2014 Featured Artists, Greg Beecham and Ross Matteson sitting next to an Allan Houser sculpture at entryway to the Gilcrease Museum (above). [Photo by Van Barber]
Matteson at the Gilcrease
April 11, 2014
These days, the woodstove is stoked and the stereo is often on until 5 am as my dad prepares for a very prestigious art show. It is the Rendezvous Artists' Exhibition and Art Sale April 11 through July 13, 2014 and will be at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He and fellow artist, Greg Beecham, are featured this year and will then join a very distinguished group of sculptors and painters who have exhibited over the past 34 years during this highly-anticipated annual Gilcrease tradition.
In addition to a wide selection of his work made after 1990, my dad will be debuting many of his most recent pieces including a "crowd source" sponsored, ten foot high glass tribute he titled, The Structure of Love is Indestructible. One viewer of this monumental sculpture wrote, "What a gift of hope and healing! Thank you."
In all, 34 of his sculptures will be seen together for the first time. Dozens more, beginning with a little Ceramic Fish made in 1964, and including my very own Rocking Falcon he made for me in 1994, will be featured with their stories, during his slide show on April 11th at 1:30 pm.
As part of our community of support during the past 50 years, we would love for you to join us in the Gilcrease celebration of his original, heartfelt ideas.
You are warmly invited to the opening day festivities Friday, April 11, 2014. Friday activities will include two artist talks (museum entry fee $5 - $8) and the evening sale ($140), kicking off this two-month exhibition. For ticket information related to the April 11 evening gala sales event please contact Caitlin Getchell at the Gilcrease Museum (918) 596-2758 caitlin-getchell@utulsa.edu for important details.
I hope you will be able to make it to the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa Oklahoma, before July 13 ~ or maybe, I will see you there at the opening on April 11th!
Alanna Matteson
Gilcrease Museum:
To view the Gilcrease webpage about Rendezvous Artist' Retrospective Exhibition and Art Sale please click here. You will find very useful information about the show and background on the artists: Ross Matteson and Greg Beecham.
Concurrent with the Rendezvous show at the Gilcrease Museum is an amazing exhibition featuring one of Ross's favorite sculptors: Allan Houser. The title of this exhibit is Form and Line: Allan Houser's Sculpture and Drawings. It will be available for viewing between February 13, 2014 – June 29, 2014. To see more information about his exhibit please click here.
Travel Information:
Tulsa International Airport
This is an international airport with all the traffic to go with it, but nothing like Denver, St. Louis, Chicago or Dallas. It’s in the far north part of Tulsa. All the major rental car outlets are located in the airport so renting a car is easy and will help get you on your way to the Gilcrease! It’s also easy to get to downtown Tulsa from here. Airport staff is very helpful.
Recommended Accomodations:
The Ambassador Hotel
http://www.ambassadorhotelcollection.com/tulsa/
The Ambassador. Charming. Very close to downtown. A restored property, connected to The Chalkboard Restaurant, a favorite of Tulsans for many years. This boutique hotel, even includes a library where they used to serve sherry and tea every afternoon at 4. The rooms are spacious and the appointments are luxurious. A friend has stayed there several times and enjoyed the pampered treatment. Prices are normally $171-183. While they last, there is a block of rooms reserved for those going to the Gilcrease Rendezvous Exhibition and Art Sale. Last check on those prices, the available rooms ranged from $139-149. These rooms are only available between (and including the nights of) April 9 and April 12. Call (918) 587-8200 for reservations and request the Rendezvous 2014 Rate. Gilcrease Museum provides complimentary shuttle service between the Ambassador and Gilcrease Museum on April 11 from 9:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.
The Mayo Hotel
http://www.themayohotel.com/
The Mayo Hotel. Old historic restored flagship hotel in downtown Tulsa - THE hotel for years. 115 W 2nd St. Close to downtown, the Performing Arts Center and Utica Square, a beautiful outdoor shopping area, very upscale, nicely landscaped, about 8 good restaurants, small boutique shops, along with Sak’s, Pottery Barn, Pier One, Anthropologie, Ann Taylor. The place for discriminating shoppers. Plenty of parking. Located in the old historic homes area of Tulsa. Call (866) 538-0187 for reservations. Price $156-216 for one large bedroom.
The Campbell
http://www.thecampbellhotel.com/
Another restored downtown property. Near the University of Tulsa, which is quite close to one of the major streets leading to the interstate to Gilcrease. 2636 E. 11th Street. Lobby and rooms have been restored to reflect their glory days. Not quite as close to downtown, but still in a respectable neighborhood. Comparable pricing to The Ambassador. Has received good reviews.
The Courtyard by Marriott
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tultd-courtyard-tulsa-downtown/
415 South Boston, very close to downtown. Breakfast included, free WiFi. Price $82 to 132 per night. It’s fairly close to The Ambassador. Good reviews.
The Fairfield Inn
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tuldt-fairfield-inn-and-suites-tulsa-downtown/
This is a chain. The closest one to the expressway to Gilcrease. Has an indoor pool. 111 North Main. This is in a district that is being revitalized in downtown Tulsa. Similar to Lower Denver, or LoDo as Denverites call it. It’s a lively area, very attractive to a younger crowd, phone 855 873 6565. For contemporary music venues and youth-oriented restaurants, this is the place to be. Prices range from $99 to 124.
Other places to see/things to do in Tulsa:
Philbrook Museum of Art is a must. This is an old restored Italian villa, home to Waite Phillips, scion of the Phillips Oil Company. It’s a beautiful museum near Utica Square in one of the oldest, prettiest areas of Tulsa. You will see fabulous traditional style homes here, an occasional nod to contemporary, which always looks out of place in this area of Tulsa. The villa houses a great art collection, mostly traditional and old masters. Very nice restaurant overlooking the gardens, which should be beautiful in April, when the azaleas ought to be in full bloom.
Nearby is Woodward Park, a smaller neighborhood public park. Nice landscaping, prolific azaleas in a high class neighborhood. The Tulsa Garden Center is nearby. Worth a stop if gardening is a priority in your life.
The Boston Avenue Methodist Church is not to be missed. It’s one of the best examples of Art Deco in the U.S. Built by the late Bruce Goff, who championed this style of architecture. The church exterior and interior is exquisite and has been featured in many architectural books and television shows as the best example of this type of Art Deco. Actually, there’s an Art Deco book about Tulsa’s prolific art deco style that characterized many of the homes built in the 20s and 30s. There’s a tour of the downtown art deco buildings, including the Phillips Tower.
The River Parks Area is an interesting stop. It runs beside the Arkansas River and now features walking and biking trails along Riverside Drive. Concerts are sometimes held here, mostly during the summer months, but it’s a lively place to be on Saturdays and Sundays. You’ll see lots of people walking their dogs here.
There’s plenty of shopping beyond Utica Square of course ~ The Promenade is in midtown. It seems like an ordinary shopping mall to me, but bargain hunters like it. Woodland Hills is farther south ~ another big shopping area with all the chain stores. This area of Tulsa has some lovely old homes, but our expert in the area prefers the mid town areas.
Brookside is another interesting shopping area. Close in, about 10 minutes from downtown. About a three block area that is being revitalized. Plenty of restaurants and trendy shops. It’s popular with a younger crowd, especially young families because housing is a little less expensive. It’s a great place for starter homes or retiring. A good mix of young and old and quite lively, every day of the week.