Local business promotes art: Crooked Roots partners with RSU Student Art association to showcase local artists
Mar. 29—Art is essential to the progression of humanity, Crooked Roots Owner Bailey Robison said.
This passion for let arts led Robinson to partner with Roger State University's Student Art Association to provide student artists with a place to showcase their work.
Robinson said after being gifted a portrait of her flowers from Tulsa Artist Pat Gordon, she recognized an opportunity to showcase more art.
"I thought, 'man, I really wish that we had more artwork in here'," Robinson said.
Robinson was connected with RSU's Student Art Association and President Bayliegh Fields. The two are working together to share art students' work inside the floral shop. They plan to highlight a different artist each month by hanging pieces on the inside wall of Crooked Roots and offering them for sale.
Robinson said through personal experience, she knows how difficult it can be for creatives to find a path to making a living off of their work. She said she hopes showcasing these artists will give them confidence and help them connect with the town.
Fields is the first artist highlighted and has four pieces hanging inside Crooked Roots, one of which has already been sold. Fields said members of the Student Art Association will submit work which will be voted on by the Art Departments faculty to decide which artist will be showcased in future months. She said she is excited for the partnership because it will get RSU students "off the hill" and into downtown Claremore.
"Bailey did us such a service by reaching out and working with us," Fields said.
Fields said there is an opportunity for more art in town.
"I love the art culture in Tulsa, like First Friday Art Crawl," Fields said. "I think there is an opportunity for something like that here in Claremore."
Fields plans to continue her education and become a teacher. She said being able to say she has had art sold in a store will help her career in the future. She said art has helped her learn to express herself.
Robinson said she believes COVID-19 showed a need for art.
"I think that the pandemic taught us a lot about the importance of the arts," Robinson said. "We bring joy and meaning and depth to the world. In a world that is so very heavily focused on work, work, work, pay your taxes, work more, art fosters deep conversations and makes you think about things in a different way."
Fields and Robinson are still working out the exact details, but Fields art should still be for sale for the next few weeks at Crooked Roots, 323 W. Will Rogers Blvd. Robinson said she hopes the partnership will become a permanent fixture inside her shop.
