A Minute With Open Sky Editions
Hi! This is a newsletter about artists I like.
I began acquiring art through some friends that worked in galleries. I started small, working on a limited budget, for stuff I could afford. As time passed, my collection grew, and it was exciting to watch many of the artists I'd collected go on to bigger shows and critical acclaim. My goal with this newsletter is to make a digestible resource for anyone interested in artists that are making great (and still affordable!) work, whom you haven't heard about... yet.
I was spending too much time on IG as usual and noticed my old colleague from Oklahoma Contemporary posting install shots of Richard Prince posters and was a bit confused. I didn’t think OCAC was doing a Prince show so asked Patrick what it was about and he said a new gallery opened up with the first show being all about Richard Prince ephemera. I am always pleased when good things happen in OKC and I wanted to learn a bit more. James Kopp, the founder of Open Sky Editions, was kind enough to answer some questions on this new endeavor.
Why Richard Prince?
OSE: Richard Prince is an artist who bridges the gap between the older modern and contemporary artists and the generation of artists who came up after abstract expressionism, pop art, minimal art, and conceptual art. In this way he presents a continuum of artistic practice in the United States that has deep roots in an art historical context. He works in a variety of mediums, styles and content. The three most relevant to Oklahoma history are Cowboys, Cars, and Cannabis; which is the theme of the current exhibition.
What does the future look like for Open Sky Editions?
OSE: We are trying to build a larger audience for contemporary art in Oklahoma. Presenting artists who consciously work in conversation with art historical trends, moving the needle forward in contemporary expression. Hopefully we can generate enough interest that we can continue in this direction.
Why open a gallery….in Oklahoma City?
OSE: To have a space that invites people in Oklahoma into a conversation about contemporary art and the possibilities of imagination, expression and creativity.
What’s the focus of the gallery and content?
OSE: This first exhibition presents posters, signed and unsigned, ephemera, and publications. These objects of material culture are mass produced yet at the same time are made with an eye towards quality of content within the limitations of commercial publishing. Presenting these type of objects give people a chance to collect contemporary art at affordable prices. Going forward we would like to work with Oklahoma based artists on producing editions of photographs, prints, etc. that will be shown along with established contemporary artists.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how this all came to be?
OSE: I was born in New York City and spent my adult life living and working in New York City and the greater New York metropolitan area. I am educated in fine arts and have worked at MoMA, the Guggenheim Museum, the Queens Museum, Princeton University Art Museum, Hofstra University Art Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, the New Britian Museum of American Art, the International Center of Photography and various commercial art galleries. My education and experience has been grounded in Modern and Contemporary Art. I would like to pass along some of this knowledge and appreciation for contemporary expression. I am a pandemic refugee who ended up in Oklahoma City and have found a new home that gives me a greater understanding of the history of the United States along with its problems and possibilities.
What is the next?
OSE: There are various themes in contemporary art that we would like to investigate; language, a sense of place, nature, and sexuality. We would also like to show individual artists who present the varied possibilities of expression that are current in contemporary art.
Linkage Report
The great Gene Beery has passed. One of my favorite artists. RIP. More HERE.
I buy too many books, which if you follow my other account, GOODSTUFF, you may know that. Makr just made some great bookends for anyone looking to clean up a bit on their stacks.
I am going to attempt to do the Miami art fair stuff, anyone going, recs?