Join Oklahoma Contemporary for an opening art party you’ll never forget
There are a lot of reasons to celebrate the opening of the new Oklahoma Contemporary. You already know your new arts center will bring one-of-a-kind arts experiences to the community, featuring world-class exhibitions, exciting public programming and a new suite of classes and workshops — but how much do you know about the March 12 Opening Celebration?
We’re opening our doors a day early for a historic inaugural blowout, giving you the chance to explore the new Oklahoma Contemporary before anyone else during the can't-miss event of 2020. We partnered with Brooklyn-based creative production company Iron Bloom, along with local artists, to bring you an immersive experience unlike anything you’ve seen in Oklahoma. Party-goers will enjoy unique happenings, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres inspired by the new building and inaugural exhibition.
“With the help of Iron Bloom, we’ve programmed all of the different spaces in our new building with creative elements of performance and music as you experience the building,” said Katie Long, development officer at Oklahoma Contemporary. “It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime event — especially here in Oklahoma.”
While Oklahoma Contemporary is getting a helping hand from a big-city production company to pull off the party of a lifetime, local talent will help anchor the event in the community. “We're really excited to be working with RACE Dance Collective, as well as a group of local musicians who will create some really cool performances inspired by the building, our inaugural exhibition and our mission,” said Oklahoma Contemporary Artistic Director Jeremiah Matthew Davis.
“The idea behind our Opening Celebration is to introduce our community, not only to the new building, but also to our mission. The goal is to map our mission onto the architecture of the building.”
Entrance to the Opening Celebration grants you an early look at our spectacular inaugural exhibition before we open to the public. Bright Golden Haze will bring viewers on a visual journey, exploring the various ways contemporary artists use light as a medium to create a sense of place. The one-of-a-kind event gives you a chance to experience this monumental group exhibition and a whole lot more.
“Most folks know we’re going to be showcasing amazing work, that we’re opening an educational center where people can come and learn new and familiar art forms, and we're making art accessible to everyone because of free admission,” Long said. “But what we’ve got in store for the Opening Celebration is really going to blow people away. There will be something unexpected around every corner.”
These surprises may be unexpected, but the spirit of these creative elements is baked into Oklahoma Contemporary’s DNA. “The idea behind our Opening Celebration is to introduce our community, not only to the new building, but also to our mission,” Davis said. “The goal is to map our mission onto the architecture of the building.”
What does that mean for Opening Celebration revelers? “You'll experience happenings connected to education in the studio spaces, stunning visual art from international and local artists in the galleries, and performances in our theater and throughout the building featuring music, sound installations and dance,” Davis said. “The special activations speak to who we are, what we do, and how the new building will enhance our mission and programming for many years to come.”
The excitement kicks off at 7 p.m. March 12, with early entry for sponsors at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime event are on sale now. Get yours here, and get ready to be a part of Oklahoma Contemporary — and Oklahoma City — history.
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fundraiser
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Bright Golden Haze
performing arts
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