OKLAHOMA CITY, April 19 – The Oklahoma Hall of Fame will launch its popular Summer Thursdays Free Family Fun series of events on Thursday, May 31, at 10:30 a.m.with a Summer Celebration that features many new exhibits and guest experiences at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum.
“As the Official Museum of Free Family Fun, we are proud to showcase four new exhibits that help us celebrate our mission-to tell Oklahoma’s story through its people”, said Marissa Raglin, Director of Museum Experience. “These exciting additions to our existing attractions will provide guests of all ages a chance to experience inspiring and impactful stories of Oklahomans in new and powerful ways”.
Summer Thursdays take place every Thursday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Starting at 10:30 a.m., guests can enjoy story time, feature movies, a craft creation, and special themed stations. Daily themes range from Cowboy Day to Hoops Day, and you can be assured to see and experience new and exciting activities every week.
The Summer Celebration on May 31st will not only launch the start of Summer Thursdays, but also showcase new museum amenities. The line-up of new experiences provides immersive interaction with Members of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and inspiring connections to the impact of art in a community. New museum features are highlighted below:
NEW Makerspace – A permanent installation by Oklahoma City artist Kris Kanaly will be featured in the remodeled Makerspace on the second floor of the Gaylord-Pickens Museum. This amazing artist has created a bright and intricate work that represents all of Oklahoma and the images that unite us. The Makerspace also features new STEAM activities and hands-on creativity exercises. In addition, there will be an opening reception for this space, which is free to the public, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with an exclusive artist talk with Kris Kanaly at 6:00 p.m.
NEW Picture Yourself! – The third installment of the immensely popular Picture Yourself exhibit will feature interactive displays that highlight In the Cockpit, Energy and Superstar Spotlight. In Picture Yourself, you step inside the gilded frames of Members of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and create your own viewpoint of being a proud Oklahoman.
NEW Reveel.it Portrait Exploration – Using your smartphone, you now will have a chance to explore the biographies, photos, videos, and books of every Hall of Fame portrait in the building. This URL-based technology allows you to learn more about Members of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and dig deeper into the fascinating stories of these inspirational Oklahomans.
GRAND OPENING of IKBI – IKBI: Chickasaws and Choctaws Sharing Our Culture and History Through Art is the new exhibit in the Tulsa World | Lorton Family Gallery and will be on display from May 31st to September 22nd. In the Choctaw and Chickasaw languages, “Ikbi” means “to create”. The concepts of creation, identity, and culture unite in this gallery exhibit. Artists of both tribes implement various mediums to express their cultural roots and individual understandings of what it means to create. In this exhibit, Ikbi serves as a commonality for artists of many different backgrounds, practices, and mediums.
The Oklahoma Hall of Fame preserves Oklahoma’s unique history and promotes pride in our great state. Through each of its programs and the Gaylord-Pickens Museum, we tell Oklahoma’s story through its people. For more information about the Oklahoma Hall of Fame or Gaylord-Pickens Museum, visit OklahomaHOF.com or contact Jeff Jacobsen at jpj@oklahomahof.com, or 405.523.3208.
