By Kendall Brown
The Norman Transcript
NORMAN — Imagine a place where artists work together to create work and inspire one another. Free of unnecessary competition and animosity, the artists encourage one another to grow and expand, looking for connections and success for not only themselves, but each other as well. In this place, it’s not uncommon to see a designer and a screen printer, a photographer and a painter working together to achieve a common goal.
Are you imagining it? In Oklahoma City, what you’ve just imagined is now known as “The Society.” Newly formed by University of Central Oklahoma graduate Jerrod Smith, The Society is nestled in the heart of the Plaza District.
“You know, the word ‘society’ means just people coming together for a common interest,” Smith said. “The common interest here is that we’re doing work in a community of people that hold each other accountable.”
Brand new, The Society’s move-in date for artists is Monday, and a launch party for the public is set for Aug. 12.
The space The Society is held within is a unique one. A handyman as well as an artist by trade, Smith is renovating the space himself. Once he is finished, there will be several unique areas housed within the building. Smith will actually live within an apartment component housed on one side of the building.
In the middle are several studio spaces, which will function the majority of the time as work spaces, but during the Plaza District’s monthly art walk will also serve as exhibition space. And on the other end of the building is a large workshop space, which will hold a full shop of tools, as well as a loft containing more studios and a catwalk overlooking the space.
On top of all that, the building also contains a community laundry space, a full bathroom available to artists and a patio space for relaxation. It’s a level of hip, artistic living not often expected of Oklahoma City.
“The space is so flexible,” Smith said. “If a designer came in and said, ‘Look, what you’re doing is great, I love it, but it’s not quite the type of light I need,’ well, then, we’ll find a light. It’s a great platform for people that dream really big things and then see them to fruition with people that are going to help them make it work in a community environment.”
The idea for The Society had been percolating in the back of Smith’s mind for quite some time. He kept expecting a space embodying those ideas to pop up somewhere in the area.
As he said, it was simply too good of an idea not to. When it didn’t however, Smith took matters into his own hands. He located the perfect space, began renovating it and formed a website with an informational video and rental application.
It was a huge leap of faith. Luckily, it was one that has already begun to pay off. Rental applications have begun coming in, and Smith is still accepting more.
He does not have a set number of artists in mind necessarily, just the end goal of assembling a group of artists who work together well and are dedicated to producing art and supporting the artistic community they live and work in. Supporting the Oklahoma art scene and other artists is a value that’s important to Smith.
“I don’t want to move,” Smith said. “I want to support the community I’m in. I don’t need to move to a big city to make it work. I can do exactly what I want to do here. If we fling a door open for one of us, we keep it open for the rest of the group to try and give everyone the chance to be successful in what they’re doing.”
For now, Smith is busy finishing up the building renovation, promoting the space, sorting through applications and planning the launch party.
The party, which will be at The Society space, 1609 Blackwelder, will feature several local musical acts, including Jabee and Denver Duncan, a professional BMX rider demonstration, building tours and an afterparty within the space.
For more information on The Society, visit www.thesocietyokc.com.
