Review: Canadian Artist Writes an Astonishing Book on Russian Folk Art of Zhostovo  

 Despite the cold relationship between the United States and Russian governments, the cultural exchange between the countries never stopped. One of the bright contributions to the process of mutual understanding was the how-to-book, “Decorative Painting Zhostovo Style,” by Heather Redick, a Canadian artist.    The book was published by North Light Books in Cincinnati, Ohio, in…

Reporter’s Notebook: Chaika Hotel Preserves History of the Early Days of Cosmonautics in Kazakhstan   

Kazakhstan, a republic of the former Soviet Union, became a cradle of world cosmonautics in the 1960s. Cosmodrome “Baikonur,” a Soviet spaceport, opened there in 1955. All Soviet space missions of the 1960s -1980s had a beginning at “Baikonur.”    Yuri Gagarin, the first male-astronaut in the world, completed his legendary flight into outer space on…

Review: The Juneteenth Festival Celebrates Culture with Fashion, Businesses, and Music 

Juneteenth, sponsored by Tulsa Juneteenth and the Tulsa community, was celebrated June 13-15. The annual event features music, arts and crafts, and food. Held in the Greenwood district, the regional event attracts tens of thousands of individuals from in, around, and outside of the city.   The event’s significance this year was to recognize the day…

Review: Oklahoma Pastel Society Hosts Annual Exhibition  

A Vibrant Contest Awes with Beauty The Oklahoma Pastel Society held its annual brightly colored pastel art exhibition at a reception, where members displayed their artwork at the Tulsa Community College’s McKeon Center for Creativity.   The contest was judged on “creativity, originality, composition, color, value, shape/form perspective, and how did the subject communicate meaning to…

Review: Purple Rain 

Prince’s Magnum Opus Celebrates 40th Anniversary at Circle Cinema  I have seen “Purple Rain” many times over the years, starting with its premiere in 1984. There was a fever going on for the Purple One back then that really took off with his breakout album “1999.”    Loaded with bangers like “1999”, “Little Red Corvette,” and…

Review: Starlight Jazz Orchestra Kicks Off Summer Series with ‘A Certain Kind of Swing

Imagine this: A group of individuals from different ages and walks of life come together to play some of the most beautiful pieces in jazz music for an audience as unique as the performers themselves.   The Starlight Jazz Orchestra celebrated its 78th session of free concerts, kicking off the first of their eight summer…