PRESS

OCT 2024

FINding home

Luxiere Magazine

When Susan McCalmont needed a new gallery space, she came to Joy Baresel. Susan—who had opened a gallery after a 40-year nonprofit career focusing on historic preservation, education, arts and culture and creativity and whose educational background is in art history—wanted a larger space that would also serve as an educational and community gathering space for all creatives. With Joy's help, she found a beautiful 1920s ltalianate mansion near the Capitol, and opened 1515 Lincoln Gallery at NE 15th and Lincoln Boulevard. It celebrates its second anniversary in December.

"It was amazing working with Joy and sharing with her my dream of owning a space of beauty and community that featured visual art, as well as music, poetry and culinary arts," Susan says. "We looked at several spaces before finding 1515, and she guided me through the entire process—which can be arduous—with utmost professionalism, grace and kindness."

The gallery features exhibitions of contemporary artists rotating every six weeks (November spotlights Christie Owen, and the final 2024 exhibition focuses on Behnaz Sohrabian), as well as displays by 50+ consigned artists from around the world, plus monthly live music and poetry events and daily service at 1515 Bistro, a partnership with Buthion Fine Foods.

Joy is thrilled with the result. "I feel very thankful to have been able to meet Susan and be a part of such a beautiful business that has moved into a historic landmark, which can now be used with its best use, and one which builds the community around it in such a beautiful way," she says. "These are the places that make me proud of being in Oklahoma."

NOV 2024

sharing space for creation

405 Magazine

Just blocks south of the Oklahoma Capital sits one of the most diverse art galleries in OKC. 1515 Lincoln Gallery is housed in a historic home built in 1920, and will celebrate its second anniversary next month. Founder and curator Susan McCalmont has a long history in the art world, and recognized that the northeast side of Oklahoma City was lacking not only an art gallery, but a place where people immerse themselves in beauty and culture. "My concept is to have a place that feels like home," McCalmont said. "People walk into this space and feel comfortable. If someone has never visited a gallery before, they may feel intimidated. Here, I want them to feel like they can sit down and have a cup of coffee, listen to some music and enjoy beautiful art from around the world."

1515 Lincoln Gallery has two distinct gallery spaces on the main floor. The exhibition area to the right of the entrance features individual shows that change every six weeks, featuring a wide range of artists and works that reflect the depth of McCalmont's artistic connections throughout the state of Oklahoma and worldwide. Now through Nov. 30, Edmond artist Christie Owen's exhibition Outsider is on display. During the first week of each new exhibition, visitors can meet the artist either at the opening night reception held on Thursday or at a talk with the artist on Saturday.

The remainder of the main floor is gallery space with artwork hand-selected by McCalmont, which is rotated regularly as pieces sell She noted, "I have an eclectic mix of artwork both by deceased and contemporary artists from around the world. My hope is that people will find something they identify with and love. I want to encourage them to understand the value of original art created by artists.” Everything in the gallery is for sale-including the stunning furniture scattered throughout that allows visitors to sit and admire the ever-changing pieces.

"What sets us apart from other galleries in town is the mix of international artists with Oklahoma artists, with both older and newer art," McCalmont explained. "We have all different genres, time periods, and disciplines. I am currently working on adding more sculpture and ceramics to the collection." In an effort to make 1515 Lincoln Gallery more of a community space, the gallery also features dining: 1515 Bistro partners with Buthion Fine Foods, famous for creating La Baguette. Lunch is served Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, with wine and charcuterie available until 5:30 pm. Guests are encouraged to dine either inside the gallery or outside on the secluded patio.

McCalmont's goal is to enhance the community and embrace all forms of art; she hosts a monthly poetry event as well as a monthly live music event. There is a happy hour including live music 3:30-5:30 pm on Saturdays. Beyond the gallery spaces, the building has two rooms upstairs which are filled with art and can be leased for meetings or events. Fine art appraiser Scott W. Hale has his office on the upper floor of the building as well, and the professional team can assist with installation and curation for those interested in growing their personal art collections.

McCalmont has created an artistic space for all. "My background is in art history, and I have collected art for a long time,” she said. "When I retired from non-profit work, I was trying to figure out what to do in this era. We had moved to this part of town and I felt like it needed a tangible place for the community to be surrounded by art and culture. My whole life has been about encouraging people to pursue their own creativity.”

JULY 2023

Portraits of Greatness: Trailblazers of Civil Rights Exhibition presented at 1515 Lincoln Gallery

Oklahoma City Herald

On Thursday, July 6, from 5-8 pm, 1515 Lincoln Gallery will open a unique exhibition of work, Portraits of Greatness: Trailblazers of Civil Rights by Daniel Edwards. The exhibit is a 3D-printed survey of sculptures that were created from Edwards's life studies over the last 25 years.

"It's is amazing how history has an impact on children", said local civil rights icon Ayanna Najuma about Edward's work. "For some it is a specific event, for others it may be the political composition that laid the foundation to tell stories, and then there are those that want to know who were the leaders responsible for setting tone and making the major decisions related to ensuring that there was equity and equality in America. These are three ways that children have embraced issues in society that we find ourselves reading about today." Najuma will lead an intimate conversation with Edwards and the community about his work on Saturday, July 8th, from 1-2 pm at the museum, which is located at 1515 N. Lincoln Blvd.

Knowledge around equity and equality has been presented in books and films; however, as a younger child growing up during the Civil Rights movement, Edwards, now a California-based artist, found that many galleries and museums were lacking racial diversity in presenting artistic expression on this subject matter.

For Edwards, situations, issues and challenges of life were the beginning of utilizing his years of studying art which led to his creation of approximately 50 sculpture portraits of living pioneers from the Civil Rights Movement. "It's important for Oklahoma City to see the leaders that have made a difference in society," said Susan McCalmont, the gallery director. "We recognize those that have made a difference in Oklahoma City and around the country. As a gallery, it is our mission to educate and empower the community on the importance of becoming contributing members of society through art."

1515 Lincoln Gallery is committed to being a vehicle for growth as they present the work of engaging artists from around the world.

JUNE 2023

GEORGE OSWALT SHOW IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, FOR ADULT AUDIENCES

The Oklahoman

An artist whose large oil canvases 'ask questions' — and that may be an understatement — is showing through July 1 at the 1515 Lincoln Gallery. The artist, George Oswalt, was born in Oklahoma City in 1949. He is a painter, songwriter and art critic, as well as a full-time artist. We see a man lying on a bed, a towel over his mid-section, as a dog eyes the head and shoulders of a glamorous blonde turned away and shedding a single tear in one large oil painting at the show. Noting that his work represents a 'hybrid of nature and society,' Oswalt calls this challenging 42-by-56-inch work 'Dagwood and Blondie, 2022.'

Challenging, too, is his 'Prisoner of a Dream … Wish Kiss Diptych.' In it, one painting depicts a woman's chained, bare foot by a piece of cloudy blue sky pie, while the other portrays one figure chastely kissing another's cheek. Also visually enticing is 'Hang Time,' in which a woman in a black swimsuit swings over another woman in black, diving into wave-tossed waters. As if that weren't enough to make us suspend disbelief, other elements include a man's head in the water, a hanging statue, and an airplane overhead.No less surreal yet well-painted and realistic is his oil of a woman leaping towards a ball, and another female embracing the lower part of a nude statue at a children's park.

Presiding over the oil, called the 'Fragmented History of Beauty,' is still another woman, this one in a turquoise dress and wearing mirror reflecting glasses. Notable works in a side gallery room include a nude woman, a red horse jumping, and a reaching hand, seeming to search for their identity in a lush garden of children's toys. Equally mysterious is an oil by Oswalt called 'The Beauty and the Beastly Midnight Flow.' In it, a brunette female in turquoise clasps her hands beside the more crudely painted dripping face of a man or circus clown. Reflecting some of the contradictions between realism, surrealism, pop art and post-modern art, Oswalt's solo show is highly recommended, at least for R-rated 'mature audiences.'

Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information, call 405-593-1063 or go to www.1515lg.com.

DEC 2022

THE ART OF COMMUNITY

Architectural Digest

EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN - OKLAHOMA

There was a time when people of all backgrounds would gather in artistic collectives to discuss the latest ideas in art and culture. It’s with this in mind that Susan McCalmont and the team at 1515 Lincoln Gallery (formerly Objets Trouvés) have renovated an elegant 1920s home into a gallery designed to satisfy the community’s creative curiosity.

“We’ve created a salon environment where artists, musicians, poets, and guests can gather,” says McCalmont, founder. “This is a space designed to bring a sense of warmth and peace as guests meditate and mingle over glasses of wine.”

Influenced by her background in art history, McCalmont’s selections come from more than 50 artists representing a myriad of styles, decades, and cultures all melded together in a single setting. A brass Indian table may be placed next to Dutch paintings and Japanese furniture, allowing visitors to focus on the pieces that speak to them rather than fixate on a singular artist.

Though the art is enough of an attraction on its own, McCalmont believes that connection cultivates a deeper appreciation of the environment. To accomplish this, the home’s living spaces were converted into galleries laid out to encourage diverse interactions with friends and strangers. Whether an art collector, historian, or an inquisitive passerby, visitors will find the gallery is a place to celebrate creativity.

“Art shows the importance of beauty in our lives,” McCalmont explains. “It’s a representation of how we see the world, and, in my opinion, the world is a beautiful place.”

DEC 2022

numbers, language and images tell new stories at 1515 Lincoln Gallery

The Oklahoman

When one thinks about creativity, many think of poetry being written or a composition of musical notes on a piano or possibly a painting on an easel. Each presents a story and an opportunity for individual, and in some cases collective, expression. It is a known fact that exposure to art and culture helps to create the essence of who we are.

Where does this story begin? For Susan Shaw McCalmont, founder of 1515 Lincoln Gallery, it began as a child growing up in a small town in Virginia. She started to unconsciously develop a road map for her life. Through the study of art history and social studies, she was able to recognize how culture relates to the development of our civilization, our communities. As chief executive of Kirkpatrick Foundation and the founder of Creative Oklahoma, she was able to use her knowledge of art and her people skills to motivate others to share their talent while becoming contributing members of society.

“I’d always had an appreciation for history and architecture, and as I walked around the historic building at 1515 North Lincoln Blvd., I immediately felt a sense of harmony and balance. I knew that this was the perfect space for bringing people together for human interaction and to have an exceptional artistic and cultural experience” McCalmont said.

To bring the progressive balance to the Classen North Highland Parked neighborhood, the work of two Oklahoma—based artists, Paul Medina and Sheridan Conrad will be exhibited at the soft opening of the 1515 Lincoln Gallery at 6 pm Dec 8. The opening exhibitions titled “The Spaces In Between” and “Nature’s Cathedral” feature sculptures, painting and jewelry art forms. These are two different bodies of work that allow the viewer to personally interpret the stories presented by the artists from the past, the present and what one may consider the future.

Medina’s “Spaces In Between” presents work from his new series by using unknown materials and tools and allow the viewer to envision and interpret the imagery through his unique evolutionary process. This unique process pushes the viewer to explore a new composition of work.

Conrad gives the viewer a view of humanity that she feels can only be expressed in nature. “Nature’s Cathedral” reminds the viewer of the significance and importance of the beauty of nature and the tranquil essence of what that environment provides us.

What makes this new space more than a typical gallery is the energy expressed in hosting nationally recognized artist Nathan Lee as the inaugural artist-in-residence, as well as introducing the work of 50 consigned artists from around the world to the Oklahoma City community.

After being confined during the pandemic, 1515 Lincoln Gallery invites its neighbors and the community to enjoy the art, have conversations over coffee and dessert and experience the energy that allows creativity to grow in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City is in store for an amazing addition to the art world.