20th Year for Art Society Art Show at Northwestern

February 24, 2023

Christa Evans (now Rogers) helps set up the first campus art show in April 2004 for what was originally named Student Advocates for the Arts. The name changed to NWOSU Art Society the next year.

Helena Plett (now McLaurin) works with getting the quilt entries ready for the first show on pegboard displays borrowed from the Woods County Fairgrounds.

The look and feel of the NWOSU Art Society Art Show has changed a lot from its first one in April 2004. Club members have worked on fundraisers through the years to purchase display panels and provide prize money for students. This year’s 20th annual art show is set for March 5-31 in the J.W. Martin Library and will be open during the library’s normal operating hours. The library will be closed during Spring Break March 13-17.

For 20 years, the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Art Society has welcomed current students, alumni, and current and retired employees to enter its annual art show. This year’s show is set for March 5-31 in the J.W. Martin Library in Alva and will be open during the library’s normal operating hours. The library will be closed during Spring Break March 13-17.

Artwork that has been entered into the show should be delivered to the library on March 1 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Hard to believe we’ve held this campus art show for 20 years now,” Angelia Case, academic projects assistant/media specialist and art society sponsor, said. “And, it all began because two students came to me in the spring of 2004 and asked for my help to bring the arts back to campus.”

Northwestern’s art program was suspended in 1987 when its long-time instructor, Don Bellah, retired. Seeing a need for art to be represented on campus, the two students -- Christa (Evans) Rogers, originally of Cherokee and now of Tulsa, and Helena (Plett) McLaurin, originally of Okeene and now of Laverne – went before the Student Government Association in the spring of 2004 and were able to have the club Student Advocates for the Arts approved. The name changed to NWOSU Art Society the following year.

The two students worked with Case, who earned an art degree from Northwestern, to plan the first art show within weeks of forming the club. Certificates were given to all the winners that first year, and prize money for students was provided by the Presidential Partners, what is today known as the Northwestern Leadership Trust.

“I remember feeling so proud of our first little art show with our borrowed peg boards from the Woods County Fairgrounds, never imagining it would grow and transform into the event it is today,” said McLaurin, who earned an elementary education degree from Northwestern in 2007 and a master’s degree in 2010.

The certified reading specialist added that one of the neatest experiences is being able to look back and realize her small contributions helped establish a Northwestern tradition.

McLaurin noted that Rogers, who attended Northwestern from 2002 to 2005 before transferring to eventually earn a law degree, is the person who should get credit for initiating the idea of the club and getting it organized. Rogers indicated that Case was the natural fit to be asked to be the club’s sponsor because of her degree and talents in art.

“Angelia is always an encourager,” Rogers said. “She has a natural warmth that students are drawn to and is personally an incredibly gifted artist. She inspired many of us with her work and was always willing to impart her knowledge and expertise. Her love of the campus is unmatched, and she was a mentor to so many before this group was ever founded. She is always generous with her time and talents.

“It’s incredible to see what the students have accomplished and how they have grown this exhibition,” Rogers added thinking back to its start 20 years ago. “The Case sisters (Angelia and Valarie) have poured so much into this organization and these artists. It’s so special how they have fostered a space for creativity and cultivated a unique opportunity for students to showcase their gifts and find common interests with others on campus.”

McLaurin and Rogers still have an appreciation for creativity since their days with the campus art club and have turned it into leading and helping others.

McLaurin now serves as the marketing/outreach consultant for Parkview Pointe Senior Living facility in Laverne and is part of a group working to convert their assisted living facility into an intergenerational one by adding a much-needed child care center to the building. She also is president of the Laverne Area Chamber of Commerce and has played an active role in writing and receiving several grants to start the community’s Made In Oklahoma store Collective Roots and establish the Collective Roots Incubator Kitchen.

Rogers earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma and currently is the vice president for client engagement at WatersEdge, formerly The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma.

“I am so proud of Christa and Helena, not only for what they are accomplishing today, but for getting this club started,” Case said. “I’m also thankful to all of the club members who have carried on the traditions of the group and helped with fundraising through the years.

“Putting on an art show takes many hours of planning as well as raising the necessary funds to purchase display panels and provide prize money to students,” Case added. “The Covid years really hurt our fundraising efforts, but thanks to the SGA as co-sponsors of the art show we can continue to provide prize money to students.”

So after 24 years with no art presence on campus, a “small but mighty” group of students changed all that with the start of a club. Eight art shows later, an art minor was announced as being established thanks to a generous donation from the Wisdom Family Foundation, and classes began in the Fall of 2011. At that time thanks were given to those who had been diligent in keeping an interest in visual arts alive.

Four different art faculty members have been a part of the program since the minor returned, and now after 36 years with no major, Case said she is thrilled that courses leading to a degree in visual arts will begin in Fall 2023.

“I’d like to think our club played a small part in keeping the arts alive on campus so that this major could become a reality again,” Case said.

“So many good things have happened because of this club. So many friendships have been made. So much growing by us all.”

For more information about the art show, contact Case at (580) 327-8577 or arcase@nwosu.edu. For more information about majoring or minoring in visual arts, contact Lars Roeder, assistant professor of visual art, at (580) 327-8108 or leroeder@nwosu.edu.

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