OSU Museum of Art celebrates J. Jay McVicker, former OSU faculty member, in upcoming exhibition

Monday, September 10, 2018

The OSU Museum of Art will feature the artistic innovations of Jesse Jay McVicker (1911-2004), former OSU faculty member, through “Centering Modernism: J. Jay McVicker and Postwar American Art” opening Sept. 25 with a reception on Sept. 27.

A painter, printmaker and sculptor, McVicker earned a degree from OSU where he later was on faculty and served as chair of the Department of Art from 1959 to 1977. Throughout McVicker’s career, his works have been widely exhibited and can be found in major national and international museum and gallery collections.

“‘Centering Modernism’ is a reminder that OSU has a long history of art making, with incredibly rich and innovative artists on the faculty,” said Louise Siddons, curator for the exhibition. “The story of Oklahoma’s role in American art history is often lost. This show of McVicker’s work starts to tell that story.”

The exhibition highlights McVicker’s modernism, a representation of the contributions of Middle America to contemporary American culture. McVicker’s work draws inspiration from the local Oklahoma landscape, demonstrated through the experimental scope of paintings, prints, sculptures, sketches, photographs, drawings, contextual material and ephemera on view.

 “Centering Modernism,” along with its related programming, focuses on community participation. Programming includes artist panel discussions and opportunities for community members to come together and share their personal knowledge of the artist.

“I am hoping that this is a starting point for community members to join and tell the stories of Jesse Jay McVicker,” Siddons said. “I aspire to rescue and preserve the knowledge and memories of McVicker, as he was a strong and influential component to this community and postwar modernism as a whole.”

“Centering Modernism: J. Jay McVicker and Postwar American Art” is on view at the OSU Museum of Art from Sept. 25 through Jan. 19, 2019. An opening reception celebrating the exhibition is scheduled for Sept. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. All events are free and open to the public. Learn more at museum.okstate.edu.