It's not easy to make a living as an artist. In fact, it's difficult to make any profit at all--especially if you're a young artist in the middle of the country with no experience at even showing art, much less selling it.

Enter the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition's "Momentum Tulsa: Art Doesn't Stand Still," an exhibition of work by Oklahoma artists aged 30 and under.

OVAC, which offers bountiful resources, such as workshops, grants and exhibitions, to Oklahoma artists, began the Oklahoma City version of the event in 2002. The Tulsa event followed in 2004.

"OVAC noticed a lot of young artists would get out of school and move out of state to pursue their art careers, or give up completely and do something else," said Kelsey Karper, the organization's PR and marketing director.

Karper said OVAC wanted to help young artists bridge the gap between their arts education and careers in the industry, and the organization's leaders recognized that, in Oklahoma, there were no exhibitions or competitions open to young artists only.

"In competitions, young artists were competing with artists who have been around for years and are well-established," Karper said. "For a lot of artists, Momentum is the first time they've shown their artwork outside of the classroom or their bedroom or wherever they make art.

"[The event] serves as a way for them to get experience submitting to an exhibit, showing their work and getting out into the public and talking to people about their work. It's a gateway for them into the art world."

Scott Perkins, curator of collections and special exhibitions at Price Tower Arts Center in Bartlesville, has selected the 93 works that will be on display at the event.

"You see a lot of things at Momentum you wouldn't see at other art shows because young artists are still taking a lot of risks," Karper said. "They're doing a lot of experimentation in artwork, whereas artists who have been around a while have their niche, their style. Young artists are still working that out, still trying to figure out what they want to do."

In addition to fine art, a market gallery features work for sale for $30 and less. The market features smaller original items like prints, T-shirts, small paintings, greeting cards and buttons.

"We just started the market gallery last year," Karper said. "Because it's a show for young artists and appeals to a younger audience, a lot of people come who don't have money to spend on large paintings or significant artwork purchases."

In addition, Momentum Spotlight artists will exhibit large-scale installation artists. The Spotlight artists -- Stillwater's Emily Kern, Edmond's Dustin Boise and OKC's Nick Bayer -- each received $1,500 and access to Momentum's guest curators in order to design and create an installation project.

Kern will create mixed media pieces on-site with a custom-built, large-scale spirograph. The tools will be on display during the event for patrons to make and take their own artwork. Boise's installation will put the audience up against an army of 12-inch teeth, with the head of troops projecting dental propaganda, and Bayer's installation is a large-scale whirligig, inspired by his grandfather's interest in kinetic art.

A volunteer committee of artists and art supporters plan each year's event. This year's "Momentum Tulsa" committee is chaired by local artists Grace Grothaus and Geoffrey Hicks, who incorporated a surprise, interactive element into this year's event. The event also features music by Colourmusic, Tribe of Souls and Ghosts.

"Momentum Tulsa: Art Doesn't Stand Still" is Saturday, Oct. 10, 8pm-12am at Living Arts, 307 E. Brady. The exhibit will be on display through Oct. 24. Joe Momma's Pizza, 112 S. Elgin, will host an after party. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Purchase advance tickets at Under the Mooch, 1425 S. Harvard; Dwelling Spaces, 119 S. Detroit; and Lovetts Gallery, 6528 E. 51st St.

62 and Counting

Tulsa Opera kicks of its 62nd season with Gaetano Donizeti's Lucia di Lammermoor, starring Oklahoma native Sarah Coburn and acclaimed tenor Scott Piper.

The opera is based on Sir Walter Scott's The Bride of Lammermoor, based on a true story about love, family politics, madness and murder in 17th century Scotland.

The Italian opera is performed in the bel canto stye, which means beautiful singing. It is conducted by TO's artistic director Kostis Protopapas and staged by Stanley M. Garner.

Coburn, daughter of U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, was last seen in Tulsa in 2008's Lakme. She has performed the role of Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor for Cincinnati opera and the role of Lucie in the French version for Glimmerglass Opera.

Piper was last seen in Tulsa in 2007 as Don Jose in Carmen. The cast also includes Hyung Yun, Harold Wilson, Yoonsoo Shin, Brian Landry and Joy Boland.

TO presents Lucia di Lammermoor Oct. 10, 16 and 18 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center's Chapman Music Hall, 110 E. 2nd St. Evening performances are at 7:30pm and Sunday's matinee is at 2:30pm. Tickets start at $22 and are on sale through the Tulsa Opera box office by calling 587-4811 or visiting www.tulsaopera.com.

It's All About Perspective

On Friday, Oct. 9, Lovetts Gallery, 6528 E. 51st St., presents "Fall Perspective 2009," which features six artists from across the country working collectively on "exploring a reclamation and redefinition of Western Impressionism."

The artists are Sophy Brown and Janice Sugg, painters from Colorado; Christian Burchard, an Oregon-based wood sculptor; Kirsten Kainz, a metal sculptor from Wyoming; and Jerry Ricketson and Kristen Vails, both painters from Oklahoma.

The exhibit features more than 50 original works, ranging from traditional oil landscapes to contemporary steel sculpture.

"Although most of these six artists were born from traditional Western motifs, and at time still reflect that influence, their works have taken on a new direction -- a relevant 'West,'" said Waylon Summers, gallery director.

The works featured reflect a departure from Western Romanticism but not from aesthetics, he said.

"Fall Perspective 2009" opens with a reception on Friday from 5-8pm. Each of the artists will be present. More information is available at www.lovettsgallery.com.

Native Art

On Oct. 10 and 11, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, I-44 East at exit 240A, will host the Fourth Annual Cherokee Art Market. The market features work by 150 Native American artists from all over the country.

All media and genre of work will be on display in the Casino's ballroom for two days from 10am-5pm. The event is free and open to the public, and families are welcome. In addition to work in beadwork, pottery, painting, basketry, sculpture and textiles, there will be cultural performances, the Gilcrease Art Studio and the Art Tour of Tulsa.

The International Cherokee Film Festival will run simultaneously on Oct. 9 from 10am-6pm in the seventh-floor boardroom and Oct. 10 from 10am-4:30pm in the ballroom. Tickets to individual screenings are $4, and an all-day pass is $10. For more information about both events, go to www.cherokeeartmarket.com and www.internationalcherokeefilmfestival.com.