opening night: february 12 at 5:30-8:30 pm
Exhibition Dates: February 12 - april 26, 2026
Step outside with your art with Cultivate: Art in Oklahoma Yards. Explore how your yard can support art and Oklahoma's native ecology. Play outside with Ruth Loveland to meditate in the mud, stand tall with Robert Babcock's metal sculptures, stoop low with Joshua Cook's recycled bugs, and smell the breeze with Mariah Menzie's olfactory work. Learn from our partners at the Oklahoma Native Plant Society how you can make your yard wildlife-friendly.
Cultivate invites visitors to rethink the everyday yard as a site for creativity, connection, and ecological stewardship. Through sculpture, sensory-based work, and immersive experiences, this exhibition highlights how art and native environments can coexist and thrive together. The exhibition encourages curiosity, play, and a deeper awareness of the landscapes right outside our doors.
Opening Night Reception
February 12, 2026 | 5:30-8:30 pm
Join us for the opening night of Cultivate: Art in Oklahoma Yards, celebrating the artists and ideas behind the exhibition. The evening will feature live music from the OKC String Quartet, creating a welcoming atmosphere to explore the gallery, engage with the work, and connect with fellow art and nature enthusiasts.
Interactive Elements & Exhibition Extras
Visitors of all ages are invited to engage more deeply with Cultivate: Art in Oklahoma Yards through hands-on and take-home experiences. An interactive paper wall featuring Oklahoma native animals will be available for families to enjoy throughout the duration of the exhibition.
A limited run of exhibition posters from Oscillator Press will also be available for purchase while supplies last.
Workshops & Artist-Led Programs
Organic Jewelry Pendant
Led by Robert Babcock
Saturday, February 28 | 1:00–5:00 pm
Explore organic materials and hands-on techniques to create a unique jewelry pendant inspired by natural forms.
Recycled Insect Sculptures
Led by Joshua Cook
Saturday, March 21 | 1:00–3:00 pm
Create sculptural insects using recycled materials while learning about sustainability, reuse, and the role of insects in local ecosystems.
Community Partners & Sponsors
This exhibition is made possible with the generous support of First United Bank and Oklahoma Native Plant Society. Additional educational resources and insights are provided in partnership with the Oklahoma Native Plant Society, helping visitors learn practical ways to make their own yards more wildlife- and pollinator-friendly.
Soundscape
The PlantWave is a device that converts the biorhythms of plants into music. The circuitry in the PlantWave is the same as that which is used in a polygraph machine. Using two electrodes placed on the leaves, it detects slight electrical variations in the plant. These signals are then graphed as a wave, which is translated into messages that determine the music’s pitch, rhythm, and other sound effects.
The music you hear was created using sound-processing and mixing techniques applied to PlantWave recordings of native Oklahoma plants. You can hear the biorhythms of a Black-eyed Susan, an Oakleaf Hydrangea, and Coral Honeysuckle (all favorites of local pollinators), and Mistletoe (Oklahoma’s state floral emblem). Listen closely, and you might also hear field recordings of birds, trees, and waterways taken right here in Norman, OK.
Cultivate: Art in Oklahoma Yards soundscape was composed by Nikki Krumweide, DMA.
Gallery Guide
Gallery Guide Downloadable PDF
Explore Cultivate: Art in Oklahoma Yards with our official Gallery Guide. This downloadable PDF offers insight into the featured artists, their work, and the stories rooted in Oklahoma landscapes, gardens, and outdoor spaces. Whether you’re planning your visit or reflecting afterward, the guide provides helpful context, artwork details, and a deeper look at the themes that shape the exhibition.
Click the image to open the Gallery Guide to enhance your experience and discover the inspiration growing within every piece.
Gallery Guide
Explore Cultivate: Art in Oklahoma Yards with our official Gallery Guide. This downloadable PDF offers insight into the featured artists, their work, and the stories rooted in Oklahoma landscapes, gardens, and outdoor spaces. Whether you’re planning your visit or reflecting afterward, the guide provides helpful context, artwork details, and a deeper look at the themes that shape the exhibition.
Click the image above to open the Gallery Guide to enhance your experience and discover the inspiration growing within every piece.
