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Old lights are switched on and vibrant pieces of art beckon patrons.
Former OSU student Cory Thacker reopened the Exhibit One Gallery, 102 N. Main St.
“It’s just a fun thing to do, and you’re promoting a good time whether it’s something fun to look at or something fun to watch,” he said. “So, as far as purchasing a gallery to do that, if I wanted to have that in my daily life, I had to take on a large business responsibility.”
Thacker, 25, said he tackled the project without taking the economic recession into account.
“I took into account that I love art, and I was in the process of writing a business plan for a gallery when this one came open,” he said. “It just happened to fit into my plan, so I purchased it.”
Thacker said reopening the gallery meant merging his love of art with business.
“There’s two different sides to the art world — there’s the art side and the business side,” he said. “(The business) side’s not so fun, but it reflects whenever you get to show off art to the community.”
Thacker said that in addition to displaying art and planning events, the gallery will also offer lessons to students and Stillwater residents.
“Adam Smith will be holding illustration and animation classes here,” he said. “He has a degree from the Arts Institute of Pittsburgh. Our goal is by the beginning of December, we’ll start enrolling people. We’ll probably do character creation and fundamentals.”
Thacker said he’s more than willing to open up the gallery to all mediums of art.
“My goal here is solely to promote the arts in Stillwater and Oklahoma,” he said. “Any sort of art that somebody has, if it’s doable in this space, they’re welcome to come and use it.”
Thacker said he wants to have fun events and activities at the gallery as well as feature artists.
Thacker said the first pieces of work on display will be those of artist Brandon Mitts, whose colorful and abstract art will start showing Monday.
“I would describe it as a youthful graffiti look meets grown-ups,” Thacker said. “It’s really fun, lively art.”
Mitts said his abstract paintings often reflect real things, such as landscapes.
“I’m really drawn to Oklahoma landscape and that palette of colors,” he said. “It’s got some kind of rugged grittiness, especially growing up in western Oklahoma. The paintings don’t have a lot of nice clean edges. A lot of times the abstract paintings are from, in my mind, a landscape.”
Mitts said painting landscapes abstractly and not literally is called abstract expressionalism.
Thacker said he enjoys being a part of the art community in Stillwater and that it’s more of a team than a competition.
“We help promote each other and bring business to each other,” he said. “When an art gallery is full, the artist still needs to sell their work so we can send them other places. Sometimes different venues offer different display opportunities.”
Thacker said the businesses act as one, rather than separately.
“It’s almost like the art community is one large business,” he said. “We’re the venues that bring the artists and buyers together, and with multiple venues, you’ll be more successful.”
***
Open Call to Artists •
Anyone interested in showing or
selling art is encouraged to stop
by the gallery and speak to
Cory Thacker.
Gallery Hours •
Monday - Friday
from noon - 6 p.m.
Adam Smith’s Work •
www.bluecreations.org
Brandon Mitts’ Work •
www.brandonmitts.com
Exhibit One News •
www.xonegallery.com
Concert Event •
Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
Edmond band Shining Lights
will play an acoustic set
and refreshments will be
served.
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