Two professional photographers give their insight on photography
Story by Camryn Sturgill - Features Editor
   Grayson Gregory, a senior at the University of Tennessee, is a self-taught photographer. Gregory says he has always enjoyed taking pictures and making videos with his family, but his knack for photography did not turn into a hobby until 2017, when he bought a professional camera. 
   “There was nothing that specifically got me into photography or cameras in general,” Gregory said. Over time, I just had a desire to capture moments of my life at a higher quality than I had before. Something about the whole creative process was just extremely entertaining to me and it still is.” 
Although Gregory experiments with many different types of photography, he mostly enjoys taking landscapes. 
   “I usually like to be outside taking pictures and videos in nature. I get such a desire to go out and see the world from nature photos, especially in the mountains. I don’t hate doing portraits or more professional photos, but it definitely doesn’t bring very much excitement to me,” Gregory said. 
   Gregory now uses a Sony A7-III to capture his masterpieces. The Sony A7-III is a professional camera often used by travel photographers because of its compact size. 
   Gregory enjoys taking photos and videos when he travels. He said his best memories and photos are from a trip he took with friends in August 2019. They visited the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado where they looked up at the tallest dune and decided they would not leave until they made it to the top. 
   “It took so much longer than we thought, and I felt like just falling over and passing out,” Gregory said.We eventually made it to the top and the wind was blowing insanely hard, like seriously hard. We were there for a long time and watched the sunset there, which was incredible. The whole trip was amazing for us and it was definitely the best trip I’ve taken so far.” 
   Gregory credits his friends and family for supporting his photography and video skills in a way that builds him up and allows him to make more creative decisions. 
As far as inspiration goes, Gregory named Ryan Resatka, Garrett King, Josiah Gordon, Stevin Tuchiwsky and Daniel Ernst as people who have insired him. 
   Gregory does not consider himself to be a professional photographer, but others may disagree when looking at his work. Either way, Gregory remains humble and admits that he still has a lot to learn. 
Gregory’s advice to those who are interested in photography is lighthearted, yet motivational. 
“Just get out there and do it,” Gregory said. “No matter what you use for your camera, just go take some pictures. Nobody picks up a camera and is a pro from the start. It takes some time and the only way to really do that is by taking a lot of pictures or videos.” 
   At the other end of the table, some people decide to take their love for photography to the next level and turn it into a career. Kenneth Beachler has done just that. 
   Beachler is a professional photographer as well as Rose State’s official photographer, he also went to Rose State. He has been in the photography field for 26 years. Beachler attended a vocational school for photography and eventually graduated from the graphic design program at University of Central Oklahoma in the Beachler’s job as a photographer has opened the door for many opportunities. 
   “Photography has afforded me travel to places I may have not had a chance to go,” he said. “For instance, I was flown to Hawaii to photograph a wedding. Also, I’ve been able to photograph people like Lewis Black, Martina McBride, Rex Linn, Shirley Jones, Anthony Bourdain, Brian Regan, and more.” 
Beachler uses a Nikon D810 DSLR camera at work, but for his personal projects he uses a Nikon D7500. 
   “I used to use Canon DSLRs. I switched because using Nikon cameras over the last 11 years with Rose State has made them more comfortable to me. Canon and other brands are great, I just simply feel at home with Nikon now,” Beachler said. 
   Throughout Beachler’s 26 years of experience, he has learned many useful tips and wanted to give a bit of advice to beginners. 
   “Have fun,” he said. “Utilize your own personal imagination and creativity, and then learn how to make that image in your mind coalesce through traditional or digital means. You’ll have fun, learn more about the craft, and have a final image that is uniquely you.” 

By Payton Hayes  
Contributor  

   In fall 2019, Rose State students enrolled in Dr. Suzanne Thomas’ mural class met with Pablo Barrera from Oklahoma Contemporary to discuss their new location and public art project, Making Space, where fence line murals decorated the construction site of the new building. 
   I was one of the students who went to see the murals in person and learn about Oklahoma Contemporary’s vision for their new location and continuation of the mural series in the future. Barrera has numerous plans for Oklahoma Contemporary in 2020. 
   Barrera said that through this series, he has observed Oklahoma City and neighboring towns have a wealth of artists waiting for an opportunity to showcase their artist abilities. 
   “I have also come to admire Oklahoma City’s spirit of collaboration, and I have learned that we are ready for the types of conversations these underrepresented voices carry,” Barrera said. “We are giving artists a chance to share incredible perspectives, but we are also giving the city a chance to appreciate the complex, wonderful diversity that makes Oklahoma City’s visual culture so special. These artists are making OKC beautiful, both literally and as a community.” 
   According to Barrera, “Making Space: Summer Mural Series” was designed to support emerging artists through mentorship in order to expand the number of artists contributing to Oklahoma City’s visual culture.
  “‘Making Space’ reflects a new version of ‘Guerrilla Art Park,’ an annual exhibition of outdoor public art by Oklahoma artists, held in the summers of 2016, 2017 and 2018,” Barrera said. “The mural series shares ‘Guerrilla Art Park's’ goals: to showcase local talent, give artists an opportunity to grow and develop their skills and offer free public art to enrich downtown Oklahoma City. The series of murals came in two phases of three murals each, in June and September 2019.”
   During summer and fall 2019, Oklahoma Contemporary’s former space at the State Fairgrounds was closed in preparation for the move into their new building site this previous winter. This left a sort of “art vacuum” for the OKC area as Oklahoma Contemporary would not be able to offer exhibitions to the public during the months leading up to their move to the new site. 
   Barrera said they saw an opportunity to provide the public with free access to art, whilst supporting the local art scene by displaying a series of murals along the construction fence of their new location. 
   “In this way, our new home was able to provide art experiences for OKC before its doors even opened,” he said.
   The murals on display during the class’ visit, were done by mentoring artist Brooke Rowlands (with emerging artist Shakurah Maynard) and Kris "GERM" Ermey (with Jonathan De Luna), and  NiCole Hatfield, a contemporary and Native American artist, who draws her inspiration from old historical photographs of tribal women.    
   When I asked how long it took to complete each piece, Barrera said it really depended on the experience of the artists, the medium and the design. 
   “In the first rotation of murals this past June, Tank Ramirez and his mentee, Iliana Barrientos, finished their mural in a matter of hours during our Second Saturday Live Painting event,” he said. “Tank is an experienced graffiti artist, so he could have probably finished it much faster, but as a mentor, he was making sure to give his mentee, Iliana, many tips and opportunities to develop her skills.”  
      On the other hand, some of the murals took longer to complete because of family and work obligations. Barrera said they tried to accommodate the varying life contexts that artists come from. 
“Supporting emerging artists means maintaining enough flexibility to work alongside their lived realities,” he said. 
     Oklahoma Contemporary paired several artists with different styles and levels of experience to blend two art styles and form a cohesive mural, allowing the budding artist to step out of their comfort zone and play with styles under the guidance of the mentoring artist. However, this selection process was not random — the artists were intentionally paired off in ways that complimented their combined styles and played to their strengths, while keeping a wide range of mediums and techniques in mind. 
     Barrera said that they wanted to show styles side-by-side that complemented each other. 
   “We researched each artist’s color palette, preferred subject matter and aesthetic, then we created a short-list of artists that could work well within the scale of the painting surface and share powerful messages,” he said. “In choosing the mentors, we looked for artists that demonstrated or expressed enthusiasm about helping a new generation of mural artists to gain experience.”
  Barrera explained that after they’d done all of this, they then approached the selected artists to see who was available and felt strongly about participating in the project. 
     Both the mentor and the mentee artists can benefit from collaborating with each other, and in turn, the city also benefits from the increase of beautiful, public art. Barrera said this collaboration allowed experienced artists’ work to live on and provide emerging artists an opportunity to learn and grow under the guidance of the experienced artists.
 “Every rotation of murals saw artists trading tips and networking for future collaborations,” Barrera said. “Emerging artists were able to witness the power of mentoring, and experienced artists were able to see their art as part of an inter-generational process. I imagine that if artists continue to harness this spirit of collaboration, the projects will become more ambitious and far-reaching. Also, on a practical level, mural arts become sustainable as more artists share their experiences.” 
     Oklahoma Contemporary is interested in continuing the project after the construction is completed and the new location is open in March 2020. Barrera said that in light of the success of the recent mural project and positive response and excitement from the artistic community, they’ve decided to continue the mentor/mentee pairing for a new rotation of murals throughout the year. 
   “We are in the process of setting up a mural wall near our new art studio buildings hopefully before the closing of the inaugural exhibitions, Bright Golden Haze and Shadow on the Glare,” he said. “Oklahoma has a growing and thriving mural art scene, and we hope to support this exciting part of our city’s artistic landscape.”  
     In addition to their continuation of the mentor/mentee mural series, Oklahoma Contemporary is willing to collaborate with other construction projects to integrate more artwork throughout the OKC area.
 “We will always help Oklahoma City celebrate and support art in all its forms, and we are happy to lend our experience and expertise in realizing such projects across our communities,” Barrera said. “Our Curatorial and Exhibitions Director, Jennifer Scanlan, is involved in the Oklahoma Public Art Network (OPAN), which helps both artists and organizations work through the public art process.”  
For more information, visit the OPAN website and Facebook page. 
Oklahoma Contemporary will open the new arts center Folding Light, designed by architect Rand Elliot and built by Smith and Pickel Construction, to the public March 13. 
The 54,000 square foot (10,000 square foot renovated) building sits on a 4.6-acre campus at NW 11th and Broadway in Oklahoma City and is home to a main gallery, classroom studios, performance spaces, community lounge, café and outdoor spaces. Folding Light was named so due to the way the metal exterior will reflect Oklahoma's ever-changing sky and breathtaking horizons. 
Oklahoma Contemporary raised more than $23 million toward a $30 million Capital Campaign from more than 200 donors. These funds will support the new site’s construction and opening-year programs – ensuring that admission to exhibitions remains free for all ages. 
Once the new facility is open in Spring of 2020, it will become a new cultural resource for Oklahoma City and the surrounding areas.
“This is a rare moment in the history of the city, and we want everyone to be a part of this major achievement,” Barrera said. “Oklahoma Contemporary expects the new location to be a hub for artistic experiences of all kinds and an event space for the city that is like no other. Tickets for the 21+ opening event are on sale now for $150.00 each and can be found on the Oklahoma Contemporary site.”
The event will offer early access to the art exhibitions before they open to the public, exhibition-inspired cocktails, a variety of hor d’oeuvres, live music and other events. 
According to the Oklahoma Contemporary website, the event is providing a world-class facility for exhibitions, performance and education and a breathtaking addition to the OKC skyline. It will become a “creative commons,” a place for our community to gather, create and experience art. Arts education programs will encourage youth and adults to find their own creativity and learn new skills through classes and camps across multiple disciplines. 

The Arnold Palmer Cup is a collegiate golf event hosted by the Golf Coaches Association of America, in conjunction with Arnie’s Army. The Ryder Cup-esqe event features 48 of the best American and International collegiate golfers. Along with the growing popularity of collegiate golf, the event is growing too, but it still flies under the radar of even the most hardcore golf fans.   
   In 1997, the GCAA approached Arnold Palmer about creating an event that showcased the best collegiate golfers. The event originally took eight of the best male golfers from the United States against eight of the best from Great Britain & Ireland. The inaugural Arnold Palmer Cup was hosted at Bay Hill Club, Mr. Palmer’s home golf course. In 2003, the event expanded to encompass not just GB&I but the entire continent of Europe. In 2010, the Arnold Palmer Cup expanded to 10 American men vs 10 European men. Last year, the event grew once more to include the best collegiate women and broadened to include the entire world.
   Former APC participant, University of Oklahoma and 2018 Team USA head coach, Ryan Hybl said, “I had a phenomenal squad… If you fast forward 10 years from now there will probably be some Ryder Cuppers, President Cup guys and potentially some of the same pairings that we used (in 2018).”
   The list of alumnus from the event are long and prestigious. Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, the list goes on. 122 competitors have gone on to earn their PGA, European or LPGA tour cards. 57 Arnold Cup players have tallied 228 victories worldwide on the PGA and European Tours including seven Major winners. 28 APC players have been selected to Ryder Cup teams.
   Although women were introduced into the event just last year, the impact that the 24 women have made over the past year is awe-in-spiring .
   Jennifer Kupcho, a Wake Forest senior and 2018 APC Team USA member, won the inaugural Augusta Women’s Amateur Championship held at Augusta National (the site of The Masters). Runner up at the ANWA, Maria Fassi was a member of the International team in 2018.
   In the LPGA’s first major of the year, the ANA Inspiration, a total of four APC alum made the cut with Kristen Gillman finishing tied for sixth.
   Susan Rosenstiel, University of Alabama Assistant Women’s Golf Coach, said ,“It’s an exciting time in women’s amateur golf... The addition of some television coverage is now drawing viewers from all over the globe to see what the future of golf holds.”
​

   The inclusion of women into the event proves as a win-win to all parties involved.
   Ireland native and Arizona State junior, Olivia Mehaffey says that the APC is, “ ...a huge moment for female amateur golf...     It really puts our sport on a higher podium.”
  With the event playing mixed matches, both the men and women get to compete with each other, often for the first time in a tournament setting.
  “Playing mixed matches was such a fun experience. I know who many of the girls were on my team but I don’t think I had ever been able to play with any of them before. It was fun to see to get to play with some of the best women’s golfers in the world,” said Brad Dalke, an Oklahoma senior and a 2018 Team USA member.
  “We don’t get to play with the men very much,” Mehaffey said, “getting to see their game was very cool and very impressive!”
  The selection process of the teams is based off World Amateur Golf Rankings as well as two coaches’ picks. This allows the APC to be one of the most elite golf events in the world, showcasing 48 of the best amateur golfers worldwide. There is simply no other golf event at the amateur level like it. The most comparable of golf events would be the PGA Tour’s World Golf Championships. There are four WGC events a year and exclusive to golfers ranked in the top 64-100 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
   Although, the competition is what grabs the public’s attention, the core of the Arnold Palmer Cup is to carry on Mr. Palmer’s legacy and keep the values that he brought to the game of golf alive. Since Mr. Palmer’s passing in 2016, the event has ensured that each golfer chosen understands what they must do to live up to Mr. Palmer’s expectations that he held himself and others to.
   Three-time APC participant and Texas A&M senior, Chandler Phillips said, “Mr. Palmer’s legacy means so much to how I go about everything in life. Everything he said was most important in life and how people to remember you.”
Mr. Palmer’s legacy is paramount to the event as the event continues to share the values he carried on and off the course throughout his life. The sentiment of what it means to be named a part of the APC resonates with everyone chosen.
   “I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Palmer a few times at Bay Hill and for what he represents, the love of the game and the love of people, I would always cherish those moments . So, being part of his legacy at the APC in Evian was one of the highlights of my career,” TCU assistant and 2018 International assistant coach, Adrien Mork said.
Oklahoma State sophomore and 2018 APC Team USA member, Matthew Wolff shares the same opinion: “Mr. Palmer’s
legacy is something that very few golfers can even come close to. We all look up to him as a role model and someone that
you should try to be like on and off the course.”
   This years Arnold Palmer Cup will be hosted by The Alotian Club, just 30 minutes Northwest of Little Rock,Arkansas June 7-9. The event will feature competitors from six continents and 20 countries. USA will look to improve upon their 12-9-1 record and retain the Cup for a second straight year.
​
For more information and tickets go to arnoldpalmercup.com

​Story & Photos by Madi Zick, Chief Multimedia Editor
​

   Winter is almost here. Temperatures have already dropped below freezing this season. Thousands of people die each year from winter related car accidents and more than 100,000 are injured each year. Snow and ice are to be expected during Oklahoma winters.
​

   Below are a few tips to keep drivers safe on snowy or icy roads this winter:
​
• Keep ice scraper and Deicer in your vehicle.
• Do not pour hot water on iced windshield, This could shatter your windshield.
• Spray deicer on your car door handles if they're frozen in place. Pulling on then when frozen can shatter plastic handles.
• Drive slow. Driving fast on icy roads can make you lose control on your car.
• Keep a cell phone with you and make sure it is fully charged in case of emergencies.
• People driving long distances to visit family should be aware of the weather conditions ahead of time and inform family and friends expecting them of their planned route and arrival window.
• Do not use cruise control when driving in slippery conditions.
• Avoid driving under difficult conditions when possible.
• Do not follow other cars too closely. Give yourself enough space to brake.
• Keep at least one blanket and phone charger in your vehicle.
• Bridges freeze faster than any other part of the road. Slow down when approaching a bridge.

Recipe by Michelle Rojano

Ingredients:
• Fresh Strawberries or any other berries of choice
• 1lb of Mexican sour cream, other types of sour cream may be used, but taste will vary.
• 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk


Directions:
   Wash all the strawberries.  
Optional: Cut off the stems of the strawberries and cut them into slices. The size of slices can vary by preference. Whole strawberries can also be used.
   Pour all of the sour cream into a large bowl.    
   Pour about half of the can of sweetened condensed milk into the large bowl with the sour cream.
   Use a whisk to mix together until thoroughly combined. Taste the cream mixture.
   Add more to taste if necessary. I personally use about two thirds of the can, but if a sweeter cream is desired, more can be used.
   Place the strawberries in a cup or bowl and pour desired amount of cream over.
   Enjoy.

Story by Michelle Rojano

Story & Photos by Courtney Carpenter

   Erin Logan, the chief conduct and Service Learning officer, came to Rose State in May 2017. She is currently a full-time employee and is enrolled at West Chester University where she will receive her doctorate in public administration. Logan and her husband adopted their son, Henry, a year ago and she loves watching him learn and grow. She has a busy life and the items in her bag are evident of that. Here is a peek at the items typically found in Logan’s bag:
Wallet: “I’m old, so I still carry a checkbook. My wallet is also Kate Spade, which I love. My husband actually gave me this wallet when I started here as a ‘congratulations on your new job.”
Textbook: “I had a chapter I needed to read today so I kept my book with me to read during my lunch.” 
Snacks: “Applesauce and an orange. I’m a mom. I have a 13-month-old so I have to have snacks at all times. The orange is for me though.”
Lip Gloss: “It is kind of ridiculous how much lip gloss I carry with me. I even have some on my desk.”
Pens: “They have to be this exact kind.”
Gloves: “I never use them.”
Business cards: “When I’m out, I ask people where they go to school and I try to convince them to come to Rose State.”
Junior League name tag: “I never know when I’ll need to represent the League.”
Journal: “Also Kate Spade.”
Ear buds: “I didn’t even know those were in there.”

Story & Photo by Madi Zick