Rejects rule

A Tulsa gallery goes dumpster diving, finds treasure among the trashed

Paris, France 1863—masters of Impressionism like Pissaro, Manet and Cezanne walk away from the acclaimed Paris Salon, their masterpieces marred by a red stamp. Failures, every one. The works just didn’t quench the jurors’ academic and classical thirst. At Napolean III’s behest, they’re schlepped to his “Salon des Refusés,” or Salon of the Refused, a showcase of works rejected.

Fast-forward one hundred and fifty one years. Tulsa’s MEME Gallery, owned by the artists and husband-and-wife pair Lanette Clark and Joseph Buchanan, are showing trashed art in an exhibition that would flatter imperial clemency. Every work displayed at the Salon des Refusés, which opened Thurs., Jan. 9, was rejected by an Oklahoma juried show last year. 

When I visited the gallery, Clark pointed to two wildly colorful and energetic artworks on the floor, propped against the wall and ready to hang. They’re similar in color, subject matter, technique, and even size, one a moose, the other, a horse. Both explore Warhol-esque pop. Clark called the artists, Ann Shannon and Karen Lamb (the same artists who organized a duo show at the Oklahomans for Equality Gallery last month), underexposed.

Another artist featured in the show—he prefers to remain anonymous—confesses he’s running short on enthusiasm, momentum, places to show. His resume is suffering. He has struggled under the heft of the denial letters. Then he heard word of Clark’s show. There, his work has been carefully hung and displayed. For now, “emerging artist” remains his battle cry.

“Any chance to get our art out there is always welcome,” Lamb said. “The wonderful thing about a second chance for a rejected piece is there is always going to be a person that comes along that get wowed by it and gives it a home.”

“Salon des Refusés” continues through Feb. 8. Works of more than a dozen artists are on display, with media including assembled painted wood, watercolor, and ceramics.