Oklahoma high school students are displaying artwork at Gilcrease Museum September – October in conjunction with the Oklahoma Arts Institute’s Tour de Quartz exhibition. Artwork featured in the Tour de Quartz exhibit was created during the 2019 Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain (OSAI), a prestigious arts academy held every June at Quartz Mountain Arts & Conference Center. The exhibition features photographs, prints, and drawings and will visit galleries and museums around Oklahoma.

During their time at OSAI, students are immersed in one of eight artistic disciplines taught by nationally renowned artists. Former faculty members include winners of the Pulitzer Prize and the Academy, Tony, Emmy, and Grammy awards. Visual artists José and Cynthia Rodriguez served as drawing & painting instructors for the 2019 Institute, and renowned photographer Kurt Markus instructed photography students.

This past summer, drawing & painting students received in-depth training in oil and water-based printmaking processes. 2019 photography students were given a specific assignment—they were each assigned a random partner within the OSAI photography class and given instructions to focus their two weeks at OSAI capturing portraits of their partner. The 2019-20 Tour de Quartz exhibit reflects the students’ OSAI experience, with each student artist represented by one piece of artwork.

Students are selected for OSAI through competitive statewide auditions, and every accepted student attends the program on full scholarship. Auditions are held in January and February at locations across the state. For more information, visit oaiquartz.org.

The Oklahoma Arts Institute is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1977, with a mission to provide exceptional multidisciplinary arts experiences that develop individual talent and inspire a lifelong passion for the arts. In addition to the Summer Arts Institute, OAI administers a series of continuing education workshops for adults every fall.