Fowler Arts Education Award mural featuring Douglas Elder of Firehouse Art Center

The first annual Fowler Arts Education Award will be presented to the Firehouse Art Center and executive director Douglas Shaw Elder during the Norman Arts Council’s ONE fundraiser on Saturday, March 31.

Fowler Volkswagen sponsors the Fowler Arts Education Award, which aims to recognize those who improve children’s art education opportunities in Norman in an extraordinary way. The jurors for this award included Richard Taylor, Dean of the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts; Chuck Thompson, President of Republic Bank and Trust; and Susan Owen Atkinson, Urban Planner for the City of Norman. The jurors made their decision unanimously in early February.

“Douglas and the Firehouse go hand-in-hand; it so appropriate they are being recognized for their leadership in this way,” said Lauren Sonder, NAC education committee chair.

Fowler Volkswagen commissioned artist Scott Henderson to create a mural portrait featuring the Firehouse Art Center and Elder. The portrait will be painted on the south side of the Fowler Volkswagen building located at 591 N. Interstate Drive as part of a continuous mural devoted to outstanding arts education leaders in Norman.

Jonathan Fowler, general manager for Fowler Volkswagen, said new winners will be added to the mural each year.

“This mural will be a continuous thumbs up to educators who are making a tremendous impact on our community and an advertisement to the thousands of people who drive by every day that Norman is an incredible place to work, live, raise a family and enjoy the arts,” Fowler said.

Elder has been part of the fine arts community for the majority of his life. He earned his B.F.A. in drawing at Missouri State University and Post-Baccalaureate in painting at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He received his M.F.A at Boston University, where he taught, and then continued at the University of Oklahoma before joining the Firehouse Art Center in January 2007.

Firehouse Art Center, located at 444 South Flood Avenue, contributes to arts education by improving the quality of educational experiences for children’s classes. Elder started the “Creating with the Masters” series. The series uses master artworks to provide a thorough explanation on topics relating to the history of artworks, artists, museums, and artistic techniques. Elder has also organized Firehouse Art Center’s partnership with Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and Sam Noble Natural History Museum. The partnerships give children the opportunity to visit and be exposed to great works of art.

Elder has also initiated a set of art programs and projects in elementary schools. He introduced weekly art instructions designed in conjunction with schools’ curriculum. Schools such as Jefferson Elementary School and Monroe Elementary School have worked with Firehouse Art Center to improve their art programs.

Elder’s contributions to art education are not limited to elementary schools. He encourages other organizations to participate in the promotion of art and education. Under his direction, Firehouse faculties provides art education for the United Way’s Success by Six program, the KinderCare centers, the Center for Children and Families (CCFT) summer and after school programs, Boy Scouts troops and classes at the Norman Public Library. Elder inspired the “Green Wave,” a project that involves school children, teachers, artists and also, the mayor of Norman. Under his leadership, Firehouse Art Center received an award as a finalist in the statewide Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Contest.

As the executive director of Firehouse Art Center, Elder has expanded activities at the two established Firehouse Art Center events: the annual Chocolate Festival fundraiser and the Midsummer Nights’ Fair in Lions Park. As a member of the 2011 Creativity Forum Committee, Elder presented an interactive creative sculpture activity and created a mobile sculpture. This activity was co-sponsored by Red Dot Sculpture and was displayed at the entrance of the forum.

Elder is not only an administrator for his organization, but also a talented artist. He has a private studio where he spends most of his time working on sculptures. He is in the process of modeling a giant Rubber Duck sculpture that will be part of the Norman Public Arts Board’s Park Sculpture Project.

“The NAC is so appreciative to Fowler Volkswagen for sponsoring this exciting award,” said NAC executive director Erinn Gavaghn. “We are looking forward to the next few years of the award as there are so many individuals and organizations in our community that really go above and beyond for children’s arts education.”

For more information on the Fowler Arts Education Award or the ONE Event, please contact the Norman Arts Council at 405-360-1162 or by visiting www.normanarts.org.