Music, Art and Heritage

Take a trip to the Great White Way on your lunch break as the Tulsa Central Library presents live performances every Wednesday in September in the Music Sandwiched In: Regards to Broadway series. The performances will feature the music of Rogers and Hammerstein, including songs from South Pacific, The King and I, The Sound of Music, and Oklahoma.

Performed by local talent, the break in the workday grind is coordinated by Carissa Kellerby.

"The audience can expect to see some of the best local talent performing vocal and instrumental pieces from their favorite Broadway musicals," Kellerby said. "They will have a chance to forget their troubles and busy schedules for a little while and enjoy a theatrical music performance. It's a great way to jazz up what otherwise would have been just another boring lunch break."

Kellerby said this venture would not be possible without the help of Sheila Alley, who coordinated the performers and singing some numbers herself. The Friends of the Library group were also great sponsors.

"One of the best parts of Music Sandwiched In is that it allows people to experience the library in a new and exciting way," Kellerby said. "At each Music Sandwiched In performance, we have a table set up with books, music CDs, and DVDs relevant to the theme of the program that people can check out. Music Sandwiched In shows people what the library has to offer them aside from what people generally associate with libraries: a fun, relaxing escape from the hectic pull of daily life."

Music Sandwiched In: Regards to Broadway can be experienced every Wednesday in the Aaronson Auditorium of the Downtown Tulsa Central Library, located at 400 Civic Center from 12:10-12:50pm.

Perseverance

The pieces engender curiosity, and upon further inspection, the inky blues and purples, the movement and intense values of the colors suggest that Tulsa is a vibrant place to live, work, and love.

Tommy Ball, fine artist, who has many pieces that captures the soul of Tulsa, has definitely hit a gold mine of creative abundance with his recent pieces on mostly downtown Tulsa locations. Us lucky ones who get to appreciate his art need to take advantage now, as Ball says it's all good ... for now until the winds call him onward to another destination to share his gifts.

"I grew up in Tulsa, so much of my history is here, but as soon as I feel like I've exhausted my options here I find something that interests me more. Traveling is a passion of mine and I plan on painting everywhere I go," Ball said.

Some painters and artists wax poetic about their work. Ball is all about technique.

"I think about how the colors will interact, how the water is moving and absorbing, the relevance of the subject matter, observing perspective and lighting for the most part," Ball said.

That's not to say that it's all fine lines and exacting work capturing the heart of Tulsa on paper.

"My creation process is a series of steps that individually have so many variables that chaos is created and resolving the chaos then becomes part of every step of creation for me," Ball said.

Finally, the most interesting response was well worth noting.

If his artwork could be any song, it would be Queen's "Bicycle."

Tommy Ball's creations are now on display in the Philcade Building, nestled next door to the Indie Pop Up Shops in the Deco District at 5th and Boston. His entire body of work is at: tommyleeball.com

Rich Holidays and Award-Winning Artwork

The Cherokee Nation is hosting their 60th Annual Cherokee National Holiday, what many call "Homecoming" over Labor Day weekend in 2012. From stickball to softball, there is a mile-long laundry list of all manner of outdoor activities to celebrate one's Cherokee Heritage. There's also Bingo, fireworks, a fiddler competition, quilt shows, a food cook off and all of it culminates in a veteran's reception on the final day at 4pm.

For a complete list visit: Cherokee.org/NationalHoliday.

One of the larger events, the annual Cherokee Homecoming Art Show, happens at the Cherokee Heritage Center, 21192 S. Keeler Drive, Park Hill, just south of Tahlequah. The show will include 113 contemporary and traditional works, in a wide range of disciplines.

The Traditional Division, which includes pieces originating before European contact, consists of pottery, basketry, and jewelry. The Contemporary Division, which is art that was generated among the Cherokees after European contact, contains a wider range of disciplines, such as paintings and sculpture as well as categories in the Traditional section.

Mickel Yantz, museum curator, explains the rich history of the Art Show.

"This is the 17th year we have hosted the Cherokee Homecoming Art Show," Yantz said. "This is the only art show in the nation that promotes Cherokee artists from all three of the Cherokee Nations and Tribes (Cherokee Nation, United Keetoowah Band and Eastern Band of Cherokees) and we receive art from coast to coast."

With the help of Cherokee Nation Businesses, there was a large prize handed out to the winner of the Art Show, which was recently awarded on August 24.

"This the 10th year the CNB has sponsored our art show and we are truly grateful for their support. It is their contribution that makes up the $10,000 that is handed out to the artists and gives them a better opportunity to continue their art," Yantz said.

The days leading up the Art Show are exciting times for those mounting the efforts as well as the announcement of the winner.

"My passion is art and being able to work with wonderful artists from Cherokee National Treasures to ones just starting out is truly rewarding. I also enjoy seeing all the new artwork that comes in each year. It's like Christmas," Yantz said.

The Cherokee Art Show runs through September 16.

Send all comments and feedback regarding Arts Experienced to

jratliff@urbantulsa.com