This weekend, Tulsa’s Young Professionals‘ Next/Now Art Show goes on display at Living Arts.  Typros started the Next/Now Art Show five years ago as a way to showcase the work being done by Tulsa’s YPs.  What I’ve loved about this event every year is that there really are no limits to what art is produced, so as an attendee, there is no shortage of pieces available, and there is sure to be something to engage everyone. I can honestly say I don’t know who or what will be featured in this year’s Next/Now, but I know that there will surely be enough variety to satisfy my need for art — at least for now.

And let’s not forget about the venue.  If you haven’t visited Living Arts‘ new space, this is the perfect opportunity to check it out one of Tulsa’s most impressive new arts venues.  Living Arts has been a stable piece of the Tulsa art scene for over 40 years, and it now has the space it deserves.  The building is an ideal space for art, giving more than enough room for patrons to peruse and mingle with friends.  Living Arts has continued to support art in all mediums, from painting to sculpture, film, performance, concept — and a few things I don’t even have words to describe.  Like I said, if you haven’t been to Living Arts, this is a great opportunity to come mingle and network with young professionals (don’t forget to consider a donation to Living Arts for all they do for Tulsa, it has been earned).

So you’ve got what is sure to be a great show, a great venue, how about some great food? Come to the reception on Tuesday, July 27^th from 6-9 pm and try some of Vitter’s Catering’s Caribbean food and The Melting Pot’s dessert.  Plus: a steel drum band, and Tony Bailey and Clair Collins performing Spoken Word.

I’ll be writing a follow up after visiting and seeing the art this time, but for now, I encourage you to get out and check out this show; it’s definitely something you won’t want to miss.

Living Arts Tulsa is located at 307 E Brady St [map] in the Brady Arts District.

Have an event, project, person you want featured in the art section of The Tulsa Project? email thom@maketulsa.com

Starting June 29th the Tulsa Young Architects Forum presents it’s biennial Beyond Bricks art show, featuring juried artworks created by its membership. The show runs at Living Arts, closing with an Artists Reception on Thursday evening, July 8, 2010, and features works in a variety of mediums including painting, photography, sculpture, glassblowing and more. From Beyond Bricks founder Jed R. Ballew:

“Beyond Bricks demonstrates that architects and designers not only create the functional art of buildings and spaces, but their talent and methods of artistic expression transcend their vocation.”

The show runs through July 8th, hours as follows:

What is, in my most humble opinion, is the first Alliday Show this weekend. Alliday is the brainchild of Briana Hefley-Shepard and April Snodgrass, both local crafters and collaborators of SheezKrafty.  Now that summer has set in with Mother’s Day and Father’s Day behind us, and Christmas way too far off to even think about, there seems to be no hope for lovers of holidays, or so it would seem.  The whole idea of Alliday is that every day can be a holiday, which is enough of a reason for me to celebrate!

In the Ford Truck Exhibit Hall at the Tulsa Fairgrounds on Saturday, these lovely lades are bringing 50+ artists and crafters together for a full day (9-5).  They have assembled an…eclectic variety of wares for you to shop, all listed on the Alliday site, some of whom you can see a little more closely at the blog.

Honestly, whether you’re in need of a gift, know someone who could use a little pick me up, need to treat yourself, or just have a little free time, you should make your way to Alliday and show local artists and crafters some love Saturday.

Do you know an artist or an art event you’d like to see on the Tulsa Project?  Email me, thom[at]maketulsa[dot]com, I’d love to hear from you.

In Tulsa, those three words are often considered enough to write off an entire geographic area, making it unacceptable for living, visiting or otherwise considering in any way. In this article, the first in a series about North Tulsa, we consider why. But hold on, we’re not here to deliver a guilt-driven diatribe; rather, we’re concerned that a ferociously negative attitude and perception of North Tulsa has been built up over the entire lifetime of the city (mostly due to institutionalized racism and the leftovers of segregation) and frankly, you should be too.

We know what you’re thinking. It’s true, there is crime in North Tulsa. There’s an article about a gun-related crime almost every week in our major publications. But what we must consider is that if there’s a crime problem in North Tulsa, there’s a crime problem in Tulsa. Compartmentalizing it, pushing it out of our minds and across the train tracks, is just a way for us to separate ourselves from the problem.

Barber shop in the Greenwood area, once known as “Black Wall Street”.
Photo by Michael Champlin

In many cities across the country, lower-income neighborhoods weren’t always lower-income. Through many racially-driven practices in the 1930’s, mortgage companies began segmenting major cities into regions where they felt comfortable lending money, and regions they didn’t. Soon, this practice was adopted by insurance companies as well. As one can imagine, the neighborhoods they refused to lend to, or insure, were predominately African American, though this also happened with Mexican, Asian and Jewish neighborhoods. The practice is referred to as redlining, because when the mortgage companies decided not to lend within a particular area, the area was colored red on the map. This practice is a major contributor to the modern day ghetto. This is the case with most major cities, but Tulsa is different. As we know from the information gathered for the Report on the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 [link], North of the Frisco railroad tracks (parallel to Archer St. in Downtown Tulsa) was a predominately African American neighborhood, specifically concentrated around Greenwood. The area was nicknamed “Black Wall Street”, and it was almost completely destroyed during the race riots. This tells us that North Tulsa has been predominately black since our town’s beginning. This didn’t mean that redlining didn’t exist, however, Tulsa just made it easier for the mortgage companies to discriminate against North Tulsa, as the city overall was mostly segregated by the 1930s.

So for whatever reason, Tulsans often have a very negative perception of the north side. We’ve probably all heard some heinous things said; we’ve even heard of people who refuse to go downtown because it’s near North Tulsa. Within a few months of opening, the Gateway Market, a new grocery store at Pine and Peoria, was robbed at gunpoint; a horrible tragedy for any business, not to mention its employees and guests, to endure. A citizen commented on the Fox 23 story regarding the robbery that “North Tulsa does not deserve to have anything nice until they start taking care of their own neighborhood.” This kind of sentiment is startling, but widespread. Comments on other sites, such as the Tulsa World, echoed the same sentiment: that somehow the store had it coming. Do we, as citizens, as human beings, really believe that anyone deserves to be robbed? Additionally Gateway Market opened at that particular location to serve a part of the community which hasn’t had a major grocery store for years. This is precisely the kind of perception that only worsens the problem. When someone is shot at 51st and Peoria we don’t say “Better stay away from Midtown!” North Tulsa is constantly chided as dangerous and unsafe, but many places in Tulsa have high crime rates including West Tulsa and East Tulsa.

Are there are exceptions to the “Don’t go to North Tulsa” rule? Of course. How about the Zoo? Mohawk Park, Gilcrease Museum, the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Oxley Nature Center are all congregated north of our very own proverbial “Mason-Dixon Line”. Families from Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Tulsa, Sand Springs and beyond flock to the Zoo every year; people fish the Mohawk Park Reservoir, and busloads of school children are shuttled to and from Oxley Nature Center. We can likely all agree that these are some of our city’s greatest treasures, and without North Tulsa we might lose them to Bixby or Jenks. Recently Newsweek rated Booker T. Washington High School the 58th best high school in the nation. Is giving your student a great education worth the risk of traveling to North Tulsa? Parents citywide have decided that it is.

Tulsa’s skyline from the Reservoir Hill neighborhood.

A lot of progress has been made in recent years on the western side of “North Tulsa”, particularly immediately west and north of downtown. Neighborhoods like Crosbie Heights, Owen Park and Brady Heights are experiencing a sort of rebirth fueled by the influx of a younger, more open-minded demographic. Many people remain skeptical about the safety of these neighborhoods, and still others wouldn’t technically call this “North Tulsa”. But it’s still all about perception. Neighborhoods like Reservoir Hill (north of Pine on Denver) and Gilcrease Hills (Gilcrease Museum Road and Pine) have been long-standing neighborhoods in North Tulsa. In Reservoir Hill, if you blink twice you may think you’ve gone into a wormhole and come out in a posh San Francisco neighborhood.

Many people think North Tulsa and begin to think of things like gangs, guns, violence and drugs; the truth is people who think those things often haven’t seen enough of North Tulsa to make an informed judgment. Many people raise their families, live happy lives and grow old in North Tulsa. Crime is a problem our whole city needs to face. Our city is facing a massive deficit, and one reason we’re losing sales tax revenue is because so many young families move to Jenks, Bixby, Owasso and Broken Arrow; when people move to the suburbs they no longer pay property tax to the City of Tulsa, and much of their disposable income goes to businesses in their immediate vicinity. If we can alleviate crime and solve other crucial problems that are holding back our city (and not just its northern side) perhaps we can take steps toward changing perceptions. In a modern day 2010, Tulsa cannot afford to continue alienating North Tulsa. We can neither fiscally nor ethically afford it. It’s time for all of us to get serious about Tulsa’s problems and stop thinking about geography. We encourage you to explore “North of Admiral”; you may be surprised by what you find.

The Tulsa Project supports local farmers and encourages you to buy fresh and local whenever possible. This month we took advantage of the recently expanded Cherry St. Farmer’s Market. Our spring brunch menu was inspired by fresh spinach and smoked bacon from the pork masters at Pork & Greens and a hearty loaf of raisin cinnamon bread from Farrell Family Organic Bread. We encourage you to check out an area farmer’s market this week and make the most of fresh, seasonal produce grown by local farmers.

Spring Brunch

• Spinach and Bacon Frittata
• Raisin Cinnamon Toast with Orange Honey Butter
• Fresh Fruit Parfait with Sweet Balsamic Reduction
• Oven Roasted Home Fries

Spinach and Bacon Frittata

Serves 4

• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 5 strips bacon, cut into ½ inch pieces
• 2 heads spinach
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, ricotta, Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
2. Trim, wash, and dry 2 bunches spinach; roughly chop.
3. In a medium nonstick ovenproof skillet, cook bacon over medium-high until crisp, 6 to 7 minutes. Drain all but 1 teaspoon fat from pan. Add spinach and toss until barely wilted, about 30 seconds.
4. Add egg mixture and stir until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until center is set, about 15 minutes.
5. Run a rubber spatula around edge of frittata and slide it onto a serving plate.

Orange Honey Butter

This can be made a day ahead, just be sure to pull it out of the fridge at least an hour before your guests arrive so that it will be at appropriate spreading consistency.

• ½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• Zest of one orange
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed orange juice
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

1. Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a mixer. Mix on medium speed until all ingredients are combined and the butter is a light, fluffy consistency.
2. Serve softened with toasted raisin cinnamon bread or on top of French toast or pancakes.

Sweet Balsamic Reduction

This can be made a day ahead of time and refrigerated. To serve, warm slightly until the reduction is at a drizzling consistency.

• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• Juice of half an orange
• 2 tablespoons honey

1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce to a simmer and cook until reduced by half, about 30 minutes.
3. Drizzle over fresh fruit and serve with yogurt and granola to make a tasty parfait.

Oven Roasted Home Fries

Serves 6

• 2 pounds red potatoes, diced into 3/4 inch chunks
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon crushed, dried rosemary
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a large rimmed baking sheet, combine potatoes, onion, bell pepper, rosemary, and oil; season with salt and pepper.
2. Toss until vegetables are coated with oil; bake until tender, about 1 hour. Transfer to a serving dish.

For starters (no pun intended), their Plantain appetizer is delicious and affordable; show up between 5 and 7pm to enjoy this delectable treat at half price.  Live music usually doesn’t start until a little later in the evening, but if you’re enticed by sweet fruit this is totally worth the trip.  You can chase it down with $3 Red Stripe, too, which is pretty good considering that their drink prices are a little higher than average in comparison to many of the bars that I visit in Tulsa.

The atmosphere of this place is cool — owners Vincent and Taylor LaTouche have created an environment that is casual but classy and doesn’t feel stuffy.  To me, there are few things as flattering about a restaurant or bar as an affable owner who will greet you on arrival.  That behavior is always a sure way to keep people coming back, and it seems to be working for them.  There are plenty of tables and room at the bar, so despite the size of the restaurant, there is rarely much time spent waiting for seating.  I would be lying if I said that the time it takes to get the food here goes by fast, but this is definitely scratch-cooked, gourmet food, and there is simply nothing quick about preparing a high quality meal.

If you’re just in for a beer you can expect extraordinary service from behind the bar.  It’s obvious that they emphasize customer service to their staff, and that can always be appreciated.  As far as skill goes (with regard to making cocktails) they’re no amateurs; both the classics and their own Caribbean-influenced specialties are made in a top-notch fashion.  With regard to bar service, it’s been consistently quick, without exception.

For the music lovers, this is one of the best spots to catch jazz, acoustic, reggae, salsa, and atmospheric music.  Where else can you catch all of those in the span of a week?  The musicians they bring in never play too loud, and I think that says a lot for a place serving high end food.  After all, that would probably be a deal-breaker with many of their customers.

If you’re stopping in for food, you’re going to be impressed with the menu.  The variety of their offerings is impressive, and if you’re big on spices, this place is for you.  In the past, my favorite items have been the Jerk Chicken, as well as the plantain appetizer (which I mentioned above), but there is too much ethnic variety here to ignore the other items.  Their food isn’t cheap, but it would be silly to expect it to be that way considering their angle on the holy triumvirate of quality: food, drink, and service.  You can visit them on the web (and download a menu) at www.hibiscusbrookside.com, but you won’t get the big picture until you stop in the place.  Give it a shot!

When the sacred moniker popped back up in the Brady District, I wondered if it would be similar to the North Sheridan version — and in a sense, it is — but, more or less, I was just plain happy to see more occupation in that area.  Located at 417 S. Main, just between Soundpony and Cain’s, the Pistol has certainly, if anything, established itself as a place to grab a good show; this place has already become a spot to catch a massive variety of local music, from hip hop to punk to rockabilly.  My favorite feature about the place is that bands can play in the barroom, in the actual concert room, or on their stage outside.  The stage, sound equipment, and lights in the concert room are nothing to scoff at either; they’ve hosted touring bands from all over the United States and everything has been great.  In warm weather, the biggest shows go outside.  The stage is high enough that plenty of people can see the performing act, all without the onset of claustrophobia.

With regard to the experience of drinking at the bar, I’ve enjoyed most of my trips thoroughly.  The beer prices are possibly the best in the downtown area; they pride themselves on cheap Guinness, which is good enough for me.  It seems like, on a monthly basis, they feature a revolving menu of cheap beers.  Last summer there was a time when they were serving $2 Stella Artois.  That was a sweet deal.  If you plan on opening a tab, make sure you either have cash on hand or plan on drinking more than $10 worth of refreshments, because they do have a $10 minimum if paying with plastic.

Like all the places on North Main, smoking isn’t allowed within the building.  If you do smoke, the area behind the building is fair game, and there are dozens of booths, tables, and chairs.  Of course, you can take your drink out there, too.

The decor is definitely saloon themed, as the full name of the bar (“The Crystal Pistol Saloon”) spells out, plainly.  The decorative oddities of the place are almost enough to be worth stopping to see, if for anything.  Mannequins, a fossil of a cash register, and a foosball table are all present.  The wood and concrete structure of the building gives the place a proper look for the part of town.

Overall, I enjoy popping over to the Crystal Pistol frequently; plain and simple, there’s nothing to complain about.  I will say, however, if you plan on coming out to a show here, have some cash on hand.  I’ve showed up to watch a gig that was promoted without any price mentioned by anyone (Pistol, bands, promoter) only to be told that its five buckaroos to get in.

It is definitely worth checking out, though; the drink prices and service are top notch and you’ll more than likely get a chance to catch a band you’ve never heard of before.

Photo courtesy The Crystal Pistol Saloon’s Facebook Page.

Visual Arts Center
Image courtesy Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa.

Before I stray too far, I should ask the question, “Will the end user also accept this move as a reason to venture north of the tracks?”  Sure they will.

If you don’t already know about the Cain’s Ballroom or the Brady Theater, you probably aren’t going to be spending a lot of time in this part of downtown anyway, but for a district already thriving with bars, arts, and eateries, I think it’s pretty obvious that the new field is already helping.  The Greenwood District even got its own little burger joint, Fat Guy’s Burger Bar.  Drop in at lunch time and tell me what you think; it’s already taken the eye of downtown workers, and pretty soon, they’ll be bringing friends.

To sum it up, the private sector will get what it’s after: the end user’s interest.  It’s happening right now.  The availability of space for retailers, food joints, and pubs is the key;  this, rather than the BOK Center, should be held as the litmus test for potential of development in downtown Tulsa.

And don’t get me wrong; none of this is news.  Talks of further development of Brady and Greenwood have been going on since the first word about a new baseball field was spoken.  What I’m saying, however, is that the first seeds have sprouted, and we’ve barely seen a fraction of what lies ahead.

FREIGHT Gallery challenges the notion of static art gallery by creating an ephemeral interaction of art in an instant format. The gallery is housed in readymade display spaces such as shipping containers, u-haul trucks and covered trailers. This mobility allows us to present an impromptu gallery opening anytime and anywhere in the city of Tulsa. The low tech nature of the gallery presentation experience removes the fabricated barrier of formality between the artist and public allowing for an accessible experience.

That’s right: U-Haul trucks. We kick off this inventive series this weekend, Friday, May 14th and Saturday, May 15th, at the Blue Dome Arts Festival.

Here’s some info on our first featured artist:

Colliding the organic with the manufactured, I question our position between a world that we shape ourselves and the natural world. My paintings are made out of materials such as leaves and various plastics that reflect that juxtaposition. I “sculpt” my paintings up in many translucent layers and mount them in florescent-lit lightboxes. Doing so allows me to achieve delicate transitions from light to dark. It is my hope that these cityscapes will delight your senses as much as your mind.

-Grace Grothaus

What: Freight Gallery (featuring Grace Grothaus)
When: May 14-15th
Where: Blue Dome Arts Festival

For information / updates on Freight:

• Like Freight Gallery on facebook.
• Follow The Tulsa Project on Twitter.
• Check for updates on the Freight website.

Photograph by Michael Champlin.

The Blue Dome Arts Festival will be in the Blue Dome district downtown this weekend, well within walking distance of Mayfest. In the past there have been booths with vendors with everything you can possibly imagine from pottery to paintings, candles, jewelry, well you get the idea.  Great local talent will be displayed throughout the weekend in booths and on stage.  This is a great time to check out how full of life our downtown is by visiting restaurants, boutiques, and bars in the area.

This will also be the first year for the Brady Arts Festival.  Aside from being home to the historic Brady Theater and Cain’s Ballroom, the Brady District has had several art crawls showcasing galleries in the area.  This weekend will be yet another opportunity for Tulsans to experience how great this area really is.  The galleries will be open providing you with a great time to experience a world-class chocolatier and get up close and personal with glass blowing.  In addition, there will also be music throughout the weekend as well as the art car parade (guaranteed to have all one-of-a-kind cars), not to mention great food.

Which one will I attend?  You’ll definitely see me at all three throughout the weekend.  Come out and support the Tulsa art scene as it takes over downtown.