Art Night Out is a bi-annual celebration of art, music, and culture where the museum comes to life after hours for a night of fun for all ages! On Saturday, November 10, we are celebrating the museum’s newest temporary exhibition, Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now, which brings contemporary Indigenous art front and center. Here are the activities and events you can expect at this month’s Art Night Out:

Get your tickets here! $10 ($8 members and FREE for ages 18 and under). 6:30 – 10 pm. See the full event program guide here!

1. Beautiful performances by artists and ballet troupes

Throughout the event, the Great Hall will house ballet performances from two different ballet troupes as well as a vocal performance from Tulsa Art Fellow Elisa Harkins. Guests are welcome to come and go as they please, watching as much of each performance as they would like.

Encore! Performing Society, based in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, is a group of local youth from the majority being members of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. During the event, the group will be performing a selection from the ballet Four Moons highlighting Oklahoma ballerina, Maria Tallchief (Osage).

Osage Ballet is based in Oklahoma and is comprised of a group of talented ballerinas. Their current production is called Wahzhazhe, a contemporary ballet about the Osage people that mesmerizes audiences from the first beat of the rhythmic drums to the final curtain close. At Art Night Out, they will be performing a short set from Wahzhazhe called “the Notice”.

Elisa Harkins is a Tulsa Artist Fellow. She is a Native American (Cherokee/Muscogee) artist and composer originally hailing from Miami, Oklahoma. Her work is concerned with translation, language preservation, and Indigenous musicology. She uses the Muscogee and Cherokee languages, electronic music, sculpture, and the body as her tools. At Art Night Out, Harkins will be performing Wampum, a vocal performance sung in both English and Cherokee.

2. Engage in exciting gallery performances

Still from “Untitled (For Sonya Kelliher-Combs)” (2018) by Tanya Lukin Linklater

Art for a New Understanding artist Tanya Lukin Linklater will be performing a dance in the galleries during the event. Guests are welcome to explore the galleries and enjoy Linklater’s performance throughout the evening.

3. Participate in a sewing circle with artist Marie Watt

Marie Watt

Art for a New Understanding artist Marie Watt will be hosting a massive sewing circle project during Art Night Out that all guests are encouraged to participate in. The sewing project will be a new art installation that each guest will have a hand in helping to create. No sewing experience is necessary, and the project is friendly for all ages. Meet the artist, spark a conversation, and participate in an exciting art project!

4. Flex your artmaking skills in our makerspace

A makerspace will be set up in the museum’s restaurant, Eleven, which will offer opportunities for guests to create screen prints, beaded keychains, and more with the help of talented, regional artists. Great activities for kids and adults alike!

5. Participate in a mosaic art activity with Steven Paul Judd

Steven Paul Judd

Art for a New Understanding artist Steven Paul Judd will be facilitating a mosaic art activity for kids and grown-ups of all ages at the beginning of the party. Judd is a Native American (Kiowa-Choctaw) artist. He creates art that makes you laugh, makes you think and makes you feel pride, and has a creative way of combining pop culture with Native American culture. Feel free to come and have a chat with Steven while you work on your art project.

6. Meet the founders of the Matriarch group from Oklahoma

Get to know the members of the group, Matriarch, who will guide the creation of a beaded keychain at the makerspace with the signature color, red. The red keychain serves as a symbol to raise awareness for MMIW (Murdered Missing Indigenous Women). Matriarch formed to promote the social welfare of Native women through education, community building, and direct services to create positive change within our communities. Come meet this incredible team, learn about their work, and create a beaded keychain you can take home!

7. Enjoy the finale celebration with a parade walk, fashion runway, and dance party

At the end of the evening, join Osage Ballet for a few dance lessons in the Great Hall, followed by a parade walk to Eleven. We will honor the artists of the night with a fashion runway walk and wrap up the evening with a dance party guided by DJ Elisa Harkins.

8. Food and drinks will be available

Food will be available for purchase at Eleven throughout the evening, so don’t worry about needing to eat before the event. Drinks will also be available, including beer and wine for guests ages 21 and up. The makerspace will be taking place in Eleven, but the restaurant will be open throughout the entire evening.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 or Education at 479.657.2311.

Special thanks to the sponsors of Art Night Out: JTH Productions, iHeart Media, AMP Sign & Banner, and Blue Moon Brewing Company. Thank you!