Receptions and Guided Tour of Allan Houser Sculptures at State Capitol

The Oklahoma Arts Council and Oklahoma Historical Society are partnering to pay tribute to renowned Oklahoma artist Allan Houser during receptions at the state Capitol and Oklahoma History Center on Monday, March 10.

Beginning at 3 p.m. in the Capitol’s first floor rotunda, the Arts Council will host a free public reception and guided tour of Allan Houser at the Capitol: A Legacy in Bronze, a special exhibit featuring five sculptures by Houser on the grounds of the Capitol. During the reception, attendees can enjoy traditional Native American flute music performed by Tim Tate Nevaquaya. A tour of the exhibit will be led by Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Director Bob Blackburn and will begin at 4 p.m. During the tour, Blackburn will offer insight in to the significance of Houser’s artistic legacy as well as information about each sculpture.

Following the tour at the Capitol, The Oklahoma History Center will host an evening reception for the special exhibit Born to Freedom: Allan Houser Centennial. The reception is scheduled from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A brief exhibit introductory program will feature a welcome by OHS Executive Director Bob Blackburn followed by flute music performed by Tim Nevaquaya. Members of the Houser family will also be invited to make brief comments. Made possible by the Friends of the Oklahoma History Center, the exhibit features a selection of 55 Houser sculptures, watercolors, sketchbooks, and artifacts, some of which have never been publicly exhibited before. In addition, the exhibit also includes 6 monumental sculptures by Allan Houser and his sons Phillip and Bob Haozous in the History Center American Indian Gallery and in outdoor exhibit areas.

Special guests for the events at the Capitol and History Center include Houser’s son, Phillip Haozous and David Rettig, curator of corporate collections for Allan Houser Inc. in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Allan Houser at the Capitol: A Legacy in Bronze is on display through December 15, 2014. The exhibit is one of twelve taking place throughout the state in celebration of Houser’s centennial birth year. Both Born to Freedom and Allan Houser at the Capitol are part of a statewide museum celebration of the Allan Houser Centennial and will be on exhibit through December 2014. Nine museums across the state are presenting exhibits and programs. Additional information on statewide Houser exhibits and program may be found at OKHouser.org.

About Allan Houser
A member of the Chiricahua Apache tribe, Oklahoma-born Houser is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. As a teacher, Houser passed along his approach of Native American art as a form of self-expression rather than a means of earning a living.

Designated as an Oklahoma Cultural Ambassador in 1984, Houser passed away in 1994. His monumental sculpture As Long As the Waters Flow is a permanent fixture on the Capitol’s south plaza, where it has been standing since 1989. His piece Dialogue is part of the State Art Collection and is on display in the Betty Price Gallery on the Capitol’s first floor.

Allan Houser: A Legacy in Bronze is made possible by Friends of the Capitol and The Kerr Foundation, Inc. The Oklahoma Arts Council is managing the exhibit.

About the Oklahoma Arts Council
The Oklahoma Arts Council is the official state agency for the support and development of the arts. The Council’s mission is to lead, cultivate and support a thriving arts environment, which is essential to quality of life, education and economic vitality for all Oklahomans. The Council provides more than 500 grants to over 300 communities statewide each year, organizes professional development opportunities for the state’s arts and cultural industry and manages hundreds of works of art in the public spaces of the state Capitol.

About the Oklahoma Historical Society
The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains 32 museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information visit www.okhistory.org.