Artists from across northeast Oklahoma will exhibit and offer their work for sale at the First Annual Art on the Hill Festival on Friday and Saturday, April 23-24 at Rogers State University. The event is free and open to the public.
The festival will be held outdoors “on the hill” on the RSU campus in Claremore and will feature artwork in a variety of media, food and music in a festival atmosphere, said Peggy Rice, First Lady of RSU and Festival Co-Chairperson.
“We would like to invite the public to join us on the beautiful RSU campus for this outdoor art festival,” Rice said. “We hope this will become an annual spring time tradition at the university.”
The festival will be held from 12 noon to 7 p.m. Friday, April 23, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 24.
Nearly 40 artists are expected to participate in the event, Rice said. Artist awards will be announced at noon on Saturday.
The artwork will be displayed under tents on the campus lawn near the new Centennial Center. In the event of rain, the festival will be moved inside the Centennial Center.
The festival will feature a children’s art tent with hands-on art activities for children of all ages, sponsored by the RSU Student Art Association.
Gary Moeller, longtime RSU faculty artist, is serving as Co-Chairperson of the festival.
The RSU Student Art Exhibition will be on display in the Old Student Union Building on campus.
Music will be provided by the RSU Jazz Combo, RSU Choir, RSU Jazz Ensemble and Musician’s Workshop Band.
Art by students from Claremont Elementary School, who created art depicting the RSU Centennial, will be on display at the event.
Guided tours of the RSU campus will be provided by members of the RSU President’s Leadership Class at various times on both days.
In addition, the Oklahoma Military Academy Museum, located in Meyer Hall, will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Festival sponsors include: Patron of the Arts Level, 1st Bank Oklahoma, Oklahoma Arts Council, Dave and Mary Faulkner, Robson & Robson, Jim and Ronnie Swank, Leonard and Kathy Szopinski, TRC Disaster Solutions, Partners in Education and Tulsa Community Foundation. At the Master Artists Level: Bill Beierschmitt, Shane and Sharon Kern, Pryor Printing (Tony & Donna Schenck, Owners), Peggy Rice, Wal Mart and Will Rogers Downs/Cherokee Casino. At the Apprentice Level: Ron and Danette Boyle, Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Funeral Service & Crematory (Jim & Cindy Smith), and Karen Wilson.
Peggy Rice is an enthusiast of the arts, and serves as President and CEO of the Small Business Capital Corporation. In 1996, she was named the national Small Business Administration’s Financial Advocate of the Year by President Bill Clinton. Previously, she served as Director of Existing Business Development for the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce and Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending and Marketing Officer for First National Bank and Trust Company in Stillwater, Okla. She is active in numerous civic and non-profit organizations in northeast Oklahoma.
Gary Moeller is a well-known artist who serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Fine Arts at Rogers State University. Moeller is one of the university’s longest-serving faculty members. He also has taught art at the University of Tulsa and in Florida. His work, which focuses mainly on painting and drawing, has been exhibited widely in the U.S. and abroad. He received an M.F.A. in painting, drawing and art history from the University of Tulsa. He is a leader on the RSU campus, having served as North Central Association Self-Study Coordinator, which in 2004 led to the university receiving national accreditation for the maximum period of 10 years.
Artist registration information is available by calling (918) 343-7744.