When four longtime friends began meeting on Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were not only catching up on life. They were quietly planting the seeds for “Still,” an exhibition that would bring their shared histories, studio practices, and perspectives together under one roof in Tulsa.
“They’ve been friends for decades, and they started in basketry,” said Jolie Hossack, associate director of 108|Contemporary, 108 Reconciliation Way, in the Arts District. “They rekindled their friendship over COVID, meeting over Zoom, and that kind of gave them the idea to display their work together in this setting.”
The exhibition features artists Lissa Hunter, Jane Sauer, Jo Stealey, and Carol Stein. Each uses fiber-based processes – stitching, weaving, paper, cloth, and mixed media – to tell stories of objects, justice, daily life, and psychological landscapes.
Program Director Laurel Ryan said the group’s decision to exhibit together was entirely organic.
“The artists chose themselves,” Ryan said. “They are longtime friends and fiber artists who have worked together, learned from each other, and when our exhibition committee was looking to fill the calendar, this proposal had already been put forward by them as a collective. It was their idea to show together.”
Bringing “Still” to life came with challenges. Unlike the previous year, when all featured artists were Oklahoma-based and could work in the gallery space directly, this exhibition required navigating distance.
“They ended up with more artwork than we could actually fit in the gallery,” Hossack said. “We had to cut down a few pieces to make the exhibition work. That was tough, because you want to show everything.”
Jo Stealey, one of the artists, was able to be on site to help curate, but Ryan said such collaboration is not always possible.
“If you’re working with an artist who isn’t local or can’t be present, finding the right balance becomes even harder,” Ryan said.
Despite the hurdles, staff members said the exhibition offers something rare: a chance to feel stillness in a busy world.
“I think there have been a lot of people that have come in and gotten a sense of stillness,” Hossack said. “The objects and the way they’re arranged almost make you want to look at your own everyday objects in the same kind of artistic or appreciative manner.”
For Ryan, the hope is that visitors walk away with a more profound respect for the detail and craftsmanship embedded in the works.
“Even objects that seem like they were simply found on the street have been manipulated, placed, and thought through,” Ryan said. “My hope is that people notice the mastery and skill that goes into each piece.”
Gallery Manager Han Dinh said the exhibition also invites viewers to consider how one simple word, “still,” can hold multiple meanings.
“Even though it’s from four different perspectives, it’s still very comprehensive,” Dinh said. “Having people experience those different visions through the same term creates a broader appreciation of mindfulness.”
The exhibition presents challenges and rewards for 108|Contemporary, a Tulsa nonprofit gallery dedicated to contemporary craft. Unlike museums, the gallery does not maintain a permanent collection; instead, it rotates exhibitions every two months, emphasizing handmade work such as weaving, basketry, carving, and mixed media.
“We’re not a typical, conventional gallery in the sense that we represent artists,” Hossack said. “Our exhibitions change out every two months, so we don’t house anything permanently. The shop is different – it features artists annually – but the exhibition spaces are always rotating.”
Ryan added that this model makes the gallery unique.
“We’re primarily working with living artists. Our hope is to connect artists with people who want their works – whether that’s individuals, collectors, businesses, or museums. That’s what makes us different from a museum.”
The gallery’s shop further reflects this mission by highlighting handmade works from more than 20 local and regional artists each year, as well as in-house craft kits designed by staff.
“There are plenty of places that highlight locally made things,” Ryan said. “But I think we might be the only (ones) where every single object is made by hand.”
“It’s just a great way to highlight artists who may not have their own platform or opportunities,” Dinh added.
As for the exhibition itself, “Still” opened Aug. 1 and runs through Sep 20. A virtual panel discussion with artists is available on YouTube. For Ryan, Hossack, and Dinh, the hope is simple: that visitors slow down, notice, and appreciate what it means to be still.
For more information, visit https://108contemporary.org/event/still/.
