Douglas Elder might be new to the Norman community, but Norman isn't new to him. The new executive director of the Firehouse Art Center, who literally was unmasked to the community Friday night at Firehouse's old style Parisian carnival chocolate gala, has done his research.

Although the Saint Joseph, Mo., native still has trouble getting around the city, he knows exactly what he wants and where he wants the Firehouse Art Center to go.

"Everyone has been so friendly since I've been here. And so helpful. I think what we've been doing is great, but we also need to involve more ... community members," Elder said. "And so by doing additional classes, trying to bring more kids in, I'm very interested in working with the local art teachers to give them a place where they can come and get back to their roots, so to speak."

Elder went on to talk about his plans for incorporating every segment of Norman's population, from retirees and trades people to children and troubled teens. The man who only has had a job in Norman since Jan. 10 already is advancing on one idea -- a sculpture barn "over somewhere by the stadium" where everyone from carpenters to mechanics can feed and cultivate their artistry skills.

"We're building community. There's no reason to exclude anyone," Elder said. "I really want to sell the idea to everyone that art should be fun. You should have a good time."

Elder is optimistic about his and the Firehouse's future here, but that outlook doesn't come from thin air. His resume includes a degree in drawing from Southwest Missouri State and a degree in painting from Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

He also earned a master's degree in sculpture from Boston University and worked for six years as a teacher and professor, four of which were full-time, at Boston University.

"I started off as a technical associate, someone who is managing the budget for sculpture and making and training people on the table saw and all that kind of stuff," he said. "I lucked out because I started teaching a couple of classes and people liked me. So I've been teaching full-time at BU both core drawing, core sculpture and all of the really nasty classes you can hurt yourself on -- stone carving, wood carving, welding, woodworking, all of that bad stuff. It was a lot of fun. I love teaching, I love it. I'm missing it now. I really miss my students."

When Elder left Boston he was working on connecting BU art students with Harvard University as a venue to show the results of their passion. He met Colin Powell, a four-star General then, while stationed in Atlanta with the U.S. Army.

The hiring committee at the Firehouse Art Center, 444 S. Flood Ave., made up of Mark Ledbetter, Liz McKown and Mandy Haws, thought Elder had much to teach the Firehouse and Norman community about the arts.

"The board and the committee wanted to find a candidate with a combination of skills," Haws said. "We were looking for someone who could work with artists, students, volunteers, sponsors and the community who would fit easily into the FAC and Norman communities. Someone who could give us a vision to take the Firehouse to the next level as a community art center."

Janet Johnson, FAC board president, said when Danette Ward resigned Sept. 15, the board put together a committee to search, review, conduct phone interviews and personal interviews to find the top three candidates who would interview with the whole board. "A lot of time and effort was put in with this group," she said. "They did an awesome job and should reap all the praise."

Equipped with the board's trust and each committee member's own hiring experience, Haws, Ledbetter and McKown worked day after day for several weeks sorting through more than 40 applications to find the top three. Haws said each of the candidates were very strong and would have fit in their own way into the Firehouse.

"Doug stood out because he exceeded our criteria in almost every area, has a true passion for art and the arts, has a strong art education background and quickly created a vision to utilize current community resources and improve and grow the Firehouse," Haws said. "We are really looking forward to getting him out and about in the Norman community because we are all very excited for everyone to meet and work with him."

Elder said he will want to eventually bring teaching back into his life, maybe at the University of Oklahoma, but until then he will enjoy focusing on his role as FAC executive director.

"The military and working through academia and the university helped prepare me for this because teaching at the university you're always looking for places to show your students' work," he said. "All that academic work really fits in here. Our mission is really taking a lead in Norman in the arts and serving the community. As a teacher, as a professor, I really felt that my job was serving the students, giving them what they needed, and also looking out for their future, too.

"Setting up good partnerships is always difficult. Selling that will be much easier in Norman."

Melissa Morgan 366-3544 lifestyles@normantranscript.com