The Nona Jean Hulsey Art Gallery, located in the Norick Art Center on the Oklahoma City University Campus, is the focus of the university's participation in the visual arts. The gallery provides a contemporary exhibition space for significant and challenging exhibitions by local and national artists and art organizations. The Hulsey Gallery provides School of Visual Arts students with educational opportunities related to collection management and exhibition of art in a professional gallery.
The mission of the Nona Jean Hulsey Art Gallery is to promote the understanding of and extend the audience for contemporary art, and to present exhibitions that inform, inspire and challenge the public, particularly students of Oklahoma City University. The Hulsey Art Gallery is an integral part of the School of Visual Arts, and it is used daily by visitors, students and faculty.
Current Exhibit
"Threaded Discoveries: The Intersection of Fiber Art and Science"
Work by Vicki Conley and Shannon Conley
April 8 - Sept. 13
Evening event: 5-7 p.m. April 11
Art and science have always been intertwined, and until recently, the ability to draw what one observed in an experiment was a primary skill for communicating scientific findings. Science and quilting have likewise been connected, both artistically and technologically for centuries. Flowers, birds, and other subjects from nature have been a part of quilts in the United States since the early colonial period, and traditional quilt blocks utilize many mathematical and geometrical concepts.
In the modern era, technology has made scientific documentation less reliant on traditional art skills. However, with the increasing complexity of scientific findings, the need for nuance in data interpretation, and the urgent need for evidence-based scientific dialogue, art as a tool for science communication and public engagement around scientific topics is more important than ever. This selection of contemporary art quilts by mother-daughter pair Vicki and Shannon Conley highlights some of their scientific priorities and interests, drawing attention to a wide range of topics including cardiovascular health, inherited retinal degeneration, ecosystem diversity, habitat preservation, and planetary geology.
