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 PASEO ARTS PRESS RELEASE |
Paseo Creativity Project Opening Reception
The Paseo Arts Association announces the completion of two new public art installations. The
proposed projects by artists Nick Bayer and Romy Owens were each selected by the Paseo
Creativity Project Committee to create a public art piece that encourages artists and students to
learn and create together. The exhibits will open with a reception from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. Friday
November 5th, at Paseo Art Space, 3022 Paseo, in conjunction with the monthly Gallery Walk in
Oklahoma City’s Paseo Arts District.
In collaboration with students from Harding Fine Arts Institute, a charter fine arts high school, Nick
Bayer has created a mural entitled “A Time to Pretend,” which is located on the rear wall of the
Rainbow Fleet Building at 3024 Paseo. Romy Owens collaborated with students from Edgemere
Elementary School to create a digital “Sanctuary,” which will be on exhibit at In a.k.a. Gallery,
located at 3001 Paseo. Nick Bayer’s mural will be a permanent installation, while Romy Owen’s
exhibit will be open to the public through December 2010. The Paseo Creativity Project was made
possible through the generous support of the Kirkpatrick Foundation. This is an educational and
community project designed to promote awareness of cultural significance in contemporary art.
The PAA initiated this project to foster creativity and education for children and adults.
Nick Bayer is an experienced mural artist who has been exhibited in solo and group shows
throughout the Midwest. He received his B.F.A. and M.Ed. from the University of Central Oklahoma
and then went on to receive his M.F.A. from Kansas State University. He currently works as the Arts
Coordinator and Gallery Curator at Redlands Community College. Collaborating with students to
create artwork comes naturally to Bayer, as he taught art at Harding Fine Art Academy in Oklahoma
City for the past 2 years. Explaining his mural for the Paseo Creativity Project, Nick says, “’A Time to
Pretend’ is a reminder to all not to lose their inner child and for those who have, a chance to regain
that endless creativity they once had as a child. The mural showcases that creative spirit children
possess in a way to embrace all generations; for some a sentiment of nostalgia, but with a
contemporary edge that captures the spirit of the youth today.”
Romy Owens is an Oklahoma City based artist who is known for her rich textural photographs
intricately sewn together by hand. After a decade working for non-profit youth organizations, Romy
spontaneously shifted her trajectory to pursue a degree in photography. She graduated from
Oklahoma City University with an M.F.A. in Photography in 2005. Since graduation, Romy has had
four solo exhibits, been in more than four dozen group exhibits, and has won numerous awards and
honors. The motive behind her Paseo Creativity Project exhibit is to teach viewers that art can serve
as a personal sanctuary. Students from Edgemere Elementary worked with Romy, learning digital
photography, audio recording, stop motion animation, digital and electronic technologies, and art
installation to create this sanctuary of art. The exhibit is set up like a cathedral, with narrative backlit
photographs lining the walls as would stained glass windows. The focus of the room is on a
projected digital mural and a monitor playing a stop motion video with accompanying audio. The
effect is a visually meditative experience.
The Paseo Arts Association is an organization dedicated to serving the arts and the community. It exists
to bring the visual arts closer to the lives of its community members. Through its education programs,
workshops, Gallery Walks, Art Market and Festivals, they strive to engage all segments of the
community and assist them in integrating art into their daily lives. The PAA hopes to further develop the
dialogue between artists, patrons, supporters, teachers, authors, collectors, and appreciators of art and
thereby foster creativity and the continuous improvement of the quality of life in our state. Their
mission is to preserve The Paseo, Oklahoma City’s vibrant living community of artists, as an historic arts
district and to enrich, educate, entertain, and inspire through the arts.
For more information contact the Paseo Arts Association at 405.525.2688 or visit www.thepaseo.com
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For Immediate Release
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Paseo Arts Association
Contact: Jo Wise
405.525.2688
E-Mail
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