OKLAHOMA CITY (October 7, 2021) – The Oklahoma Arts Council has announced the names of 15 individuals and three organizations that will be honored for their contributions to the arts during the 44th Oklahoma Governor’s Arts Awards on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.
“It is an honor to recognize influential organizations and Oklahomans who continue to uphold our state’s esteemed art scene,” said Governor Stitt. “I am particularly proud to present the Governor’s Award to Barbara Smith, whose unwavering commitment to the arts will continue to have a lasting impact in Oklahoma.”
“The efforts of our Governor’s Arts Awards honorees are why the arts continue to inspire hope and resilience for Oklahomans during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples said. “Their commitments reflect the investment necessary to ensure the arts endure to meet important needs in our state. We look forward to celebrating their steadfast devotion to their communities through their efforts in the arts.”
Recipients are selected from submitted nominations by the Governor’s Arts Awards Selection Committee, comprised of members of the Governorappointed Oklahoma Arts Council board.
The Community Service Award recognizes significant contributions to the arts in specific Oklahoma communities in the areas of leadership and volunteerism. Honorees are:
Alberto Rivas (Lawton Fort Sill)
David Hornbeek (Edmond)
Dian Jordan (Broken Bow)
Donald Moore (Okemah)
Red Dirt Relief Fund (Tulsa)
Wallace Owens (Guthrie)
Wallace Owens (Guthrie) – After a consequential career as a visual art professor at Langston University and Central State University (later the University of Central Oklahoma), Owens opened the Owens Arts Place Museum, the first fine arts space of its kind in Logan County, where in addition to providing the community with access to visual art shows, he offers opportunities for emerging and established artists to hone their careers.
A Special Recognition Award recognizes an individual or organization that has made unique contributions in support of the arts. The honoree is:
Harvey Pratt (Guthrie). A noted career forensic artist, Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho) is also an awardwinning Native American artist selected to create the National Native American Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Pratt’s memorial, “Warriors’ Circle of Honor,” opened in November 2020.