Two New Exhibitions to Open at Lawton’s Leslie Powell Gallery

The Leslie Powell Foundation Gallery is proud to announce the opening of two new art exhibitions by regional artists John D. Rule and Krystal Solis.

Fashioning the West, by John Rule, will showcase various sculptures – as well as two-dimensional works – by the prolific artist from Minco, Oklahoma. A master in sculpture and leather work, Rule combines Western and Native subject matter to create uniquely identifiable art. Not only is the artist’s style instantly recognizable, but his approach to working narratively is a hallmark of his art. “I challenge my art to tell a story, creating a single moment in time, which must tell a story of what happened before it, and what’s going to happen next. That is what makes art exciting. Without the story, there is no art.”

Rule has completed six public monuments – including Down Stream Drifter at Oklahoma Community College in Oklahoma City – and has public artwork displayed across the country. He has been commissioned to create the official bust of Governor Kevin Stitt, which will reside at the State Capitol.

Dedicated to her brother, Raul. A. Solis, Growth: A Collection of the Past and Present explores the artistic development of artist Krystal Solis. A native Oklahoman and Hispanic American, Solis’s work explores the cultural background and its link to self-identity through various media, including woodwork, acrylic, glass, and charcoal. “I don’t like to limit myself in just one discipline, but prefer to be open to different practices and finding my own interpretation of materials.”

Solis resides in Duncan, Oklahoma, and is currently a student of art at Cameron University. Though still a student, she is already making a name for herself as an artist. In addition to being accepted into multiple art competitions, she also works as a live wedding painter and does commercial art for area businesses.

Both exhibitions will open on Saturday, 10 September 2022 with a reception from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served. As with all events at the Leslie Powell Gallery, this reception is free to attend and open to the public.

Beginning Tuesday, 13 September, these exhibitions will be viewable during regular gallery hours through Friday, 28 October 2022. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, from noon to 4:00 PM; it is closed on holidays.

The Leslie Powell Foundation Gallery is a non-profit organization whose mission is to celebrate and promote the arts in the Lawton community as well as Southwestern Oklahoma. The gallery hosts six art exhibitions per year in addition to lectures and musical performances. More information can be found at the gallery’s website, www.lpgallery.org, and its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/lpartgallery.