Slideshow: “Julius Shulman: Oklahoma Modernism Rediscovered”
This untitled photo by Julius Shulman pictures the Greene Residence (aka the “Prairie Chicken House”) in Norman. Architect Herb Greene designed the building; Shulman photographed the house on in October 1961. (J. Paul Getty Trust. Used with permission. Julius Shulman Photography Archive. Research Library at the Getty Research Institute.)
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art will open the special exhibit “Julius Shulman: Oklahoma Modernism Rediscovered” Thursday.
Click here to see a NewsOK slideshow previewing the exhibit.
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Video: “Passport to Paris”
Jennifer Klos with the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and I talk about the new exhibit “19th French Prints from the Georgia Museum of Art,” which is opening Thursday at the museum, in this NewsOK video.
Fans of 19th century art, particularly French art, should check out this exhibit, which includes works by Manet, Rodin and Renoir, among others.
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Video: “Julius Shulman: Oklahoma Modernism Rediscovered”
Brian Hearn of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and I talk about the new exhibit “Julius Shulman: Oklahoma Modernism Rediscovered,” opening Thursday at the museum, in this NewsOK video.
If you like photography or modernism, you won’t want to miss this exhibit.
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Oklahoma City museum opening Julius Shulman, “Passport to Paris” exhibits
This untitled photo by Julius Shulman depicts the exterior of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame (now called the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was designed by architects Begrow & Brown of Birmingham, Mich. Shulman photographed the building on April 17-18, 1966 (J. Paul Getty Trust. Used with permission. Julius Shulman Photography Archive. Research Library at the Getty Research Institute.)
Edouard Manet (1832 1883), “Olympia,” 1867, Etching with tone on old laid paper (Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia)
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Oklahoma City Museum of Art exhibitions show contrast between artistic periods
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is offering two different views on black and white with a matched pair of special exhibitions.
“Julius Shulman: Oklahoma Modernism Rediscovered,” the first retrospective of the legendary architectural photographer’s Oklahoma images, and “Passport to Paris: 19th Century French Prints from the Georgia Museum of Art,” a collection of prints by master artists of the period, are opening Thursday and will be on view through June 7.
“We liked the contrast between 19th century prints and 20th century modernist photography. We thought that could be an interesting contrast for our visitors,” said Brian Hearn, organizing curator for the Shulman exhibit, which is getting national attention, including an article in May’s Metropolitan Home magazine.
“Passport to Paris” was already set for this summer when three local fans of Shulman’s work approached the museum about doing an exhibit of his Oklahoma photographs, he said. The exhibits will share space in the museum’s ground-floor special exhibitions gallery.
Oklahoma modern
Shulman, 98, is best known for his work in Southern California, including his famed photo “Case Study House #22, Los Angeles, 1960. Pierre Koenig, Architect.” The artist planned to come to Oklahoma City for the opening, but won’t make the trip due to health issues.
“We’re still holding out hope that he might be able to come out for the closing. His spirit his willing but his body is not cooperating. But he is very excited about this exhibit,” Hearn said. “It’s the first time his Oklahoma work has been publicly exhibited … and he’s just glad people are paying attention to some of the more neglected aspects of his work.”
With the help of three women Hearn calls “Shulman’s angels” and local architects David Wanzer and Hans Butzer, the museum worked with Shulman to organize the show. Local Shulman fans Cristina McQuistion, Lynne Rostochil and Cara Barnes reached out to the photographer and museum after seeing images of state landmarks in the book “Modernism Rediscovered.” The angels traveled to California to help the artist cull his Oklahoma photos out of the hundreds of thousands of pictures in his archives at the Getty Research Institute. Hearn and assistant curator Jennifer Klos later visited Shulman to pick the 63 images for the show.
The mostly black-and-white photos, taken from 1950-80 in six Oklahoma communities, document 21 projects by renowned architects such as Bruce Goff, Herb Greene and Robert Roloff. Featured structures include the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and Goff’s Bavinger House.
“It’s a pretty interesting diversity of types of architecture; we have private homes, hospitals, banks, churches, a fraternity house,” he said. “Shulman’s been extremely complimentary about the number of great architects we’ve had come out of Oklahoma. … There’s a very rich legacy, particularly of mid-century modern architecture.”
The exhibit will include a video of Shulman’s lecture last fall at Untitled Artspace. The museum also will show Thursday-Saturday the documentary “Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman.” Director Eric Bricker will make an appearance Thursday.
“Passport to Paris”
The 46 prints in “Passport to Paris” will give art lovers a chance to see how prominent artists such as painter Pierre Auguste Renoir, sculptor Auguste Rodin and landscape painter Charles Francois Daubigny explored a different media than the one that made them famous.
“People that love French art are going to see a lot of the well-known artists that they’re familiar with from the 19th century, such as Edouard Manet, Paul Cézanne and Gericault,” Klos said. “Sometimes these artists are making the print before the painting as a study and sometimes they’re actually making after they’ve produced the painting.”
Most of the works are black-and-white or sepia-toned lithographs and etchings, but the exhibit also includes a color print by American Mary Cassatt and an innovative woodcut by Paul Gauguin. Tools, paper and a press used in printmaking will be displayed to help people learn about the process.
“It’s much better to come and see these in person,” Klos said. “Prints for some reason they just don’t translate as well when you see them in a book. … You just can’t see the incredible detail unless you see them in person.”
On exhibit
“Julius Shulman: Oklahoma Modernism Rediscovered” and “Passport to Paris: 19th Century French Prints from the Georgia Museum of Art”
When: Thursday-June 7.
Where: Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive.
Information: 236-3100 or www.okcmoa.com.
See slideshows of works from the exhibits at www.newsok.com.
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Wednesday Video Spotlight: Dolly Parton
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Dolly Parton talked more about the Broadway musical version of the 1980 film “9 to 5″ last week on the “Today Show.” Parton starred in the movie and wrote the score for the musical, which opens Thursday.
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Dolly Parton talks “9 to 5: The Musical,” “Backwoods Barbie Collector’s Edition”
Dolly Parton (Associated Press photo)
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Broadway meets “Backwoods Barbie”
Though she considers herself a “Backwoods Barbie,” Dolly Parton remains a forward-thinking entertainer and businesswoman who’s forging new territory after five decades in show biz.
Whether she’s releasing her own album, writing a children’s book or taking on Broadway, the multi-talented dynamo from Tennessee may be approaching her “Rockin’ Years,” as her 1991 hit goes, but she’s not ready to take a seat out of the spotlight just yet.
Instead, the singer/songwriter/actress, 63, keeps marching into new challenges: Parton will attend Thursday the Broadway opening of “9 to 5: The Musical,” for which she wrote the music and lyrics. The show has been in previews most of April, and after opening her Tennessee theme park Dollywood in late March, she traveled to New York City to follow the progress of her first Broadway project.
“I’ve worked all the way through. I’ve worked with all the casting, worked with Joe Mantello, the director; Patricia Resnick, that wrote the book (and co-wrote the film script); and Bob Greenblatt, the … producer. And so, we’ve all worked together trying to make sure that it was good. We’re very proud of it,” Parton said in a recent phone interview from Nashville, Tenn.
The musical is based on the 1980 hit movie starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Parton as three office workers who get the better of their “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot” boss (Dabney Coleman). The comedy was Parton’s first foray into acting, and she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance and an Oscar for writing and singing the movie’s theme song.
Though the musical hasn’t yet celebrated its officially opening, it already has earned nominations for Parton. On Monday, “9 to 5″ was nominated for a record 15 Drama Desk Awards, including two for Parton, for outstanding music and lyrics. Even before the nominations, Parton said working on new songs for the beloved story was an exciting venture.
“We have a great cast and let’s just hope the economy allows use to open and do good,” said Parton, who also is awaiting the release of her second children’s book, “I Am a Rainbow,” in May.
“9 to 5: The Musical” stars four-time Emmy Award winner Allison Janney as Violet, the part originated by Tomlin; Stephanie J. Block as Judy, who was played by Fonda; and Megan Hilty as Doralee, Parton’s old role. As Doralee, Hilty belts out “Backwoods Barbie,” an autobiographical song Parton said is the only country tune in the show.
“Backwoods Barbie” also is the title track of Parton’s 2008 album, her first mainstream country collection in nearly two decades and first on her own label, Dolly Records. The album reached No. 2 on the country charts and premiered at No. 17 on the Billboard Top 200, her highest debut there of her career.
The album re-entered the charts earlier this month when Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores released an exclusive collector’s edition featuring three previously unreleased songs.
“Cracker Barrel’s very famous in my part of the world. I’ve spent many a time and spent many a buck there eatin’ their great food, which is like the food I grew up lovin’,” she said. “They believed that I represented what they represent, like country and family values and that sort of thing, so they thought it’d be a good idea to kind of work together. And it has so far been good.”
The collector’s edition debuted at No. 9 on Billboard’s country albums chart and at No. 40 on the Top 200. The three exclusive songs are “Berry Pie,” a “joyful little love song about a girl making a pie for a boy trying to win his heart,” the Appalachian-style ballad “Rose of My Heart” and the vacation anthem “Hallelujah Holiday.”
“I was thinking, oh, it’d be perfect because everybody on vacation stops at Cracker Barrel to eat traveling down the road,” she said. “And then we have a collector’s edition photo album of photos from my childhood, all through my career … and little stories, little comments.”
For those who want to rock Dolly-style, Cracker Barrel also created a limited edition version of their famed rocking chairs, in Parton’s signature pink.
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What to do in Oklahoma on April 29
Pat Green (Associated Press photo)
Today’s featured event:
STILLWATER – Hear Pat Green, Randy Houser and Nick Gibson tonight, the first evening of the 18th annual Calf Fry at Tumbleweed Ballroom, Lakeview and Country Club roads. The music starts at 8 tonight.
The event continues through Saturday and will feature performances by Miranda Lambert, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Randy Rogers Band and more.
For more information, call (405) 377-0075 or go to www.calffry.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
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New releases
Oklahoma singer-songwriter Samantha Crain and her band, the Midnight Shivers, celebrate today the release of their first full-length album “Songs in the Night” on Ramseur Records.
It is the follow-up to their debut EP, “The Confiscation,” which was released last year and become one of my favorite albums of 2008.
And I like “Songs in the Night” even better. Keep your eyes and ears on Crain, who grew up in the small community of Dale near Shawnee, because she deserves, and hopefully is destined for, greatness.
Tulsa-born singer-songwriter Dwight Twilley also released his new album “Out of the Box” today. The album consists of 20 covers, including “Stand By Me,” “Good Golly Miss Molly” and “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away.”
Here is a list of this week’s new CDs, DVDs and books, from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers, “Songs in the Night.”
Dwight Twilley, “Out of the Box.”
Bob Dylan, “Together Through Life.”
Melody Gardot, “My One and Only Thrill.”
NOFX, “Coaster.”
Ben Folds, “Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella!”
Collin Raye, “Never Going Back.”
Great Northern, “Remind Me Where the Light Is.”
DVDs
American Dad: Volume 4
Bride Wars
Hotel for Dogs
JCVD
Jetsons: The Movie
Legally Blondes
Nothing But the Truth
The Uninvited
What Doesn’t Kill You
X-Men: Volume 1
X-Men: Volume 2
Books
The 8th Confession (Women’s Murder Club Series No. 8 ) by James Patterson.
A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez by Selena Roberts.
Belly Off! Diet: Real Men, Real Food, Real Workouts – That Will Really Work for You! by Jeff Csatari.
Nobody Move by Denis Johnson.
Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series No. 7) by J. R. Ward.
Mr. and Miss Anonymous by Fern Michaels.
Rogue Forces by Dale Brown.
Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead.
Straw: Finding My Way by Darryl Strawberry.
Summer On Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber.
Vision in White (Wedding Quartet Series No. 1) by Nora Roberts.
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It’s official: Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??” inked as state rock song
From left, Flaming Lips members, from left, Steven Drozd (holding his adorable toddler), Kliph Scurlock, Wayne Coyne and Michael Ivins celebrate the signing of the executive order by Gov. Brad Henry (right) making the band’s “Do You Realize??” the official state rock song today at the Oklahoma History Center. (Photos by Chris Landsberger/The Oklahoman)
Wayne Coyne signs autographs for fans.
Gov. Henry holds up the executive order making “Do You Realize??” the official state rock song, while the Flaming Lips celebrate.
Gov. Brad Henry made it official today, signing an executive order making The Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??” the state rock song and ending a rather silly fracas that started last week in the House of Representatives.
As most of you have surely heard by now, several state House members managed to get the resolution making the Lips’ tune the official state rock song voted down. The reason: One representative didn’t like Lips frontman Wayne Coyne’s frequent use of the F-word, while another protested bassist Michael Ivins’ decision to wear a shirt with the hammer and sickle emblem of Communism to the Capitol last month.
In their ire, the representatives opted to override a public Internet vote for state rock song, which the Lips won by a 2-1 margin.
Gov. Henry quickly stepped in last week and vowed to issue an executive order giving “Do You Realize??” the state rock song title. He followed through today at a ceremony at the state Capitol, which was attended by more than 300 people.
My colleague George Lang went out to cover the ceremony and reported that the gov had high praise for the alt-rockers, the Lips’ fans didn’t get too rowdy, and the band members behaved themselves. Ivins wore a “Ghostbusters” shirt under a blazer – ’cause he ain’t afraid of no ghosts or of no easily riled legislators. Coyne made a concerted effort not to drop the F-bomb.
“I promised Scott (Booker), our manager, and everybody involved today that, despite my genuine excitement and enthusiasm, I would not use the ‘f-word,’” Coyne said after the signing. “I haven’t yet, have I? Sometimes it just jumps out.”
Read more about the big event over at George’s Staticblog by clicking here.
Below, see more great photos of today’s event from The Oklahoman‘s Chris Landsberger and enjoy the fun video for our wonderful, and now thankfully official, Oklahoma rock song.
What to do in Oklahoma on April 28
Today’s featured events:
NORMAN – Hear California-based roots rockers Blue Turtle Seduction at 10 tonight at The Deli, 309 White Street.
For more information, go to www.thedeli.us.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
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