Lively Beerworks will host an inaugural two-day juried art show November 5-6

Chamber Member Lively Beerworks is providing the venue for a two-day juried art show in celebration of local artists and their work. This is the first ticketed event of this size that Lively has hosted at their facilities at 815 SW 2nd street, just a few blocks southwest of downtown OKC.

If you have yet to visit Lively, it won’t be difficult to find. Their building is large and purple, with their logo painted tastefully in pink on the side. They have a colorful and welcoming space, mimicking the vibrant look of their beer cans and merchandise. The Lively brand inspires joy with its aesthetic, and the personalities and community-driven focus of their team serve as perfect complements.

The Lively Show is hosted in collaboration with Rally, LLC, an artist-led initiative. Over two evenings of fun, music, and beer-drinking, the Lively production area will be transformed into a professional art gallery. The community is encouraged to join in and come together in support of the arts for this inaugural event, which they plan on making an annual offering.

If you’ve been to Lively Beerworks, you may have noticed the rotating art shows hosted in their taproom. Long before this show was planned, Lively demonstrated consistency in promoting local artists through welcoming them into their space to exhibit work for two months at a time. One of the upcoming show’s organizers and jurors, Josh Vaughn, has played a significant role in supporting the curation and implementation of this rotating art exhibition. When he and his friend Marissa Raglin began discussing the potential of hosting a juried art show, Rally was formed, and Lively Beerworks eagerly decided to stand behind them as a partner in supporting their dream.

“I began talking to Marissa about it because I’d never done a juried art show like this before, but she had,” said Vaughn. “She’s a go-getter and this is one of many things she’s good at putting her energy into.”

A couple of months ago, a call for entry was opened, and local artists were encouraged to submit up to three pieces of work to be considered for the show. They received more than 100 entries from a variety of established and emerging artists. Between 50-70 pieces will be selected for the final exhibition, and unlike the two-month long taproom shows, this work will be shown exclusively for two nights.

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“This show is really Lively’s vision. They wanted to do something that celebrates the local art community and pours back into it, giving them a venue to show and lower a lot of the barriers,” said Vaughn. “We had people submit that are very established artists and some that are still making great work, yet don’t have a website and are just getting started. We see this as a great opportunity for artists of all experience levels to showcase their talent.”

Ebony Iman Dallas, Marissa Raglin, and Josh Vaughn make up the show’s jury. They each bring a unique perspective to the scene in evaluation of the entries. Dallas is a fifth-generation Oklahoman and second-generation Somali American. Her work was recently shown at Chamber Member Oklahoma Contemporary in the We Believed in the Sun exhibition, alongside well-known photographer Ron Tarver.

“Seeing all of the amazing works created by artists in OUR CITY makes me so proud!” said Ebony Iman Dallas.

Raglin is known for her collage and mixed media work, and she is currently a resident artist at Studio Six in the historic Paseo Arts District. She co-founded Rally, LLC with Vaughn, who works at the Chamber as a graphic designer and is an award-winning artist, nationally exhibited photographer, writer, and curator. All three jurors are dedicated to supporting the arts in Oklahoma City.

“Seeing all of the amazing works created by artists in OUR CITY makes me so proud!” said Ebony Iman Dallas. “With so many phenomenal submissions, this was a difficult decision indeed and I hope to see more opportunities like this in the future for artists to shine.”

One “Curator’s Choice” award will be chosen from the juried entries and will be featured on the can of an upcoming Lab Series one-off beer created by Lively Beerworks.

The event will happen over two evenings on November 5 and 6 from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. at Lively Beerworks. Tickets cost $12 online and $15 at the door and include admission to the show, live music, and a pour of Lively core beer. The Curator’s Choice and honorable mentions awards will be announced Friday night and the Viewer’s Choice Award will be announced on Saturday at 9 pm.

You can purchase tickets online here. Stay updated with the show on Instagram through @rally.up.okc and @livelybeerworks.

About Lively Beerworks

Lively Beerworks is a Brewery that came from a love of beer and a love for our Community. Located in downtown OKC at 815 SW 2nd Street, Lively Beerworks is a family-friendly (and dog-friendly) taproom in downtown Oklahoma City offering beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks.

Since 2019, their goal has been to make drinkable beer you will love, in a friendly space that feels like home. Find out more about Lively Beerworks online at www.livelybeerworks.com.

About Rally, LLC

Rally is an artist-led platform advocating for Oklahoma artists, creating unique exhibitions and events occupying unlikely spaces that introduce visual art experiences to new audiences. See www.rallyokc.com for full event details, calls for entry, and volunteer opportunities.