Tulsa’s First Thursday is “Wild by Nature”

The December Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) First Thursday showcase and exhibit of local artists will feature the works of Karen Lamb and Ann Shannon in a show titled “Wild by Nature.” The exhibit begins with a reception on Thursday, December 5 from 6-9pm and continuing throughout the month.

Karen Lamb and Ann Shannon met at an OkEq MoreColor show where they realized their art made them soul mates. Each of their styles is distinct, yet dovetails into a progression of form and shape flowing from the beasts of the wilderness from which they draw their inspiration.

Both Lamb and Shannon are native Tulsans. They began their artist’s journey in different ways but found symmetry and synergy with the intersection of their paths.

Ann spent her early years drawing on any flat surface and developed a love of the form and majesty of the natural world. HHHhHer art lends depth to the vision of a stoic single beast set against the backdrop of Oklahoma stylized landscapes.

Karen has worked in Veterinary medicine for over 30 years. That journey intensified her appreciation of the human/animal bond that brought out her artist’s eye when she began painting five years ago. Karen says, “When I see a place or an animal that evokes an emotion, I want to capture and share that experience through my art.

“By pushing the color boundaries I work to produce a piece more visually exciting than can be found in nature; the result will hopefully spark a viewer’s imagination.”

The sense they both wish to project can be summed up in Karen’s writings: “The colors and energy of nature create in me a need to capture those qualities in a permanent way. I don’t want my art to feel ‘tame,’ but alive through the use of vibrant color. I have worked with animals most of my life and they inspire me to present their unique personalities in a contemporary form that stimulates the viewer through a kaleidoscope of color.

“John Nieto and Marshall Noise are two of the artists who have inspired my artistic endeavors. By painting what is meaningful to me, I hope to encourage others to enjoy our natural world and to strive to protect it.”

The show begins with a reception on Thursday, December 5 from 6-9pm at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center (621 E. 4th Street in Downtown Tulsa.) There will be a door prize drawn of the artist’s work; the show continues throughout the month. www.okeq.org.

Founded by a dedicated group of volunteers in 1980, Oklahomans for Equality/OkEq is Oklahoma’s oldest gay rights organization. From testing for HIV/AIDS and hosting the annual Tulsa Pride and Diversity Celebration to operating the Equality Center and documenting the Tulsa LGBT community’s rich history, OkEq works for social justice and full inclusion for Oklahoma’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens and their allies.

The Gayly – December 4, 2013 @ 4:45pm