Sapulpa gets creative

I just got word from Sheri Ishmael-Waldrop of a new art gallery in Sapulpa at 16 S. Water St. Water Street Art Gallery will host a soft opening March 31 and a grand opening April 24.

Ishmael-Waldrop provided the information below.

Water Street Art Gallery, where fine art meets Route 66.
Located just steps from Historic Route 66, in the revitalized downtown district of Sapulpa, Water Street Art Gallery is the place to find original works of art to enhance your collection or to remember a treasured moment in time as you travel the historic roadway.
Just south of the "Mother Road" at 16 S. Water St., the state’s newest gallery brings together a group of “self-expressing" fine artists, specializing in such diverse media as acrylic, ceramics, jewelry, oil, pastels and photography.

Gail Booth, initially a watercolorist, unexpectedly discovered her love of oils, light, color and the impressionist perspective in mid-life. Currently her work in oils spans both impressionism and expressionism.

Kathleen Curran is a portrait and commercial photographer, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in fashion illustration from the University of Oklahoma. She specializes in senior and family portraits, as well as, fine art, black and white landscapes, still-lifes and stylized portraits involving dramatic use of light

Betty Dalsing paints the local landscape as well as painting, sketching, and photographing during her extensive travels. Many of her paintings are done en plein air and offer an impressionistic rendering with strong value contrasts.

Ruth Harris considers herself an impressionistic landscape painter although she also enjoys painting skyscapes, street scenes and still lifes. She was born and raised in the Oklahoma farm belt and has been close to nature her entire life.

Sheri Ishmael-Waldrop’s photographic career has evolved from portrait photographer to journalist and now to fine art photographer. Her photojournalistic style can be seen in her sports photography and portraiture, but her love of nature’s simple lines and aesthetic balance shows in her landscapes and floral pieces.

Julie Miller is a professional artist and respected instructor who works in traditional elements with a contemporary approach. Her abstracted representational style subjects are varied and described in both subtle and vivid painterly strokes.

Carol Mulcare's motivation to create expressive, realistic and beautiful paintings began in 1965 when she joined a charcoal class with Jay O'Meilia, a well-known Tulsa artist. She went on to study oil painting techniques over a 20 year period with Dalhart Windberg, a Texas artist know for his romantic realism.

Silk Degrees founders Jan Thomas and Nancy Cowden began their partnership designing handmade fused dichronic glass jewelry after taking a class in the medium "just for fun." Together, they have added handcrafted sterling silver settings and beads to many of their pieces to add an extra element of beauty.

An Oklahoman by birth, Celeste Vaught is a passionate "explorer," and her curiosity resonates in her art. Acrylics, while challenging, allow a versatility of techniques accommodating her painterly, colorful style. This nationally and internationally known artist paints a wide variety of subjects from macro florals to cityscapes, she especially enjoys painting still lifes as they give her the opportunity to paint from life.

The location allows space for a structured gallery setting, as well as a creative space for teaching art classes. There will be gatherings for artistic endeavors that include book signings, music demonstrations and other special events. Situated on Route 66 and adjacent to the gallery is a small park area perfect for relaxing and "open air" painting. The combination provides an exceptional site for visual and performance arts.
Water Street Art Gallery will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and during downtown Sapulpa events. Artists are invited to bring their sketch pads and pieces in progress to the gallery for Thursday evening’s Open Classroom night, for an open exchange of ideas.

For more information visit the gallery at www.waterstreetartgallery.com, or contact us at 918-227-2009 or at contactus@waterstreetartgallery.com.

Waterstreet's June event is a "Six by Six" art show. Here' the scoop: Beginning April 1, artists may pick up a free 6x6" canvas for Waterstreet's Six by Six show. The show runs June 4-20 with an opening June 4 from 6-9pm. Finished work must be dropped off at the gallery by May 27. The price for each piece of art will be $66, with half of the proceeds going to the artist, one-fourth going to the gallery for overhead and one-fourth going to a charity.