Meet Visual Arts Director Clint Stone

Q: When did you first become interested in the arts?
A: I have always been interested in art. Growing up in Oklahoma it is easy to be completely enthralled in the beauty of the setting sun's light reflecting orange and pinks on the evening clouds. I think it was moments like this and a constant desire to figure out how things worked that drove my interest in art. For me art is a vast field that incorporates my favorite interests: science, history, and storytelling.

Q: What does your job as Visual Arts Director entail? How is it valuable to the people of Oklahoma?
A: As Visual Arts Director I am concerned with ensuring that we are doing all we can to share and preserve the all works in the Oklahoma Art Collection and Capitol Art Collection. The work in the Capitol Art Collection tells our story as a state through paintings and sculptures that represent our history, the events that formed who we are as a state, our natural treasures, our agriculture, our industry, and the people who have had an effect on our society. I help to ensure these works are accessible to everyone. I also work to protect these works from various elements so future generations can enjoy them, too. As new opportunities arise, I provide assistance in the commissioning of new work, as well as the exhibition of the works. The Oklahoma State Art Collection celebrates the diverse artists who have impacted our cultural tapestry. These are artists who may have risen to prominence on a regional, national, or international level, but whose ideas and techniques were influenced by their Oklahoma connection. The role of the Visual Arts Director is important because it assists in the collection, care, and presentation of these works of art which are not only items of stunning beauty but are also our stories.

Q: How does a work of art get accepted into the State Art Collection?
A: Possible art donations can be brought to my attention. These offerings will then be taken to the Oklahoma State Art Collection Selection Committee where they will be reviewed by the Committee. The Committee discusses the relationship the artist had with Oklahoma, the quality of work, the presentation of the artwork, and the conservation needs the work will require. The Committee generally aims to acquire only one work by each artist, and the work should reflect the artist's mature body of work. Because currently about half of the work in the collection can be displayed in the Betty Price Gallery, the Committee considers the care, collection and storage needs required by each donated artwork. The Committee and the Oklahoma Arts Council is not in a position to purchase work, therefore work accepted into the collection must be through donation.

Q: What goals have you established for yourself in your position with the Council?
A: I aim to increase the accessibility of these works to all Oklahomans and all people interested in our great state and its people. To do this I am seeking as much information about the work and the artists who created them. Essentially may aim is to collect all the stories that the artworks tell, the story of the creation of the artwork, and the story of the artists. Together these stories tell our continuing story of a state and as Oklahomans. I believe these stories are important and help us relate to these treasured works. These stories also help us better understand who we are and how our views were shaped by our Oklahoma experience. Overall, I hope to increase the accessibility of the work and increase our understanding and enjoyment of the collection. In regards to the Oklahoma State Art Collection, working with the Oklahoma Art Collection Selection Committee, we aim to increase the areas of the collection which may seem underrepresented. These areas include the functional arts, particularly pottery, as well as works in glass, photography, and mixed media works. We also aim to add more pieces to the collection from the 1980s and artists who have had great influence but are not yet in the collection. I also aim to curate more exhibitions in the Betty Price Gallery that help the viewer better experience how the artworks relate to each other and the visitor.

Q: Rumor has it, your other passion is wiffle ball?!
A: I love summer, being outside, and being among friends. Wiffle ball is the perfect past time for this. You can play with as little as two players or as many as you'd like. The plastic bat and ball make it relatively safe for people of all abilities. It is as much fun played in the backyard with the kids as it is played with your adult friends in the park, and plastic balls don't break windows. You don't need a lot of space or fancy equipment. Though one of my favorite things to do is to catch a ball game at the Brick, when that isn't an option a little wiffle ball is a good substitute.

Clint can be contacted at (405) 521-2039 or clint.stone@arts.ok.gov