Artist Statement: The idea of “Learn and Play” was to have two works merging together to tell a complete story of the area. “Learn” tells the story of the location by illustrating the trolley that gave rise to the neighborhood, as well as the unique and historic architecture that lines the streets in the area. I decided also for “Learn” to include Ralph Ellison, the iconic international novelist who was born in Deep Deuce and lived in OKC, and I discovered many locals were not familiar with him. At some point, he lived on the northeast corner of the Classen Ten Penn neighborhood. Blacks were not permitted to live in the neighborhood, but his Mother was a housekeeper, and they lived above a garage at a white woman’s home. “Play” tells the timeless side of the story, depicting groups of children in the act of “play”. The children are flying kites and running in the open spaces outdoors at the park. Each artwork is one side of the same wall – one wall with two different stories being told.
Nick earned his BFA and M.Ed. from the University of Central Oklahoma and his MFA from Kansas State University. He is currently the Creative Director at Createco Studios, as well as an active practitioner in the Arts. Nick works with a wide variety of clients and is always looking for new projects that need creative solutions. His award winning mural work can be seen throughout the walls of the state of Oklahoma.
Nick can be contacted at 405-210-7971, or at [email protected].
His studio website can be found at www.createcostudios.com