Published: December 21, 2007 09:06 am      

Ada artists attend fall Arts Institute

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., -- This fall, nine Ada-area artists journeyed to Quartz Mountain for a weekend of intensive study with nationally-renowned artists.  The area artists attended the Oklahoma Fall Arts Institute (OFAI), a series of retreats in the literary, visual and performing arts.

Linda Kay Gamble, Eric Hardison, Kelly Reed, Cheryl Jessepe, Brenda Roberts, Maureen Patrizi, Tina Vercelli, Wayneath Weddle, and Rodd Wellington turned over a new leaf this fall at Quartz Mountain.

“The faculty and staff were first class and the experience was phenomenal,” said Hardison, an art teacher for Chickasaw Nation schools.  “This is my education highlight of the year.”

“OFAI is a great time to be inspired and take it home with you,” said Wellington, a social studies teacher at Vanoss Elementary School in Ada.

 

OFAI allows Oklahomans to study with nationally-renowned artists without traveling far from home.  True beginners and professional artists alike can find OFAI workshops that fit their expertise and interests in a variety of classes including theater, dance, photography, painting, music, writing, and more.

 

“I believe that all forms of the arts should be part of everyone’s lifestyle and education,” said Patrizi, a gifted and talented teacher for Bowlegs Public Schools.  “I love the idea of learning more about these art forms, interacting with other educators and master teachers and gathering new plans and techniques to share with my students.  The OFAI is a wonderful program for Oklahoma educators.”

 

OFAI is held at the Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center in southwest Oklahoma.  Nestled between the dry, cacti-dotted Quartz Mountains and the peaceful Lake Altus, the conference center is the ideal location for arts immersion.  Artists gain inspiration from the natural setting, and the secluded locale allows artists to focus on their work with few distractions.

 

 

All Oklahoma public school educators automatically receive full scholarships to attend OFAI, including tuition, room and board.  Ada-area educators were sponsored by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Raymond and Bessie Kravis Foundation, with additional support from the Oklahoma Arts Council and various private donors.  

 

“The Fall Arts Institute offers a wonderful opportunity for public school teachers to further their artistic training and to learn techniques that they can bring back to their classrooms,” said Julie Cohen, Oklahoma Arts Institute president.   “Each year, about 35,000 public school students benefit from their teachers’ participation in our workshops, so our program has a profound impact on education in Oklahoma.”

 

The Oklahoma Arts Institute is a private, non-profit organization developed in 1977, with a vision to cultivate established and emerging artists and educators through art workshops, immersion and awareness. OAI administers a fine arts program for talented Oklahoma youth and a series of continuing education workshops for adults. 

 

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Editor’s Note: We have professional digital photographs of Ada-area artists at Quartz Mountain.  We also have photos of instructors in the classroom and Quartz Mountain scenery.  If you’re interested, please contact Annina Collier. Thanks.

 

 

 

 

Annina Collier

 

Director of Public Relations & Outreach

Oklahoma Arts Institute

 

2600 Van Buren, Suite 2606

Norman, OK  73072

Office:  (405) 321-9000, ext. 215

Fax:  (405) 321-9001

www.oaiquartz.org