Taylor and Stout featured at Tulsa’s OkEq monthly art exhibit
The March Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) showcase and exhibit of local artists will feature two talented artists, Scott Taylor and Josh Stout. The monthly event will be held at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, home of Tulsa’s OkEq. The event will feature the exhibit with a combined show beginning with a reception on Thursday, March 7 from 6-9 p.m.
Taylor is an author and artist with a passion for emotional health and is the Executive Creative of Colorpop Art & Design Lab based in Tulsa. Over the last decade, he has dedicated himself to studying vulnerability, authenticity, empathy and the role of art and creative expression in the healing of trauma.
Across the nation, from living rooms to lecture halls, Taylor has championed the value of emotional literacy and its application in daily life.
Using insights gained from his study as well as his extensive interviews and focus groups with kids, teens, and adults, he created Jacob & the Cloak, a children’s book that imaginatively addresses the effects of trauma and its struggles, as well as offers hope for redemption. He continues his research, now focusing primarily on helping people gain freedom from their past and access true emotional wellbeing through the power of art.
As for Stout, he didn’t grow up knowing he wanted to be one or another kind of artist. He came across his talent entirely by chance. Taking his daughter to a local painting class, to connect and engage with one another, he would discover color and form alongside his 10-year-old.
“She conjured up these wonderful landscapes and funny little creative themes,” said Stout gleamingly. “I also began to explore; it was a fabulous flow of creative spirit that was virtually untapped in my mind, it seemed.”
Almost immediately, the skill that differentiates an artist from a hobbyist became apparent. Each week, the teacher would ask in fascination, “Are you sure you have never painted before?”
The teacher’s encouragement, seemingly trivial at the time, was essential in giving Josh the confidence to take on increasingly more challenging compositions.
“The faces - I just loved them from the beginning - painting faces! It came so naturally to sculpt the human face with paint; it was almost scary. I was taught that there are no mistakes in art, but from mistakes is where I learned my greatest attributes. From my mistakes is where my style was born.”
His instruction and freedom to create from that little corner of the Red Fork studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma is where Stout uncovered a passion for following his intuition. Painting happens to be one of its manifestations. Now, fast forward eight years, thirty-nine states, five countries and countless exhibitions later.
From alley bashes to live painting venues with tens of thousands of spectators, auction houses to gallery receptions, Stout continues to carry one thing everywhere he continues to go; passion for living.
The show begins with a reception on Thursday, March 7, from 6-9 p.m. at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, located at 621 E. 4th Street in Downtown Tulsa. There will be a door prize drawn at the reception with the winner receiving a piece of work from the artist. The show continues throughout March.
Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) seeks equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. www.okeq.org.
Copyright The Gayly – February 28, 2019 @ 7:30 a.m. CST.