Oklahoma Contemporary recognizes those who make our mission a reality
It takes a lot of people to execute the mission of an organization like Oklahoma Contemporary. In addition to the full-time staff and leadership whose daily work is essential to operations, there is also a cadre of volunteers, artists and educators whose dedicated support helps make a big difference at your new arts center in downtown Oklahoma City.
One year ago, Oklahoma Contemporary Chairman and Founder Christian Keesee declared March 10 as Founders Day: a day set aside to recognize those unsung supporters. This year, our honorees are Dr. Dan Molina, Annie Bohanon and Angel Little. Each of these community members brings their own experience and background to help Oklahoma Contemporary spark creativity in all its forms through exhibitions, education and public programs that connect the community with unforgettable contemporary art experiences.
"I think in these times it is so important to find things that bring people together, bring thoughts together, rather than drive them apart," said Bohanon, a longtime arts advocate and presenting sponsor of Oklahoma Contemporary's inaugural Bright Golden Haze exhibition. "Oklahoma Contemporary, in particular, broadens our horizons."
To honor the work of these outstanding individuals, a collection of our most dedicated supporters will match any donations made to Oklahoma Contemporary through March 17 up to $30,000. Donate today and have your gift matched dollar for dollar, then get to know this year's Founders Day honorees below.
Annie Bohanon
Annie’s background is in science and medicine – she served as director of laboratory at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital for 25 years. During a year’s sabbatical in Washington, D.C., she immersed herself in the art world, learning from and loving all of the exhibitions she attended. Upon her return to OKC, she landed a job with Oklahoma Arts Council, doing special projects across the entire state. After 10 years of service, Annie retired and began volunteering and serving on several nonprofit boards around OKC.
She fell in love with what was then known as City Arts Center -- now Oklahoma Contemporary -- and that love increased with the potential and presence of the new downtown location. She has sponsored many Oklahoma Contemporary initiatives, including the Women in Performance series, Tomas Saraceno’s Cloud City and the inaugural Bright Golden Haze exhibition, which combined her interest in science and art. Currently, Annie is helping to fund Ed Ruscha: OKLA, on view now, and looks forward to what’s next at her art center.
Angel Little
Multidisciplinary artist, full stack programmer, youth pastor and all-around life giver, Angel Little is a man of many disciplines. He started his passion of growing the community at the age of 14 in Lawton, co-facilitating Art in the Park, a yearly outdoor art presentation and interactive learning engagement. Since then, he has created and supported numerous community endeavors. A key program of his is ONESoul, a series of event initiatives to raise awareness of and equal opportunities for the arts among youth. As a teaching artist at Oklahoma Contemporary, he has inspired the next generation for over seven years. He co-curated Oklahoma Contemporary’s genre-breaking exhibition, Not For Sale. Angel plans to continue activating the community through organizations, programs and events all over the world.
Dr. Dan Molina
Dr. Dan Molina, a medical officer in the United States Public Health Service, holds the rank of commander and is assigned to the Indian Health Service. He presently serves as the chief of public health and research for the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health, where his focus has been emergency planning and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dan also continues to provide care to patients as a board-certified family medicine physician. He is a graduate of the Andrew Weil Center of Integrative Medicine Fellowship at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and has been named Clinician of the Year by the Oklahoma Primary Care Association.
Dan has long appreciated art in all of its manifestations, but is especially drawn to the street art and murals he grew up with along the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas. This raw combination of cultural expression, historical context and social commentary was also captured by the Oklahoma Contemporary’s Not For Sale exhibition. This exhibition brought Dan and Oklahoma Contemporary into shared space and further strengthened his commitment to the organization, where he now serves on the Board of Trustees, and to the arts in Oklahoma.
Thank you to everyone who supports our mission with their time, expertise and resources. Donate today to be part of this limited-time match opportunity.
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