choreographer for Ballet West, returned to Tulsa to create a world premiere piece, as well. And Ma Cong’s “Melodia,” performed by TBII, Tulsa

Ballet’s second company, returned to the Studio K stage, juxtaposing the accomplishment of Tulsa Ballet’s main company with the promise and talent of TBII.

The story of two of the 20th century’s most iconic artists — Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera — was told in Philbrook Museum of Art’s exhibition “Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernism.” It situated their work within the larger landscape of artists, writers and activists in mid-century Mexico known as the Mexican avant-garde.

Magic City Books, an independent bookstore owned by the nonprofit Tulsa Literary Coalition, celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2022. The shop specializes in literary and popular fiction and narrative nonfiction for adults, and offers carefully curated sections for children and teens. Magic City Books is also the home of Booksmart Tulsa, which has been presenting engaging author events for almost a decade in Tulsa.

The Tulsa Library Trust recognized author Ann Patchett as the featured speaker for the 2022 Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award Gala. The Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers’ Literature was presented by the Tulsa Library Trust to author Nikki Grimes.

The Woody Guthrie Center marks its 10th anniversary in 2023. The Center installed an ongoing exhibit in its Woody Today section about the release of Fire in Little Africa’s album. The display features original artwork by Tulsabased Antonio Andrews (Dialtone) and videos of the project. A collection of photos identify the 60 Tulsa hip-hop artists who are part of the project. The story continues in the special exhibit gallery with an original wall mural, photos and memorabilia from Fire in Little Africa as part of the GRAMMY Museum’s “Songs of Conscience, Sounds of Freedom” exhibit.

108|Contemporary showcases contemporary fine craft, and it hosted an exhibition by Mexican American artist Donald Longcrier, entitled “Sin Título,” Spanish for “Untitled.” His work springs from a lifelong interest in the contemplative life, particularly in Western and Eastern traditions.

Especially in the aftermath of COVID-19 and its impact on the arts and cultural sector across the country, Tulsa Community Foundation and George Kaiser Family Foundation continued their arts-funding initiative, Arts Alliance Tulsa, a United Arts Fund that strengthens and supports the arts through fundraising, support services, audience development and allocations of resources. Thirty-eight cultural organizations in Tulsa are benefiting from this program designed to raise awareness of Tulsa’s rich arts scene.

Tulsa really does offer something for everyone. The arts are what make a community special. The arts are about creativity, self-expression, economic development, tourism, job creation and so much more. To quote British essayist and critic Walter Pater, “Art comes to you proposing frankly to give nothing to you but the highest quality to your moments as they pass.”