Our May 12 meeting will be a special visit to David Phelps’ studio, which is located at 3 North Ellison.  It is on the northwest corner of Sheridan and Ellison, 3 blocks west of Western.  The studio is in a large yellow building; park in front of the building or on the street, and ring the doorbell.   

David’s studio is large and full of interesting projects, which he is looking forward to showing us.  His art is born out of his upbringing on a farm in the central valley of California, and he often produces larger than life sculptures that fit perfectly into their outdoor surroundings.  He is known for monumental, contemporary figurative artwork in bronze, cast concrete and fabricated steel.  He also creates small and medium-sized sculptures as unique pieces and in limited bronze editions. 

His art is represented in private and public collections here in the United States as well as in Europe, Canada, Mexico, and South America.   Some notable private collectors of his work are Burt Reynolds, Connie Sellecca and John Tesh, as well as Barbie Benton and her husband George Gradow.  

We will have refreshments, as usual, but we won’t be bringing sculpture to share.  And we will be postponing the medallion contest until June, which means we can’t say we didn’t have time to participate!  See you at 7:00 Thursday, May 12. 

Medallion contest: 

A note from Jim Franklin: we will be having our annual medallion contest judging at our June meeting.  It sure would be cool if everyone submitted a model.  Remember… a bas relief… no greater than a 3” square… ¼” thick… NO undercuts… on a board… sculpted in firm material… your name on the back covered with a piece of tape or paper… a fun subject… OSS 2011 appearing somewhere on the piece… be creative.  If you carve in wood or stone, you still can submit a sculpture.   There are no excuses for not entering.

Philbrook Open Studio 

Sculptors in the Tulsa area are invited to the second Open Studio at the Philbrook Museum of Art on May 21 from 9:00-l:00.  (Our apologies – the first was March 19 and we were unable to notify you.)  The cost for the day is $5.00.  This will be in Studio E, on the lower level of the museum’s Art Education Center.  Sculptors should arrive around 8:55 a.m. (not earlier) for Security to allow you entrance to the building.  Park in the lower level of the parking structure, or parallel park against the curb that runs on the north end of the property.  Enter the museum through the door in the glass atrium area on the northeast corner of the building; press the intercom buzzer if the door is locked and Security will buzz you through.  Walk down the hallway, turn right and go through the glass door.  Studio E will be on your left.  Questions? Contact Susan Green at 918-748-5375 or sgreen@philbrook.org during the work week.