Gilcrease Art Museum, Tulsa, OK

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Late Spring 1998 my younger sister and I were in Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit and care for our mother  who, at age 84 years, had fallen and broken her hip.  We sisters vowed to re-visit some of the sites that were special to us and find some new places too.  The first choice was to stop at Swan Lake in one of the Tulsa Parks and enjoy the grace and beauty of the swans who resided there.  We were not disappointed;  however, I must say the grandeur of the park was not as powerful and beautiful as I remembered. 

Another day took us to Gilcrease Art Museum, http://www.gilcrease.org/, where we enjoyed the sites and recalled many of our wonderful memories. Quoting from their Art Education Outreach Program that can be viewed at their web site:

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"Gilcrease believes all students should have the opportunity to participate in programs that foster creative growth. With schools facing multiple budget cuts, arts organizations around the community are stepping up to meet the needs of thriving young artists in the area. That’s why Gilcrease has teamed up with JP Morgan Chase and The Barnett Family Foundation Award for Arts and Humanities to offer full-tuition scholarships for our week-long camp program.


"Applications are available for those who qualify. For more information or to receive an application, please contact the Director of Education/Public Programs at lanette-coppage@utulsa.edu or 918-596-2737."

During our the summers in the 1940s we were both able to participate in the Museum's summer art programs for public school children.  We were encouraged by what we learned and achieved while 
being surrounded by all that we could see.  Often in our guided tours there were many questions that were asked and answered. 

Again quoting from the Museum's home page: 

"Tulsa's Gilcrease Museum is one of the country's best facilities for the preservation and study of American art and history. The museum's charm, beauty and art collections draw thousands of visitors from around the world to the hills just northwest of downtown Tulsa for a glimpse into the past. Gilcrease Museum houses the world's largest, most comprehensive collection of art and artifacts of the American West. The Museum also offers an unparalleled collection of Native American art and artifacts, as well as historical manuscripts, documents and maps.


"Beyond the extensive Gilcrease collections and exhibits are its beautiful facilities and gardens. Themed gardens have been developed on 23 of the museum's 460 acres."

Our visit brought us much joy.  The art, the surroundings, the quiet placed to reflect were as powerful and exquisite as we both remembered.  We had so many enjoyable workshops, learning adventures and art experiences there that have stayed with us all of our lives since we left Tulsa.  Each of us still enjoy the impact that art, its culture, and the artists bring to us. Quoting from Wiki:  "The museum now houses the world's largest, most comprehensive collection of art of the American West as well as a growing collection of art and artifacts from Central and South America. The museum is named for Thomas Gilcrease, an oil man and avid art collector."

Memories do last; they do get better; and if you are fortunate, you can create them again in a different time period.  It is a joy to have your life enriched by your own experiences with art.

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Summer Days & Nights

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Like so many other places, we have experienced a "peculiar and unusual" Spring and early Summer.  Until yesterday the morning temperatures have been below 70 degrees with a soft gentle breeze.  This has meant that I, who do not like the heat, the dry wind or the sun can have a pleasant morning working in my garden. 

In 1937 while living in Tulsa, Oklahoma my parents began purchasing Iris from Cooley Iris Farm in Salem, Oregon and continued doing so through the end of WW II.  My mother purchased Iris from them until the mid 1980s.  My husband and I living in Salem, Oregon have bought Iris for our gardens from Cooley's Iris Gardens http://www.cooleysgardens.com/  since 2002.  We thank highly of their quality of plants, choice of colors and their wonderful service.  Being just a short distance from our home makes it a delightful jaunt to visit the grounds.  The beardeed Iris had beautiful, colorful and quite large blooms; however the green leaves and stems were damaged by the winds, the rains and consequently leaf rusts.  All of the plants were dug; discarded or kept.  Salem now has an organic recycling program so the discarding was quite easily accomplished.  The Iris that were kept were washed thorougly, trimmed, dried and dusted with Comet powder to aide in preventing disease.  The others were gifted to friends.  The re-plants have been in the ground two weeks and we are looking forward to next Spring's blooms.

Our Oriental Lilies are now (4) years old; they have mutated to a common dominant color and their aroma is still pleasant.  After their blooms are spent  they will be dugged, discarded and new bulbs purchased for planting in the fall.

Our goal this year is to move towards flower beds that are easier to maintain and flowers that are bright and colorful to view. 

Our garden gives us a great deal of pleasure.  I am contented when I am working in our garden and am aware of the peace and beauty that surround me.  Gardening is a great pleasure.

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