MOREcolor brings MOREpride to Tulsa

by Robin Dorner

Editor in Chief

In celebration of Pride Month, Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) will host MOREcolor, a highly anticipated feature of Tulsa Pride for OkEq. This artist friendly show is well supported by Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Greater Oklahoma as well as the four-state-regional community. The 2013 MOREcolor show will be June 13-16 at OkEq’s Dennis R. Neill Equality Center.

“When this show got its start almost 30 years ago, there weren't very many opportunities in Tulsa to show work that might have challenging subject matter,” said Michael Christopher, MOREcolor co-chair. “Fast-forward to today, and you've got the Tulsa Arts District and several new private galleries around town, but MOREcolor is still the environment that's most embracing of LGBT subjects and artists.”

Christopher hopes to attract a large opening night attendance, including many of the area’s knowledgeable art patrons. MOREcolor has become a regional juried show presenting works by more than fifty artists. It is juried this year by Teresa Valero. The show kicks off with an opening event on Thursday, June 13, 6 pm, at the OkEq Event Center at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, located at 621 E. 4th Street in downtown Tulsa.

“Of [more than] fifty artists, many are straight allies. MOREcolor has grown to be a well-respected juried show that simply emphasizes excellence,” adds Christopher.

The show encourages artists to stretch, and embraces work from well-known and emerging artists. Works range from traditional forms to the experimental. This year’s OkEq Pride Fine Arts Exhibition includes original artworks in a broad range of styles and mediums. Ambient performances of music and dance will bubble up throughout the evening, celebrating creativity and surprise. Attendees will be encouraged to vote for a "People’s Choice" Award, and a Juror's Choice Award will also be presented.

This event is free and open to the public. The exhibition will hang for only a few days - June 13-16 during regular Equality Center hours. Call (918) 743-4297 for hours or visit www.okeq.org.

OkEq will forgo the “First Thursday” reception this month.

The MOREcolor Regional Juried Exhibition is presented by Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) in conjunction with the national Gay Pride Celebration. For more information and a map to the event, visit www.morecolorart.com.

(Editor’s note: “Press for Equality” in Tulsa contributed to this story.)

A History of MOREcolor

The Tulsa Pride Fine Arts Exhibition has a unique history in Tulsa. MOREcolor is the current incarnation of the art show that began back in the 1980's as the TOHR Art Show. MOREcolor had its start long before Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) had the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, when the organization was still called Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights. The show has been held in several locations, but its home is now the Equality Center's spacious Event Center and OkEq gallery.

Always a very artist friendly show, encouraging cutting edge work in all media and known for welcoming work that might not be exhibited in other group shows, the result is always an exciting and high quality exhibition. Each year brings new performance surprises to the opening night event, from chamber music to jazz, from contemporary dance to belly, from performance art to an opera flash mob, from a body art runway to installation art.

Surprises shall unfold this year as well. It's Tulsa's place to be on June 13 from 6-9. Don't miss it! For more information and a map to the event, visit www.morecolorart.com.