Since Josh and Amanda Stout, owners of the RedFork Arts Foundry Tulsa, purchased The Sky Gallery, a gift, souvenir, and art shop at 1401 E. 11th St., Tulsa, the business has flourished. The shelves and walls of the store are filled with a variety of artistic, unusual Route 66 and Oklahoma-themed two- and three-dimensional art objects, souvenirs, and gifts.
Josh Stout created a festive design, “Route 66 Tree Farm Christmas,” on a black T-shirt, which was for sale at the store. Additionally, his paintings of animals, such as buffaloes, deer, or wolves, stand out due to the use of contemporary techniques and methods in art.
The Tulsa photographer Liz Cousins, who also works as a shop assistant at The Sky Gallery, creates collages by combining photos, vintage newspaper prints, and iconic images of Oklahoma and Route 66. She even incorporated a map of Route 66 going through multiple Oklahoma towns in a collage with a green and blue background.
“I started my art adventures in 2005 when I was a portrait photographer,” said Cousins. “But only in 2020, stuck home during the pandemic, I began to play with collages.”
“I go to garage sales and buy old travel guides, vintage magazines, and paper,” she added. “I cut parts of the magazines and glue the images into my collages.”
Both Josh Stout and Liz Cousins are self-taught artists. Jezz Strutt and Kris Potter are two other remarkable local artists who make Route 66 and Oklahoma souvenirs from clay.
Pottery by Jezz displays hand-made ceramics at the gallery, such as vases, plates, and ornaments. Route 66 black and white logo and Sooner State map-shaped ceramic ornaments could be a great idea for someone’s Christmas tree.
Jezz Strutt came to Oklahoma from England in 2001. She set up a home studio in Sand Springs, Okla.
“I always enjoyed getting my hands dirty, from making mud pies as a youngster, to my love of the land with a career in dairying and then having a passion for gardening,” Strutt said. “It only seems appropriate that I would continue with the earth theme and explore the art of ceramics.”
The artist declared that her aim is “to create one-of-a-kind pieces that will be treasured by the recipient for a lifetime.”
Kris Potter owns Salt Prairie Ceramics. His ceramic cups with Route 66 logo, as well as other pottery pieces, make a great impression on a store visitor.
Myers Campbell does colorful drawings and prints of Route 66 attractions in Oklahoma, such as the Blue Whale in Catoosa, and others. In addition, the artist specializes in drawings of homes on demand.
Overall, 90 Oklahoma artists are on The Sky Gallery vendor’s list. The gallery is an important part of Route 66 Meadow Gold District in Tulsa. It is an unforgettable experience to visit the shop where the ceiling is delicately painted as a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.
