Q. How did Cat Castle start and how has it evolved since its early beginnings?
A. Cat Castle started as an art retreat in rural Oklahoma. We have since moved our home base from a ranch in Ramona to the Kendall-Whittier neighborhood of Tulsa. Our first retreat was an experiment, and through the invitation of Resonator, we followed our second retreat with an art show in Norman. At our third retreat, we introduced cardstock squares for the communal drawing table as a way to collect and easily display the experiments of our time together. The squares ended up being the most interactive element in the show that followed, with visitors able to hang up their creations alongside those already displayed. We remain conscious of aesthetics, but are now primarily concerned with the creation of interactive elements that give a space for everyone who comes to one of our openings to be a part of what the show means.
The communal drawing square installation.
Q. Can you elaborate on this year’s theme and talk a little about the contributing artists?
A. This year's theme of Love Letters To Everyone will be a colorful, interactive experience. The installations that will make up the show will be a collaborative process between several members of our group traveling from Tulsa, one from Brooklyn, and those in Norman.
Q. What influences have shaped Cat Castle over the years?
A. Some of our inspirations include: potlucks, art parties, and Common Field, the arts organization + artists-run space network.
Artist Felix Blesch (Tulsa) installing Cat Castle’s ever growing collection of communal drawing squares in Resonator for the Norman 2nd Friday Art Walk on Feb. 14th.
Q. What kinds of art and activities should people expect to encounter on 2nd Friday Art Walk?
A. Some of the activities the show will include will be a community drawing table, light + video projections, crafting spot where people can add to a group yarn project, an anonymous love letters area where guests can write a letter or take one, and maybe more - depending on what happens during our collaborative install taking place on the days before the opening!
Coloring pages for Cat Castle designed by artist Ian O’Hara (Brooklyn). Color one and post it to Instagram; don’t forget to tag it @catcastleart !
Q. What are you excited for this year after Cat Castle’s show dates? Do you have other shows or personal projects lined up?
A. After this show, we are excited to start preparation for our fifth annual Summer Art Retreat in Tulsa this July. We finally feel ready to start applying for collaborative show opportunities out of state, where we could travel as a group to work together with local artists.
Cat Castle Retreat, Tulsa 2019.
Q. What haven’t I asked you about Cat Castle, or anything else connected to the show that you’d like to share?
A. Making art is valuable work and working another job to support making art is still being an artist. This is the space where we exist. The space where each of us continues to weave the things we love to do into our everyday, where art belongs to everyone & can be a thing that brings people together in approachable, meaningful ways. You can find us on instagram @catcastleart
Artists Floyd Hinman and Abby Burton (Tulsa) make pom-poms inside Resonator in preparation for Norman 2nd Friday Art Walk on Feb 14th. The installation stays up until Friday, Feb 21st.