IMPACTING OVER 100 STUDENTS EVERY YEAR, THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM EXISTS TO TRANSFORM STUDENTS’ LIVES THROUGH ART AND TO PREPARE THEM FOR A DYNAMIC ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL FUTURE.

Each month of the school year, Oklahoma City Public School students visit Artspace’s studio to create, learn and experiment with art. With the help of our Education Director and local artists who serve as program mentors, this free program prepares Oklahoma students for a future of possibilities through an interdisciplinary art curriculum. We incorporate art history, theory, and contemporary art trends into the curriculum, prioritizing an active dialogue and participatory atmosphere. The Mentorship Program takes into consideration our 21st century context of digital media and visual culture. 

The Mentorship Program does not replace the classroom. This program started as ARTSPACE’s outreach efforts to schools to provide students an experience beyond traditional academia. We connect young minds to a flourishing art community in Oklahoma City and beyond. Entirely free to students and teachers, this program is funded through ARTSPACE’s resources and generous community support. 

Students participate in activities like printmaking, woodblock carving, digital media, and preparing art works for the annual Mentorship Exhibition and Steamroller Print Festival. These two events provide extraordinary exposure for students, connecting them to a larger art community. 

The Mentorship Exhibition during Youth Arts Month in March showcases exemplary works from students with a formal exhibition in all ARTSPACE’s galleries. Students learn how to frame, hang, light, and write about their works, while receiving vital exposure in the juried exhibition.

The Steamroller Print Festival each spring features the printing of student and local artists’ large-scale wood block works. This festival is a community block party in collaboration with downtown Oklahoma City businesses. During each festival students interact with art professors, college students, and professional artists while helping in the printmaking process. 

Kai Gregory

outstanding senior

ARTSPACE at Untitled is pleased to announce our youngest graphic design intern, Kai Gregory. Kai attends Northwest Classen and is in her Senior year. She has been participating in the Mentorship Program for three years and has won several awards, including Best Print in Show during the 2022 Mentorship Exhibition. Kai is a talented and motivated young artist, and we are pleased to have her working within our space.

ARTIST BIO

“Although I live in the city, I did not begin there. I grew up in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and later lived with my grandparents in Bethal. During my freshman year, the pandemic struck, and my grandfather died shortly after. I moved to Oklahoma City to live with my mom after his death, and soon after, I lost my older brother. During this extremely challenging time in my life, I was able to turn to my teachers and mentors. Art has allowed me to express feelings I otherwise had no outlet for. I am more than grateful for the opportunity that ARTSPACE has provided, and I hope to learn more about graphic design and its uses that can apply to my future.”