pop - Oct 14, 2011

norman

etc.

A guide to the arts and entertainment

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Featured Artist - Douglas Elder

Interviews - A talk with 3 Doors Down - A memory with Molly Griffis

Social Calendar - Your guide to the next 10 days in Norman

Walking Canvases Behind every tattoo, there is a story. And etc. has an inside look at the minds who live for the ink.

Norman Transcript, Friday, Oct. 14, 2011

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editor’s page Publisher Terry Connor Editor Kendall Brown Advertising Director Debbi Knoll Advertising Account Executives Jennifer Couffer Bobby Hare Elizabeth Harrel Sherry Romack Rebekah Thomas Collins Marty Zumpfe Advertising Coordinator Kathy Parino Designer Kelsey Marcussen

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On the Cover Photo of Burke Chandler’s leg tattoo

by Kyle Phillips

Note from the Editor Hello, dear reader!

Welcome to the brand new arts and entertainment product of The Norman Transcript, norman etc. This new product is the result of months of deliberation and hard work on the part of our editorial and design team, and we hope that you find it just as exciting as we do.

While many of you expressed surprise and despair at the end of POP, we think that you’ll find that norman etc. has everything that POP gave you — plus a lot more. The goal of norman etc. is to be your go-to source for everything arts and entertainment, both for Norman and for the surrounding areas. If you’re looking for something fun to do, you come to us.

That is our no. 1 goal.

One of our biggest changes between POP and norman etc. is a larger focus on local content and a broader scope that covers all entertainment genres. To that end, we’ve added several new features. As you flip through norman etc., you’ll see that we will have entire sections of content devoted to each genre, including music, visual arts, performing arts and literature. Thanks to a larger content space, we can now let you know what’s going on in every area of art. We’ve also added new columns and weekly features, including a music column, “Sound Advice,” by Doug Hill, and a weekly literature feature

by Levi Lee.

We’re also excited to announce independent distribution around Norman, along with our normal Friday distribution within The Norman Transcript and online.

You’ll be able to find us at several great locations, including Abner’s, The Brewhouse, Cellar Wine and Spirits, The Deli, Firehouse Art Center, Full Moon Sushi, Gaylord College of Journalism, Guestroom Records, Hideaway, Joe’s Place Fine Wine, Library Bar & Grill, Louie’s Grill & Bar and Bar, MAINSITE Contemporary Art, The Mont, Norman Public Library, O’Connells Irish Pub & Grill, Othello’s Italian Restaurant, the OU School of Art and the OU Student Union.

That being said, norman etc. is a living organism. It’s about you. We put it out for our readers, and that means we want their feedback. Our hope is that as we go forward, the community of Norman and surrounding areas will reach out to us and let us know: what do you think? What do you love? What do you hate? What would you like to see added? If you have specific feedback, please contact me, your norman etc. Editor, at kbrown@normantranscript.com This is your publication, Norman. We hope you enjoy it.

Kendall Brown, norman etc.

Table of Contents The Events

Music

3 — 2nd Friday Art Walk

6

What’s going on at the Art Walk this Friday? Who is showing and where are they?

4 — The Lyric Theatre Altar Boyz is in town.

10 — Social Calendar

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— Sound Advice Doug Hill has the here-and-now information ready for any music lover this week.. He’ll tell you where to go and who is playing.

— A Talk with 3 Doors Down Andrew Griffin talked with 3 Doors Down this week to discuss their upcoming show, the band and their music.

Featured Story 8 — Walking Canvases

Behind every tattoo there is a story. Behind every needle there is an artist. So, who are the artists that create the ink? What motivates the tattoo?

14 — Q&A with Douglas Elder A question and answer with local sculptor Douglas Elder.

Literature

Etcetera

13 — A memory with

14 — Farewell Movie Geeks

Molly Griffis

Levi Lee sat down with local author, Molly Griffis, to discuss her newest book “Marilyn and Me.”

Real Steel saw the end of Movie Geeks and Jeff Johncox and Adam Scott have a lot to say.

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Let’s take an Art Walk etc. Staff The Norman Arts Council will be hosting their monthly 2nd Friday Circuit of Art tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. throughout the city of Norman and the Downtown Arts District.

The event is free to attend, and will feature more than NUMBER galleries and businesses open past normal business hours to allow attendees to indulge in art, music and refreshements.

Participating galleries and businesses include: •MerryBelle’s Gifts, Art and Tea 230 E. Main St. “ART BATTLE OK!” featuring four local artists and benefitting local non profit Bridges, music by DJ Neu and Scissortail School of Art make-and-take craft with marbles and paint.

•Sandalwood & Sage 322 E. Main St. Dia de los Muertos celebration featuring local multimedia artist Astrud Reed, Latin American and Afro-Carribean music by Algeria Real, Chistina Audas and Armando Rivera and a community Ofrenda (alter) for participants to leave photos and other momentos on while lighting a candle in honor of deceased loved ones. Sugar skulls and mexican folk crafts will also be for sale for $2, cash only.

•Awen Academy of Ballet and Ballroom 2203 W. Main St., #16 Six Awen Academy dancers performing excerpts from ballet Don Quixote, along with a panel discussion about continuing ballet as an adult.

•Firehouse Art Center 444 S. Flood St. Recourse for Discourse, featuring local artists Kate Babb, Kendall Brown, Marina Crawford, Erin Elise, Jessica

Joy, Hershel Self and Craig Swan, along with gallery talks by the artists regarding their work.

•Park on Main 3750 W. Main St. Artwork by Marilyn LeFore, Gay Pasley and photographers from Main Street Photo-Video.

•Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art: Ann and Hug Roff Gallery 555 Elm Ave. Live jazz music by the Sibbs quartet along with screenings of short films “Worm” and “Le Miroir” presented by the deadCENTER Film Festival.

•Norman Depot 200 S. Jones Ave. Performing Arts Studio and Jacobson House presenting together an exhibition of Oklahoma Native American art, including works of art from the Jacobson House permanent collection as well several individual Native American artists.

Jacobson House singer John Kemble and Jacobson House flutist Kevin Connywerdy will also be performing.

•Third Eye Gallery 120 E. Tonhawa Norman sculpture and Garrett Shockey presenting “Life, the Universe and Everything” featuring works composed of recycled and repurposed bits of copper, steel and brass.

•Downtown Art & Frame 115 S. Santa Fe Ave Semi-abstract acrylic paintings and mixed media drawings by John Brandenburg.

•STASH 412 E. Main St. Nicholas Richardson presenting art exhibit “The Toltec” •Dreamer Concepts 324 E. Main St. “Dreamer 38: The Arts

Education Experience” featuring Australian Aboriginal style artwork from Wilson Elementary School.

•MAINSITE Contemporary Art 122 E. Main St. Opening reception for Marilyn Artus, John Hadley and the first Norman Arts Council Individual Artist Award winner Tara Najd Ahmadi.

•Gallery123 & Form+Function Lab 123 E. Main St. above Forward Foods New work by particpating artists.

•Maggy’s Thread Designs & Bill Williams Studio 122 E. Main St. Open for guests.

The 2nd Friday Circuit of Art will also feature the Campus Area Art Challenge. Participants can visit at least three campus area art locations during the art walk, participate in a scavenger hunt and turn in their completed scavenger hunt form to be eligible to win a $50 gift certificate to Muse, the museum store at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Participating institutions include OU’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Firehouse Art Center, Jacobson House Native Art Center and OU’s Fine Arts Library. Forms are available at any of the above locations.

For more information, visit www.2ndFriday Norman.com.

For information on other Norman Arts Council events, visit www.NormanArts.org, or call the NAC office at 3601162.

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performing arts

‘Altar Boyz’ is in town etc. Staff

Steve Weicher t In Concert Sunday, Oct 16 7 pm

S e r i e s C o n c e r t

WINTER WIND

Admission: $15

Tulsa native and current Austin recording artist Steve Weichert draws from folk, rock blues and jazz to create his distinctive, upbeat sound.

An engaging performer, We i c h e r t can effortlessly fill a room with tapping toes and smiling faces.

Norman Depot 200 S Jones

(405) 307-9320 www.pasnorman.org Sponsors: Norman Arts Council; Oklahoma Arts Council; Tom McAuliffe of Don Cies Real Estate; Cindy Merrick MS PT, Therapy in Motion; Nancy McClellan Contributors & Friends: Glen Brown; The Grider Family; Skye Diers, Gingerbread Nursery School; Jack’s Pool Service; Tom Cotrone; Danna Primm; Dale Wares, Wares Properties; Keri and Hugh Young; Tom and Mary Cay Woodfin Neighbors: Café Plaid, Montford Inn, Bohemia Caterers

Photo provided

Altar Boyz (from left): Skyler Adams (Matthew), James Michael Avance (Mark), Desmond Dansby (Luke), Ross McCorkell (Juan) and Jamie Goldman (Abraham).

Lyric Theatre will be showing musical comedy, “Altar Boyz” at the Plaza Theatre stage from tonight through Oct. 22.

Performance times are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday afternoon.

The Altar Boyz are five small-town guys, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham, who come together as an all-singing, all-dancing heartthrob group from Ohio. Throughout the production,, the Altar Boyz question their loyalty to each other and ask whether or not faith is really holding them together.

Michael Baron, Lyric’s Artistic Director, is thrilled to

Tom Braxton: A Tribute to Wayman Tisdale November 4, 2011 • 8 p.m.

Led by saxophonist and Wayman Tisdale’s music director, Tom Braxton, this special evening of music features the smooth jazz sounds Tisdale was known for following his stellar University of Oklahoma college and NBA basketball careers.

Braxton and band members honor the memory of the late, great Wayman Tisdale with special guest artists and friends. Created and produced by Rainbow Entertainment.

2011-2012 The Sooner Theatre 101 E. Main St. Season Downtown Norman 321-9600 www.soonertheatre.org

have Broadway star and recording artist Billy Porter direct and choreograph this new production of the show.

“I’ve always been a huge admirer of Billy’s work and can’t wait to see him bring his unique and thrilling energy, creativity, style, and humor to the show,” says Baron.

Billy Porter is the NAACP Theatre Award winner for Best Direction of a Musical for his production of “Once On This Island”, is excited to direct Altar Boyz at Lyric Theatre.

“I'm looking forward to bringing this wonderfully innovative show to Oklahoma City with five of the most gifted young actors from the area,” says Porter.

“I'm sure audiences will be blown away.”

The cast of Altar Boyz is also features several Norman locals. Skyler Adams, playing Matthew, the “leader” of the boys, is a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma. Adam’s Lyric credits include High School Musical (Troy), Tommy, Music Man, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and The Producers and Chicago Shakespeare: The World Premiere of The Adventures of Pinocchio (Pinocchio).

Jamie Goldman playing Abraham, who is known as the “gefilte fish out of water” in the group of boys, is a Musical Theatre senior at the University of Oklahoma.

Goldman’s previous Lyric credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Music Man and High School Musical 2.

Single tickets for Altar Boyz are $40 and are available for purchase.

For tickets, visit www.LyricTheatreOKC.com, call 524-9312 or go by the Lyric box office at 1727 NW 16th St., Oklahoma City.

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music

Sound Advice Don’t miss this week’s upcoming live music

By Doug Hill For norman etc

Editor’s Note: “Sound Advice” is a column new to the premiere etc. line-up that will feature our own Doug Hill’s take on the music industry with a heavy focus on local musicians and those touring through Oklahoma. Hill has been embedded within the Oklahoma music scene for decades, and his “Sound Advice” column will help you keep your finger straight on the pulse of Oklahoma music.

This next week will offer the opportunity to hear a variety of exciting live music at several different Norman venues. Tonight there’s a 6:30 p.m. free concert at OU’s Memorial Union lawn (900 Asp Ave.) headlined by New York indie rock darlings The

Pains of Being Pure at Heart.

Their bouncy pop music would be perfect for dancing in pink bunny slippers under the light of a harvest moon. Precious doesn’t begin to describe this quintet who sing bubbly songs about heartbreak and being “higher than the stars.” Everywhere else on their tour you have to buy a ticket, but for their Norman stop there’s no admission charge.

Also on the bill are Edmond’s sassy punk rock juvenile delinquents Skating Polly and Brooklyn’s Twin Sister featuring dreamy vocalist Andrea Estella.

I personally can’t wait to see Twin Sister, they have all the hallmarks of being an instant crush.

Friday, October 14th from 7-10 PM

Saturday is red dirt rock night with the Deli (309 White St.) showcasing Beau Jennings and the Tigers, Samantha Crain and Tim Miser. It should be mentioned, actually must be trumpeted that the Deli hosts live music every night of the year.

Check out Beau Jennings’ “Holy Tulsa Thunder” music video on YouTube for a preview of what to expect at the show. The lad is rocking his Oklahoma roots.

Samantha Crain is another Sooner state product who has been written up by Rolling Stone magazine and profiled on National Public Radio.

She has an inimitable voice and true to heart songs about her nomadic life from coast to coast.

Coweta’s Tim Miser is new to me but his recordings resonate with authenticity and red dirt goodness.

There’s a rare Monday night show at Anty Shanty Vintage Clothing (318 E. Main St.). It will start promptly at 7 p.m. and it’s only 5 bucks to hear Illinois’ The Giving Tree Band. They’re a big 7piece Americana combo who play an arsenal of acoustic instruments and sing original songs. The Giving Tree Band’s sound is a reverential amalgam of traditional folk and coun-

Photo by Doug Hill

Samantha Crain is part of the musical line-up at the Deli Saturday along with Beau Jennings and the Tigers and Tim Miser. Crain is shown here performing at the 2010 Dust Bowl Arts Market. try with a decided 21st century imprint. These are committed musicians who are keenly attenuated to their art and I predict the show will leave a profound impression on those who attend.

The Giving Tree Band is known for their environmental consciousness.

Some of their instruments are hand- made of naturally fallen timber. They’ve recorded using only solar produced electricity and their CD packaging has been produced from recycled materials. These 7 men not only play music as a group, they also reside together at Yorkville, Illinois in what’s described at their website as an “epic collective.” This band has lots of press comparisons to other outfits, but I think their music is refreshingly unique. They play at big festivals and storied venues such as House of Blues, but you can hear them at easy-access Anty Shanty.

Tuesday night Gringo

Star is top of bill at the Opolis (113 N. Crawford).

Opolis is a venue that can be counted on for bringing a selection of some of the finest indie rock from around the world.

Norman is lucky to have this joint that’s been lovingly operated for over a decade by Andy and Marian Nunez. Gringo Star is a power pop quartet from Atlanta and sound like they could be the Black Lips’ earnest younger brothers or rowdy grandchildren of The Kingsmen (“Louie Louie”).

Opening for them will be The Wurly Birds and Dad. The Wurly Birds list their hometown on Facebook as OklaHOMEa. Among others they credit 1968-era Kinks and Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band as influences.

Zippy keyboards, jangly tambourine and crisp vocals are a plus with this rock/soul/ r&b 5-piece. I think the Wurly Birds

could be considered OKC’s modern answer to Eric Burdon and the Animals.

Tonight and Tuesday (Oct. 18) Christophe and Prairie Fire are playing the Hidden Castle (1309 SW 24th Ave.).

With it being late October expect Christophe to lean heavier on horror in his mix-up of country and punk. He puts a big ‘Z’ in zombie rock but lately has been singing a lot about Jesus too.

Norman’s own Crown Imperial is throwing an EP release party at Opolis (113 N. Crawford) Thursday (Oct. 20). They have a sophisticated and highly listenable take on indie rock that recalls the best of early Rolling Stones or 2011’s Deadstring Brothers. I can’t wait to learn if Crown Imperial’s live performance is as compelling as their recordings. Horse Thief and O Fidelis share the bill.

By Andrew W. Griffin For norman etc

Calling from his home in Biloxi, Miss., Todd Harrell, bassist for the Grammynominated rock group 3 Doors Down told norman etc. that they are looking forward to their Oct. 20 show at Norman’s Riverwind Casino.

“The tour is going awesome,” Harrell said, adding, “All in all it’s a good package.”

Accompanying 3 Doors Down this fall on their “Time of My Life” tour are rocks bands Theory of a Deadman and Pop Evil, although they will not be at the Norman gig.

Their fifth studio album, “Time of My Life,” was released this summer and features their latest rock radio hits “When You’re Young” and “Every Time You Go.” Talking to Harrell about the heavier, new record, he said it is their finest yet.

“I think this record features my best work, by far,” said the upbeat bass player, who prefers Fender model bass guitars. “We took our time with the songs, we didn’t rush nothing. I think it’s a good representation of where we’re at right now.”

Noting that there were

some outside songwriters involved in writing songs for “Time of My Life,” Harrell said when they went to Los Angeles to record it last year, they thought they would bring in some fresh ideas from outside the band.

“A first time for everything,” he said.

Harrell’s pal on stage, keeping rhythm, is drummer Greg Upchurch, a native of Kingston, Okla. and a founding member of the rock band Puddle Of Mudd.

“Me and Greg have a lot going on on stage,” Harrell said. “Definitely. He’s so good.”

Added Harrell of Upchurch: “And being from Oklahoma, he’s a proud Oklahoman.”

The other members of the group are singer Brad Arnold and guitarists Chris Henderson and Matt Roberts.

Asked about what a 3 Doors Down show is like, for those who have not been to one of their shows, Harrell said they mix in a lot of old songs – “Kryptonite, “When I’m Gone,” for instance - with their engaging newer tunes.

A 3 Doors Down show, Harrell explained, encapsulates “a lot of energy.”

Asked about the

National Guard ad campaign they were involved in a few years ago, pushing their song “Citizen/Soldier,” Harrell said that their Better Life Foundation, which is a Mississippi-based charity that hopes to raise money and give Gulf Coast children a better life.

The military decided to work with TBLF and 3 Doors Down did a recruitment ad that appeared prior to certain movies.

The band has been longassociated with the military and playing military gigs. Harrell said they haven’t done any shows like that in a while but hope to soon. “(The National Guard) have helped out tremendously” with The Better Life Foundation, which while it focuses on children, does help women’s shelters and more, he said.

The Better Life Foundation, he said has raised several million dollars and helped numerous people there and around the country.

After their Norman appearance, 3 Doors Down will perform at Thackerville, Okla.’s Winstar Casino.

For more information go to www.3doorsdown.com.

Top Ten Albums of the Week 1. Cole World: The Sideline Story J. Cole 2. Neighborhoods Blink-182 3. 21 Adele 4. Duets II Tony Bennett 5. The Whole Love Wilco 6. Own the Night Lady Antebellum

7. The Carter IV Lil Wayne 8. Vice Verses Switchfoot 9. Chickenfoot III Chickenfoot 10. The Hunter Mastodon Top ten album Billboard charts.

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3 Doors Down will be at Riverwind Casino on Oct. 20.

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featured story

Walking

By Kendall Brown norman etc. Editor

Photos by Kyle Phillips

Burke Chandler gets a leg tattoo from Mark Vass.

When “Big Rick” Matthews first got into tattooing, he never thought he’d ever end up tattooing a child — or that he’d feel good about doing it. That all changed, however, the instant a 13-yearold with the Make a Wish Foundation walked in the door to his tattoo shop.

“The most emotional tattoo I ever did, this young man was 13 years old and he came in with his uncle and he wanted a tattoo,” Matthews said. “I said, ‘Dude, I can’t give you that, even with your uncle’s permission.’ Come to find out, he was with the Make a Wish Foundation and was dying of brain cancer. And this was probably one of the most adult young men I ever met in my entire life. Make a Wish had set it up so he could go on a deer hunt, where he got a massive 10point buck. They set it up so he could go see the Packers play, on the sidelines with the team. And he got his ear pierced and he wanted a tattoo before he died.”

Matthews told the boy that, with the proper paperwork in place, he’d be happy to give him the tattoo that he so desperately wanted.

So the boy went to the county district attorney’s office and, a week later, had the proper paperwork and the tattoo appointment scheduled.

“I drew him up this tattoo of a Green Bay Packer emblem, with a 10-point buck, with an earring in its ear,” Matthews said. “And that kid never flinched, never whined, never moaned and I made him pay me 20 bucks out of his own pocket. I told him, if you’re going to get a tattoo, you have to pay for it yourself, not your uncle, not anyone else, and no freebie just because you’re dying. And that kid appreciated that so much because he’d been coddled and he wasn’t the kind of kid that wanted that kind of attention. He dug in his pocket and handed me $25, $20 for the tattoo and a $5 tip. That’s how classy that little kid was.”

Although that classy 13-year-old has long since passed away, the memory of him is forever in Matthews’ mind. And

according to tattoo artists and enthusiasts alike, that’s what tattooing is all about — creating visual memories that last a lifetime.

An early passion for ink “When I was a young teenager, I’d see people that had serious tattoo work on them, full bodies kind of thing, and that was just always in my head,” local Think Ink tattoo artist Dave Bruehl said. “I thought, I want to be that. That concept was just always very attractive to me. I never admitted it to anybody. I was a straight-A student, pretty straightforward, that kind of kid. They would have thought I’d gone crazy at that time, if I’d said, ‘I want to get a whole lot of tattoos.’”

Bruehl waited until he was 20-yearsold to get his first tattoo, which is considered to be a fairly old first tattoo among tattoo artists. He got it before tattooing was legal in Oklahoma, in a shop a local tattoo artist had set up inside his house.

But although he’d finally decided to induldge his passion for ink, Bruehl said he wasn’t the type of person who was ready to set up shop himself before it was officially legal.

Hall of Tattoos owner and tattoo artist Kenny Hall was younger for his first tattoos, both giving and receiving. He didn’t set out to be a tattoo artist, but once he’d started, he was hooked.

“It was always something I was interested in it,” Hall said. “It seemed very intimidating, very permanent. I went to school for sculpture, but when I did my first tattoo, I just fell in love with it.”

Many of the tattoo artists interviewed reported getting their first tattoos based purely on aesthetic, rather than symbolic, meaning. Bruehl said he personally sees nothing wrong with that.

“People should be proud to get a tattoo that’s just something they like,” Bruehl said. “For some reason, with the whole television thing, people feel there’s almost something negative about getting a tattoo that doesn’t have a story or some bitter, symbolic meaning behind it. It’s OK to get something purely because you like it

aesthetically.

That stuff will stick with you. You can get a tattoo to symbolize your passions, but my passions now are not the same as my passions when I was 18. A well-done, nice tattoo is still a well-done, nice tattoo years from now.”

An industry shaped by television The business of tattooing in America has come quite a long way from its humble beginnings to the trendy, glamorous televised version of tattooing now shown through television shows such as “Miami Ink” and “Tattoo Highway.”

“This is a lot more savory industry than when I first started,” Matthews said.

“Even before me, it was even worse. It was ruffians, it was for rough chicks, it was for rough guys, sailors, prisoners, bikers, that sort of thing. But in the ’90s, that’s when it all turned around. The rockstars and movie stars were getting tattooed, and it became more and more accepted.”

Bruehl said that while televised tattooing has helped the art form gain acceptance, it has also shaped many of their clientele and affected how people think the tattooing experience should go.

“It’s funny, because TV has kind of shaped the way our clients are,” Bruehl said. “We get a lot of people who are coming in expecting a television experience. In other words, they want to have the hug, they want to have the 20 minutes where they talk about what the meaning is, they want to cry during the tattoo, they want it to be like the television program.”

Although it doesn’t hurt to know the meaning behind the tattoo, often what the artist needs most is visual clues to what the client is looking for, Bruehl said.

If a client comes in with some sort of visual idea of what they’re looking for, the tattoo artist can often take over from there and help them shape it into the perfect piece of artwork for them.

That’s exactly what happened when University of Oklahoma Associate Professor of Marketing Jeffrey Schmidt decided to get a tattoo as a reward for himself.

“I’d been working out for several years, and I had a goal in my mind,” Schmidt said. “I wasn’t going to get my tattoo until I reached my goal.”

Schmidt decided he wanted to get a tribal armband and did extensive research beforehand, pouring through thousands of images online before he found a pattern he liked. The pattern, however, was for a partial band, so Schmidt worked with a tattoo artist to make it into a complete, custom design that would extend around his entire arm.

The combination of pre-designed and custom-designed work was perfect for Schmidt, and he said he has never regretted getting the tattoo.

“I would do it again,” Schmidt said. “I wouldn’t recommend it for everybody it, but I have no regrets.”

Art with no regrets Tattoos without regrets are what every tattoo artist is looking to create, ultimately, Hall said.

He said there are the obvious no-brainers when it comes to the tattoos that most should avoid, and he tries to advise his clients to be smart when getting inked.

“Hands, necks and, obviously, faces I’ll try to discourage them against it,” Hall said. “Names as well, especially if they’re really young. If they’re older and heavily tattooed, I won’t even try, they’ve already made up their minds.”

Aside from tattoo location and design, people should also be careful about who they have do their tattoos for them, Matthews said.

“If you walk into a tattoo shop and you want to get tattooed or pierced, and those people do not make you feel comfortable immediately, turn around and walk away,” Matthews said. “If you’re not comfortable, if you’re not sure of where you’re at, turn around and leave. Don’t do it. If price is everything, you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. Do your research. Who does the best work? That’s where you want to get tattooed. Not the cheapest, not the coolest, but the best. A beautiful tattoo is nothing more than good thinking.”

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calendar

14 FRI 2nd Friday Circuit of Art 6 p.m., downtown Norman galleries and stores, free.

• 6 p.m. — Friends of the Norman Library Book Sale Members Only, Norman Public Library • 6:30 p.m. — Culture Wars of Venice and the Birth of Public Opera, OU Pitman Recital Hall, Free • 8 p.m. — The Coronation of Poppea, OU Max Weitzenhoffer Theatre • 8 p.m. — Spring Awakening, OU Old Science Hall • 10 p.m. — Aaron Squirrel & Friends, The Brewhouse, $5 • TBA — Broncho, Dad and Hood Mason, The Deli • TBA — Josh Roberts Band, Othello’s, Free • OKC: 8 p.m. — Alter Boyz, Lyric Theatre Plaza Stage, $40

KEY: • Music

• Performing Arts

• Film and Literature

15 SAT Downtown Arts Market 10 a.m.— Dreamer Concepts, Free

• 9 a.m. — Friends of the Norman Library Book Sale, Norman Public Library • 8 p.m. — The Coronation of Poppea, OU Max Weitzenhoffer Theatre • 8 p.m. — Spring Awakening, OU Old Science Hall •TBA — Beau Jennings and The Tigers, Samantha Crain and The Midnight Shivers, The Deli • OKC: 2 and 8 p.m. — Alter Boyz, Lyric Theatre Plaza Stage, $40

16

SUN

The Coronation of Poppea 8 p.m. — OU Max Weitzenhoffer Theatre

• 1 p.m. — Friends of the Norman Library Book Sale, Norman Public Library • 3 p.m. — Spring Awakening, OU Old Science Hall • TBA — The David Leach Trio, Othello’s, Free • TBA — Mike Hosty Solo, The Deli, Free

17 MON Friends of Norman Library Book Sale 3 p.m. — Norman Public Library

• 7 p.m. — Travis Linville, The Deli, Free • 8 p.m. — Trombone Choir, OU Sharp Concert Hall, Free • 9 p.m. — Blue Mountain and The Damn Quails, The Deli

18 TUES Alter Boyz OKC: 7:30 p.m. — Lyric Theatre Plaza Stage, $40

• 11 a.m. — Taco Tuesdays, Jacobson House, $5 • 12 p.m. — Musical Theatre Preview: Sunday in the Park with George, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Free • TBA — Midnight River Choir, The Deli

Event Submission Have an event you want to promote in etc.? Email the information, event name, time, date, location and admission price to etc@normantranscript.com.

• Off Beat

• Visual Art

19 WED The Dead Kenny G’s TBA — The Deli, free

• OKC: 7:30 p.m. — Altar Boyz, Lyric Theatre Plaza Stage, $40

20 THUR Camille Harp 7 p.m. — The Deli, Free

• 10 a.m. — Eugene B. Adkins Symposium, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Free • 7 p.m. — Hymn Festival, McFarlin Methodist Church, Free • 9 p.m. — Open Mic Night, Othello’s, Free • 10 p.m. — Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, The Deli, Free • OKC: 7:30 p.m. — Alter Boyz, Lyric Theatre Plaza Stage, $40

21 FRI Sunday in the Park with George 8 p.m. — OU Rupel Jones Theatre

• 11 a.m. — OU Scholars pick work from Adkins Collection, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Free • TBA — The Brandon Clark Band, Othello’s, Free • TBA — Hosty Duo, The Deli, Free

22 SAT Grand Opening of the Stuart Wing and Collectionst

23 SUN Mike Hosty Solo TBA — The Deli, Free

10 a.m. — Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, free

• 4 p.m. — Dustin Prinz, The Deli, Free • 10 p.m. — Albert Aguilar, The Deli • TBA — Caleb McGee, Othello’s, Free

• TBA — The David Leach Trio, Othello’s, Free

etc.

calendar

11

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New Releases

movies

Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh pick

83%

• The Big Year — Three avid bird watchers compete to spot the rarest birds in North America at a prestigious annual event. PG. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Footloose — City kid Ren McCormack moves to a small town where rock 'n' roll and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace. PG-13. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • The Thing — At an Antarctica research site, the discovery of an alien craft leads to a confrontation between graduate student Kate Lloyd and scientist Dr. Sander Halvorson.

R. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14).

Also Showing

Television’s top 10 Ratings for the top 10 primetime shows, Sept. 26 - Oct. 02 NETWORK • SHARES • MILLIONS OF PEOPLE

1. Two and a Half Men CBS • 16 • 20.5 2. NCIS CBS • 17 • 19.5 3. NBC Sunday Night Football NBC • 16 • 18.9 4. 60 Minutes CBS • 14 • 17.1 5. NCIS: Los Angeles CBS • 13 • 16.3 6. Dancing with the Stars ABC • 13 • 16.2 7. The Big Bang Theory CBS • 14 • 14.7 8. DWTS - Results ABC• 12 • 14.4 9. Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick NBC• 12 • 14.1 10. Mike & Molly CBS • 11 • 13.9 One rating point represents 1% or 1,159,000 TV households.

Overall network ratings

Box office top 10 Domestic revenues, Oct. 6-9 Rank • Film • Weekend gross (millions) Gross to date • Weeks in release • Screens

1. Real Steel $27.3 • 1 • 3,440 2. The Ides of March $10.5 • 1 • 2,199 3. Dolphin Tale (3-D) $49.0 • 3 • 3,478 4. Moneyball $49.2 • 3 • 3,018 5. 50/50 $17.5 • 2 • 2,479 6. Courageous $16.1 • 2 • 1,161 7. The Lion King (3-D) $86.0 • 4 • 2,267 8. Dream House $14.5 • 2 • 2,664 9. What’s Your Number $10.4 • 2 • 3,011 10. Contagion $69.0 • 5 • 2,250 SOURCE: Hollywood.com Box-Office

7.6

4.5

SOURCE: Nielsen Media Research

5.8

4.3 AP

$27.3 $10.5 $9.1 $7.5 $5.7 $4.9 $4.6 $4.5 $3.1 $2.9 AP

• 30 Minutes or Less — Two fledgling criminals kidnap a pizza delivery guy, strap a bomb to his chest, and inform him that he has mere hours to rob a bank or else ... R (Robinson Crossing) • 50/50 — A comedic account of a 27-year-old guy's cancer diagnosis, and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease. R (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Abduction — A thriller centered on a young man who sets out to uncover the truth about his life after finding his baby photo on a missing persons website. PG-13 (Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Captain America — AAfter being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals.

PG-13. (Robinson Crossing) • Cars 2 — Star race car Lightning McQueen and his pal Mater head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix race.

But the road to the championship becomes rocky as

Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. G. (Robinson Crossing) • Contagion — An actionthriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak. PG-13.

(Warren Theatres, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Courageous — When a tragedy strikes close to home, four police officers struggle with their faith and their roles as husbands and fathers; together they make a decision that will change all of their lives. PG-13.

(Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Dream House — Soon after moving into their seemingly idyllic new home, a family learns of a brutal crime committed against former residents of the dwelling. PG13. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Drive — A Hollywood stunt performer who moonlights as a wheelman discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong. R. (Warren Theatres, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Dolphin Tale — A story centered on the friendship between a boy and a dolphin whose tail was lost in a crab trap. PG. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Harry Potter the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 — Harry, Ron and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord. PG-13 (Robinson Crossing) • The Help — A look at what happens when a southern town's unspoken code of rules and behavior is shattered by three courageous women who strike up an unlikely friendship.

PG-13 (Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Ides of March — An idealistic staffer for a newbie presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail. Based on the play by Beau Willimon. R.

(Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Lion King — Tricked into thinking he killed his father, a guilt ridden lion cub flees into exile and abandons his identity as the future King. G. (Warren Theatres, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • Moneyball — The story of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players. PG-13.

(Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight 14) • The Smurfs — When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world and into ours.

PG. (Robinson Crossing) • Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World — A retired spy is called back into action, and to bond with her new stepchildren, she invites them along for the adventure to stop the evil Timekeeper from taking over the world. PG. (Robinson Crossing) • Real Steel — Set in the near future, where robot boxing is a top sport, a struggling promoter feels he's found a champion in a discarded robot.

During his hopeful rise to the top, he discovers he has an 11year-old son who wants to know his father. PG-13. (Warren Theatre, Hollywood Spotlight

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THE THING R 1:10-3:45-6:30-9:10 THE BIG YEAR PG 1:50-4:30-7:15-9:55 FOOTLOOSE PG-13 1:45-4:45-7:35-10:15 THE IDES OF MARCH* R 12:40-3:10-6:40-9:25 REAL STEEL PG-13 1:15-2:30-4:15-5:30 7:20-8:30-10:15 50/50 R 1:35-4:10-6:50-10:00 COURAGEOUS PG-13 12:30-1:00-3:30-4:00-6:35-9:45 MONEYBALL PG-13 12:35-3:35-6:40-9:40 DOLPHIN TALE PG 3D * $$ 1:00-9:50 2D 3:55-7:00 THE LION KING G 3D* $$ 12:50-3:15-6:00 DREAM HOUSE PG-13 7:05-10:10 CONTAGION PG-13 8:30 $$ Extra Charge for Digital 3-D

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FOOTLOOSE • (PG13) 1:00 3:50 7:00 9:50 THE THING (R) 12:50 4:00 7:10 9:40 THE BIG YEAR • (R) 1:10 4:20 7:25 10:00 REAL STEEL (PG13) 12:40 1:20 3:40 4:25 6:45 7:30 9:35 DOLPHIN TALE 3D (PG) 1:15 6:40 DOLPHIN TALE 2D (PG) 3:55 9:20 MONEYBALL (PG130 12:30 3:30 6:30 9:30 COURAGEOUS (PG13) 12:35 3:35 6:35 9:35

14) • Rise of the Planet of the Apes — During experiments to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease, a genetically-enhanced chimpanzee uses its greater intelligence to lead other apes to freedom. PG-13. (Robinson Crossing) • Zookeeper — A group of zoo animals decide to break their code of silence in order to help their lovable zoo keeper find love — without opting to leave his current job for something more illustrious. PG. (Robinson Crossing)

IDES OF MARCH (R) 12:55 3:45 6:50 9:25 50/50 (R) 1:35 4:10 7:15 9:45 DREAM HOUSE (PG13) 12:45 4:05 6:55 9:45 THE HELP (PG13) 1:05 4:15 7:35 LION KING 3D (G) 1:30 4:10 7:05 9:15 ABDUCTION (PG13) 1:25 7:20

.GOHOLLYWOOD.CO-

SUPPORT YOUR POLICE

By Levi Lee For norman etc.

Award-winning Oklahoma author Molly Levite Griffis has had an 11-year personal history with the infamous degenerative brain disease known as Alzheimer’s disease. She aided her close personal friend Marilyn in the struggle and fight against it for over a decade. Her new adult fiction novel, “Marilyn and Me” shines a poignant light on the personal toll that this disease takes on the person afflicted and the people around them.

“When it first started I said, ‘Okay we can do this. We can fight this.’ I didn’t know much about Alzheimer’s then, but you can’t fight Alzheimer’s.”

Her eleventh novel, and first foray into fiction for adults, “Marilyn and Me” follows two women who both happen to lose their husbands in the same week. Lydia and Marilyn have been friends for years, but Marilyn is in stage four of earlyonset Alzheimer’s, and as such Lydia is now not only Marilyn’s friend but also her caretaker. At the same time, the influx of a massive chain of bookstores to Lydia’s community forces the independent book store in which she has worked most of her life to close. With her life falling to pieces around her, Lydia decides to make good on a promise made to Marilyn long ago, to take her on a cross-country road trip. On the first day they find their paths crossed by a blind, pregnant cat who incites Marilyn to speech for the first time in over two years. It’s a tale of friendship, devotion, love and the taxing trials of terminal illness.

The real Marilyn was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 1995, and Griffis, being her friend tried to comfort her.

“When she first told me she said, ‘Molly I’m starting to forget

Award-winning Oklahoma author Molly Levite Griffis wrote the adult fiction novel, “Marilyn and Me.” The book is about her relationship with a friend who developed Alzheimer’s disease.

Photo provided

etc.

A memory with Molly Griffis

literature

13

New York Times Bestsellers 1. The Affair, by Lee Child. (Delacorte.) For Jack Reacher, an elite military police officer, it all started in 1997. A lonely railroad track. A crime scene. A cover-up.

2. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. (Penguin Group.) A young white woman and two black maids in 1960s Mississippi.

3. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane, by Debbie Macomber. (Mira.) Puppies that need good homes and an ex-husband loom large in the last installment of the Cedar Cove series.

4. The Mill River Recluse, by Darcie Chan.

(Darcie Chan.) Only one man knows an abused widow, which revealed will change many lives in her small Vermont town.

5. Lethal, by Sandra Brown. (Grand Central.) A woman, her daughter and a man accused of murder evade the authorities as they search for her dead husband’s secrets.

6. The Abbey, by Chris Culver. (Chris Culver.)

Against orders, a former homicide detective begins an investigation into his niece's murder.

7. Feast Day of Fools, by James Lee Burke.

(Simon & Schuster.) Danger increases tenfold as Sheriff Hackberry Holland investigates a case in the desert.

8. Only His, by Susan Mallery. (HQN.) Determined to make a fresh start, Nevada Hendrix applies for her dream job, only to find that her new boss was her first love.

9. The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern.

(Knopf Doubleday.) Two young rivals at a magical circus become collaborators as they fall in love.

10. Kill Me if You Can, by James Patterson and Marshall Karp. (Little, Brown.) A young man who finds a bag of diamonds is stalked by competing assassins.

Norman library to host sale etc. Staff things.’ And I said, ‘Oh Marilyn I forget things like I left the coffee pot on and...’ and she said ‘No, I mean, I look at a pair of scissors and I don’t know what you do with them.’ And she was a seamstress! So that’s the difference in forgetting, you know. She would look at a pair of keys and it’s not that she didn’t know if they were the house keys or the car keys. She didn’t know what you did with the key. You know, what’s a key for?”

So, recognizing the extent of the illness, Griffis felt it was her responsibility to help her lifelong friend to cope with the things to come.

“I mean she was probably the brightest woman I’ve ever known, and of course Alzheimer’s doesn’t have anything to do with brightness. But she knew so much, so when it first started I said, ‘Okay we can do this. We can fight this.’ I didn’t know much about Alzheimer’s then, but you can’t fight Alzheimer’s. We would take a different category and I would try to get her to make the rut a little deeper in her brain, you know maybe if you say it enough. And then I’d say when you start forgetting things lets try

typing, cause’ when you’re typing you’re in a whole different part of the brain.”

Still, the disease worsened, and when the real Marilyn died in 2006 Griffis felt a duty to honor her memory with a work that would bring Alzheimer’s to the fore of literary awareness with her new novel, “Marilyn and Me.” “I asked her husband, her and her husband have been my friends for forty years. I want to honor her, can I call the character Marilyn? I won’t use your last name and the character really looks nothing like her, but I based it on my experiences with Marilyn.”

“Marilyn and Me” is currently available for order directly from Reader’s Press or from Amazon in both hard copy and on Kindle. For more information about the author be sure to visit www.mollygriffis.com. For anyone currently struggling with Alzheimer’s or with a loved one fighting Alzheimer’s, McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church offers monthly Alzheimer’s support meetings the third Wednesday of every month from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Friends of the Norman Library will host their annual book sale starting tonight, at the Norman Public Library, 225 N. Webster Ave. A preview for members only will run tonight from 6 to 9 p.m., with memberships available at the door.

The sale will open to the public

from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and continue from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

From 3 to 8 p.m., Monday general sale books will be $3 per bag, with the Friends of the Library providing the bag, and collectibles and better books will be half price.

Volunteers who would like to help with clean up are asked to contact kebrooks87@gmail.com, or for more information, call 701-2600.

JOHN BRANDENBURG elementary figures II

OCT 14 – NOV 5 Opening Reception Oct 14

■ ■ ■ DOWNTOWN ART & FRAME DOWNTOWN ART & FRAME ■ ■ ■ 115 S115 S. SANTA FE 329-0309 Santa Fe ▪ 329-0309 ■ ■ ■ Like us on Facebook Find us on facebook

etc.

14

etcetera

Farewell, TNT Movie Geeks Hulk’ and I thought it was pretty good,” Johncox said. “The show was, like, 15 minutes long, and about 10 minutes was me yelling at Editor’s Note: This week will mark Adam for liking ‘Highlander 2.’ So the final episode of one of The Norman our producer, Jason, edited it down Transcript’s most popular online items, and took it to our publisher at the “TNT Movie Geeks.” The head geeks themselves, Jeff Johncox and Adam Scott, time, David Stringer. We thought, sat down with norman etc. this week for a ‘Well, we’ll never get to do that again.’ And then all of a sudden, look back at their time at The Norman he said, ‘Yeah, David said go for it.

Transcript and “TNT Movie Geeks.”

He loved it.’”

When Norman Transcript vetThe show became known as eran Jeff Johncox first came up “TNT Movie Geeks” with the idea of doing and quickly gathered an online movie review Online an online followshow, it didn’t really Many TNT Movie Geeks ing. What made seem like something episodes can be found at the show that would ever normantranscript.net/ become that much. It unique was was meant to just be a connected/tntmoviegeeks. that it wasn’t so silly little show, an much about the excuse to go see movies every reviews as it was week. Johncox kicked the idea about the elaboaround for a while, and then decid- rate intros that ed to mention it to others in the Johncox newsrom. and “I had talked about it three or Scott four months prior, I guess,” would Johncox said. “You have to come up remember, even three years ago, with togeththere wasn’t a lot of multimedia er. Johncox content on newspaper sites. So was often people were just experimenting the brains with a lot of stuff.” behind At the time, The Norman the operTranscript had no online multimedia ation, content and very limited equipwhile ment to produce such a thing. But Scott Johncox was determined, so he was the enlisted then-Arts and creative force.

Entertainment Editor Adam Scott Together, the two and Webmaster Jason Clarke, and turned limited equipthe three put together a show on ment and funds into spec. Johncox and Scott went to an online show that see “The Incredible Hulk” and often went viral. then Clarke filmed the two dis“A lot of times, the cussing the film and what they stuff we would sugthought about it. Although the gest would just be Hulk may have been the topic at stuff that made us hand, Johncox admitted that, from laugh,” Scott said. the very beginning, he didn’t “And if it made us always stay completely on task. both laugh, then we The three honestly didn’t think the figured it was probashow would turn into anything bly a good enough past that point. idea to go with.”

“Adam blasted ‘The Incredible The two knew

By Kendall Brown etc. Editor

that, because of limited production value, the show was never going to be polished. But they felt that was part of its charm.

“Adam is really good at jerryrigging costumes,” Johncox said. “But the thing that people didn’t seem to get at first is that we knew we were going to be terrible. We knew his soccerball hand was going to look terrible. That was the point.

Whether the movie was terrible or not, we were coming up with these openings.”

Being called out for being terrible is what actually caused the show to completely take off. An Oklahoma website, The Lost Ogle, put “TNT Movie

Geeks” in a vote of the five worst online shows in Oklahoma.

Johncox and Scott weren’t sure, at first, how to take that.

“At first, I was really pissed about it, and then I started thinking about it and thought, ‘We are pretty terrible, but we’re funny terrible,’” Johncox said. “We only got two votes, out of 200 or 300 people. And someone left a really good message on the list and said, ‘That’s the difference between these guys and the rest of them — these guys know that they’re bad.

They’re playing it ironically.’ So I knew people were getting it.”

During their time together with “TNT Movie Geeks” only one intro was ever banned.

A mishap during filming caused alarm within the ranks, and Johncox and Scott were forced to nix what they had filmed.

The review was for “Year One” and featured Scott as a caveman and Johncox as the firewiedling sign of progress at a charcoal grill in his backyard.

“It’s never happened in my life, but I’d heard about how the fire would follow the trail of lighter fluid and blow up in your hand,” Johncox said. “Well, this time it did. So on camera, you see it blow up in my face. I had to shave my head, because the front part of my hair was burned and I had hardly any Photo by Kendall Brown eyebrows left. We put it up, Adam Scott and Jeff Johncox because it was hilarious, but

within four hours or so we got a call saying we had to recut our show, because the publisher said there were some kind of insurance concerns.”

The duo continued until Scott left The Norman Transcript to pursue a career as a mortician, and new Arts and Entertainment Editor Aaron Wright Gray took over Scott’s position.

“I used to say that the whole point of the openings every week were to see what I could do that week to embarrass Adam,” Johncox said. “So when Aaron came in, it became what can I do to embarrass Aaron. And that was a lot easier to do.”

Eventually, Gray also left The Norman Transcript, and Johncox kept the show going on his own.

This week, however, will mark the last episode of “TNT Movie Geeks” as Johncox is leaving the Norman Transcript to pursue a career writing in California.

Johncox said while he is excited about the life transition, leaving “TNT Movie Geeks” is bittersweet.

“I’ll miss it,” Johncox said. “I’ll tell you what, when we started it, I never thought three and a half years would go by. That’s amazing for really anything you do.”

For the final episode of “TNT Movie Geeks” Johncox decided to go out with a bang, so he invited Scott back in as a guest star. The two wanted to relive their heyday of low-production quaility intros with a flair. In true “TNT Movie Geeks” style, the review features Scott in a homemade robot costume, and the two personalities playing off one another. Both Scott and Johncox said that it was easy to fall back into synch with one another.

“I thought it would be really hard to get back into it,” Scott said. “But it was actually really easy to fall back into the rhythm of it. It was almost like I hadn’t left for a few minutes there.”

featured artist

Douglas Elder forms. I have always loved For norman etc.’s first Featured Artist of the Week, we got in touch Brancusi, Lachaise, David Smith, Neri and painters like with local sculptor and Rothko, Uglow and arts advocate Douglas Online Lopez. I am constantly Elder. Both a working Go online to read more looking at Primitive art artist and the executive of the Q&A with works that were creatdirector of Norman’s Douglas Elder at ed because of their Firehouse Art Center, tntne.ws/douglaselder. cultural beliefs, love or Elder is the epitome of fear. an artist who lives and In the end, the current forms I breathes his craft. create are very minimal, made out Elder is involved in several arts of everyday AC plywood. The groups in and around Norman, shapes are derived from nature and including Norman’s Public Arts the golden section or root rectanBoard and the Norman Arts gles in an attempt to create a shape Council’s Norman Studio Artists of universal beauty.

Association. While still focusing on his own artwork, Elder has managed to inspire, inform and foster Q: Why chose sculpture as the careers of countless other artists your medium? in the area. A public sculpture projA: In art school I wanted to be a ect of Elder’s, featuring a rubber painter, but I have friends who are ducky motif, is currently in the naturally gifted painters and I can’t approval process here in Norman, hold a candle to their color ability. so norman etc. thought it was the When I was in school I studied perfect time to talk with Elder color theory based on Albers and about his career and his artwork.

Itten but in the end, to me, it was like my philosophy courses, more Q: Can you describe your and more questions and very few work for us? answers.

A: The current Sculpture can be a very physical TOTEMIC/LACONIC series was and unforgiving medium. Wood, inspired by art of many cultures stone, steel, clay and plaster are all like the sculptural vessels of the mediums I enjoy working with, that Amlash, Greek and Egyptian, use very few chemicals. I enjoy

sculpture because it is real. There is a physical, tangible piece of material in front of you, and you have to transform it into your vision.

Painting and drawing are very different, you can manipulate the illusion of a 3D space on a 2D surface but in sculpture there is no illusion of space, every aspect is displayed, in the round for everyone to see.

Painting and sculpture are very different and I love what can be done to push both mediums but sculpture comes naturally to my sensibilities.

Q: The duck is clearly one of your most prevalent motifs. Can you talk about why?

A: It’s really funny that I am being identified with the rubber ducky. The original ducky wasn’t my idea at all; it was the concept of an incredible student at Boston University. I helped her with her “ducky” project, which eventually transformed into stencils and other objects. The arrival of the ducks in Norman was purely for the children. Richard McKown and I were creating sculptures in Lions Park and we saw the kid’s attraction to the fish we created for the Green Wave. We decided we needed to create something that both children and parents would love. The beauty of the rubber ducky is that no one ever hates on rubber duckies. Why, I really don’t know if it’s Ernie from Sesame Street or it reminds us of our childhood, but it is one icon

Laconic series - Ibis V

that has developed by individuals not Warner Brothers or Mattel.

Q: What’s in the future for the duck project?

A: Originally the plan was to have a large rubber ducky and a couple of baby duckies at the Firehouse Art Center. The Public Arts Board was looking for project to promote art and artists in Norman and I thought the ducky would be a great way to keep the project local. I hope in the end that we see several duckies around the children’s parks in Norman. I’m very passionate that children deserve a chance to be creative and express themselves in the arts every day. Children shouldn’t have to go to the city to see sculpture. Public sculpture should be accessible to the whole community and the ducky project would make public art and sculpture accessible to the children.

When art becomes a part of your everyday life, even if that is merely the rubber ducky you like to play on or, as a parent, the object you photograph with your children, I believe you will be more likely to use and enjoy creativity daily.

Q: What’s your process like?

A: I think it’s a standard process that everyone uses when they’re doing something they love. Whether your passion is cooking or fixing a car, when you love doing something, your imagination takes hold and ideas begin to flow. I tend to draw a

etc.

Q&A

15

lot but mostly on cheap paper that I’m not scared to burn through. I try to write or draw the things that are on my mind and you might see a portrait, next to a grocery list, next to a phone number, next to a structural problem. For the last few years I gave up the sketchbook for Veritas gridded paper. I’m not sure why I switched from regular sketchbooks but I think it’s because of my education and pressure to make everything I draw great. With the cheap paper, I don’t care if it’s great. I just need to let it out.

Q: Did you always want to be an artist?

A: The truth is I don’t like calling myself an artist. I am a sculptor and on good days I will call my self a draftsman but an “Artist”… The word artist is open ended and to broad, some use the word as a positive gift while others use it with a negative connotation.

When I was trying to decide “if ” I wanted to go to grad school, I had to come to terms with society’s negative connotations of being an “Artist”. I am a creative, imaginative and a good problem solver and art is one of the only fields of study where I can practice and hone those skills. I use everything I learned in art school to run a large nonprofit business, help others and navigate my way through the evercomplex thing we call life. The skills artists have practiced and refined are innate within everyone, those skills, like anything else needs to be practiced or will be forgotten.