On Sunday, March 27, 2022, countless citizens and veterans from Huntsville, Walker County, and the State came together to honor and dedicate the H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Memorial Museum’s Vietnam Wall Memorial.
Tara Burnett, Executive Director of the HEARTS Museum, began the ceremony by thanking everyone who played a role in establishing this great asset in our community. With a beautiful and (literally) monumental new background, speakers addressed the crowd. The colors were presented and placed along the wall, and a choir led us in the national anthem.
This Memorial, originally designed by Maya Lin for the DC Mall area in the nation’s capital, is an 80 percent scale model of what Americans now simply know as “The Wall.” It contains the names of all 58,000+ Americans who lost their lives while enlisted in the military during the Vietnam War, and it has found a home at the HEARTS Veterans Museum.
Ernest Bailes, our TX House member from district 18, expressed his admiration for Walker County and the Veterans who call it home.
As representatives of the City, Mayor Andy Brauninger and Joe Rodriguez read a proclamation that declared March 27, 2022, as H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum Vietnam Memorial Day. Mayor Brauninger expressed his gratitude for the H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum and their work to honor the veterans in the City.
Walker County Judge, Danny Pierce, read a declaration from the Commissioners Court thanking the museum for honoring those that served in the War.
Congressman Kevin Brady first addressed the men and women who served in the Vietnam War by thanking them for their service. He then read a prepared commendation highlighting the importance of the H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum and the work they’ve done for the community. Perhaps most notably, Congressman Brady stated that in all his time in office he has never met a county or city that honors and loves its Veterans more than Walker County.
Tara Burnett thanked the donors and partners responsible for the Wall with plaques to show the Museum’s appreciation. To conclude the ceremony, “Taps” was played following a 21-gun salute.
It was a beautiful, memorable, and moving ceremony, and on behalf of the LEAP Center, many thanks to the H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum for honoring those who preserve our freedoms.
With snow having had fallen the night before, the grounds of the Carnegie Museum of Art were covered in a white blanket. But this did not deter us, as we made our way to the entrance and noticed a few memorable outdoor sculptures, such as George Rickey and Henry Moore.
We were greeted in the gallery by a staircase with a beautiful, grand, and colorful Sol LeWitt art piece along the wall. The highly pigmented colors set the tone for the rest of the museum.
As we made our way through the “Working Thought” exhibit, Millicent, a docent, pointed out a few central art pieces to us. Millicent educated us on how all the art pieces in this exhibit came together by expressing the social inequities of labor and the economy, both past and present, between the museum, Andrew Carnegie, and Pittsburgh.
The first of the four was The Band Played the Night of the Johnstown an intricate art piece carved out of basswood by Aaron Spangler. Following was the Space in Between, made out of decommissioned patrol uniforms that were embroidered to tell the stories of immigrants and labor, by Margarita Cabrera and The Triumph of Labor by Andrea Bowers. The Triumph of Labor was a play on Walter Crane’s art piece since it was made from cardboard boxes and black marker to tie together labor movements and protests.
The next room we were led into, was filled with statement art pieces. Greek gods and goddesses overlooked the main chamber where people could congregate. However, we became quickly distracted by a single statue that did not fit the mold. It was much larger, was a bit blobby without defining features, and had enormous hands, which were holding a cell phone. The contrast between classic and modern was unsettling, and a little too close to the truth.
Morgan discovered a new favorite artist: Gustave Doré, a nineteenth French printmaker and artist…
…while also seeing some of her old favorites, such as Thomas Moran and Albert Bierstadt.
Our favorite section of the gallery would most likely be their regular exhibit with all the artists we are familiar with such as Claude Monet, Pissarro, and more.
On show was a famous waterlily painting by Monet of his flower garden in his home in Giverny. Monet is one of my favorite impressionists and his water lilies are one of his most famous collections even though they were made later in his artistic career.
Professor Yawn commented that this might have been the most expensive exhibit in the gallery, because of all the notable names such as Pissarro, Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir amongst others. These famous impressionists were revolutionary, since they painted landscapes and people as they saw them. They also changed the way art could be made through different variations of colors and how exposure to light affects them.
Erin had a chance to see her favorite artist, “her girl,” as she calls Georgia Okeeffe.
We got to see a different type of Piet Mondrian painting…
…having previously only been familiar with his geometric paintings.
We also saw a Pollock, which Professor Yawn likes, but we haven’t warmed to his work.
And echoing back to the night before, we saw a Warhol…
…and taking us back to Austin, we saw an Ellsworth Kelly.
We also had a chance to see an artist we have trouble remembering: Edward Hopper. Professor Yawn tells us he is famous, and he tries to explain some of the distinctive features of his work (green and blue tints; a theme of loneliness), but it has not yet sunk in.
On behalf of the LEAP Ambassadors, we would like to thank Millicent for the “tour.” This was our first time at the Carnegie Museum of Art, and we enjoyed our time visiting.
Cathedral of Learning and Pittsburgh Glass Center
Yvette Mendoza
As we drove through the frosty, white-covered Pittsburgh, it was impossible to miss the beautiful Cathedral of Learning. We braved the slight flurries of snow and made our way along the path to the Cathedral entrance, we got an even better view of the intricate details of the skyscraper. The height of the cathedral was amazing!
Not being able to pass the inside entrance was indeed a teaser as we looked inside from the door. To our right in the distance is colorful stain glass. We were fortunate enough to at least catch a glimpse of the enormously high ceilings. Although we got only to see a tiny part of the Cathedral of Learning, we enjoyed seeing the bit we saw.
While we didn’t get to see the Cathedral as fully as we would have liked, we did have another quick stop, but this time at Pittsburgh’s very own blowing glass center.
We encountered a small exhibit through the Pittsburgh Glass Center that incorporated different, fascinating glass-blowing techniques! One has applied a tryptic method, and others used the finest techniques to create thin glass that interconnects.
In addition to seeing a small glass gallery, we had the opportunity to attend a glass blowing workshop. Our glasssmith, Sam, left us mind blown at how he managed to go from what looked like a small bowl to a flat glass cheese plate! Each of us grew a great appreciation for glassblowers.
Each detailed step used to create glass artwork is very intricate and later leads to the breathtaking final product.
We were able to finish off our snowy day in Pittsburgh, by driving to a local theatre, which had commission a mural by Richard Haas.
Haas is of particular interest to us because he has done 15 murals in Huntsville. We’ve all seen his Fort Worth piece, but for the Ambassadors, this was the first we’ve seen of his outside of Texas.
Fallingwater
Yvette Mendoza
As the art of Pennsylvania flowed into our hearts, our last stop may be considered the best work of art we saw: Fallingwater, by Frank Lloyd Wright. This piece of architecture is not solely a home but a piece of art within the breathtaking natural surroundings. As we walked through the snow alongside a natural spring water stream, we were eager to see the notable home. As we approached, we heard the rushing water, and the closer we got, the more it was like a gift that couldn’t yet be opened. Then, at last, we were in complete amazement to see the light reflecting off the snow shining on the crystal-clear waterfall that flowed out of the home.
Frank Lloyd Wright was a renowned American architect who created Fallingwater for the Kauffman’s, a wealthy family with the largest department store in Pittsburgh. Edgar Kauffman wanted a home for his family that would act as a a getaway from the hustle and bustle of life. Kauffman selected the family’s favorite picnic spot, and it turned out to be not a bad “summer home.”
Wright achieved not only the vision of Kauffman, but also of what he thought would best reflect the nature. He planned for every rock and tree, how they were placed and how they grew. Through this knowledge and talent, he constructed a home that incorporated every bit of nature, creating an organic composition. Wright used a technique called compression and release, by which the narrow hallways lead to grand, open spaces.
Walking to the hidden entrance, you could see how Wright incorporates cantilevers from the outside into each room. With the primary goal of creating a space of comfort and gathering, he emphasized that the heart of a room is the fireplace. There would be Japanese-style seats around the fire closer to the ground and nature. Wright incorporated other parts of the furniture that were created to open out to have a larger seating space or more oversized buffet table.
Each room had exciting features, including the outside rocks being exposed inside the house. We were amazed by the interior and exterior design of the house, but we also encountered notable artwork from Picasso, Diego Rivera, and Tiffany glass!
Diego Rivera art work in Falling Water, Frank Lloyd Wright’s art work
Any homeowner might notice the lack of gutters on Falling Water. The circular edges of the roof allow for water to cascade from the roof, through drains in the balcony and into the river below.
The concept of falling water was incorporated within every part of the home. Specifically, the rolling sound of the water can be heard upon entering the family room, at the main house. At the third level, what would have been servant lodging, the water is almost impossible to hear. The staircases leading up to the top of the home replicated the cascading water movement. The design of the water flowing out of the home is seamless and left each one of us in shock of its beauty of connectedness. Wright created a house of unity and tranquility, and with that, the LEAP Ambassadors were beyond grateful to have been in the heart of Falling Water.
Dinner at Tsunami
Erin Juarez
We stopped for dinner at Tsunami, a ramen restaurant, after being on the road for nearly four hours. Nestled in downtown Frederick, MD, Tsunami was next to well-lit buildings with a nice view of their central shopping area.
We went over the menu after being seated by their polite staff to see what piqued our interest. We had shrimp and scallop pot stickers, spring rolls, and spinach and goat cheese dumplings to start.
Which were, of course, delightful. Our supper had everything from miso to chicken ramen, although one outlier order fried chicken–at a Japanese restaurant!
We still had room for dessert after finishing our meal! We had a croissant pudding and a crepe cake for dessert.
Our desserts weren’t our only treats: Victoria shared with us about law school, the LSAT, and just life away from home, a trove of information for us as spiring law-school students. It was a pleasant dinner, and we very much enjoy hearing and taking in advice from someone who has walked in our shoes.
After dinner we headed back to the car. Since the car was parked a few houses down, we were able to walk through part of downtown Frederick by the and admire the structure of the colonial buildings. As the night got colder, and everyone was so eager to get to Washington DC, we once again set our sights towards D.C.!
We learned a useful lesson today: Man Plans, God laughs! Our original plan was to place our lunch order well ahead of time so that our advisor could meet us once we landed in Pittsburgh. In this manner, we could drive directly to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kentuck Knob, so that we could get in before tours closed.
Our flight, however, was an hour late. So, we had to cancel Kentuck Knob, and go to our backup plan, which had, fortunately, been thought of in advance. The upshot was that we ate in the car. We ordered from the Mayfly Deli and wanted food that would travel well, so all the LEAP Ambassadors ordered chicken salad sandwiches, while our advisor had pepperoni and provolone, and Victoria had a prosciutto sandwich. The food was great! Even though we didn’t have a chance to eat for a couple of hours after, our choices from Mayfly held us over.
We even passed the first test of the trip: spotting the Giant Alexander Calder in the Pittsburgh Airport!
We were all surprised by the nice weather and did our best to savor the sunshine (as we soon learned it would not remain that way for long).
The Mattress Factory was located in a quaint, and seemingly vintage part of Pittsburgh, blended in nicely with the surrounding structures. However, the exterior of the contemporary art museum was where the similarities ended. The museum was divided into three different buildings, each one within walking distance of the next. While we traveled from building to building, the juxtaposition of the modest townhomes and brick roads, to eerie and dramatic pieces, became more pronounced.
The first building was dedicated entirely and stretched over three floors for one piece entitled A Second Home by Dennis Maher. Made from salvaged architectural items and various trinkets of everyday life, Maher combined each piece in a way that created a dynamic flow of the room. Some aspects of the “Home” were intentionally lit well to showcase its intracity, while others were nearly pitch black and nearly impossible to make out distinctive shapes.
Other exhibits included several representative pieces that took the form of projected images on what appeared to be cheesecloth or 3-D figurines placed in detailed manners around a central focal point.
In the form of viewing rooms, Artist Yayoi Kusama placed a focus on lighting and the use of polka-dots! The first room we entered was entirely made of mirrors, and was dark, save for the reflecting dots that appeared to move around the room. The illusion created by the mirrors added space to the room and created a sense that the room was endless.
In complete contrast to the darkroom and multi-colored room, we then entered a white room with red polka-dots covering the surfaces. This room contained three posed mannequin-like figures, also decorated in a white and red fashion.
We continued our tour with more viewing rooms involving light, but this time by an artist we all recognized: James Turrell. The largest of the rooms we ventured into was lit by violet/purple lighting. The concaved wall appeared to narrow as it moved backward. The darkest, and probably the most enjoyable of the Turrell light experiences began with a narrow hallway leading to a small viewing room entitled Pleiades. Some of us were able to make out the shape of the light, whereas others were not. We later learned that to properly view the exhibit, the viewer must wait fifteen minutes in front of the piece.
The Mattress Factory offered several new perspectives on contemporary art, and while I might have an answer to every “why” question regarding artistic designs and choices, the style and movement itself became clearer after our visit.
Ambling through the Andy Warhol
Erin Juarez
One of Pittsburgh’s famous sons is Andy Warhol. We had the opportunity to visit the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The museum holds the largest collection of his artwork and archival materials, ranging from drawings to sculptures and to taxidermized animals! It is also one of the largest museums dedicated to a single artist in North America, and it boasts an extensive permanent collection of art and personal archives from Andy Warhol.
The museum has seven floors. We followed the instructions from the young woman at front desk, took the elevator to the top floor, and began to work our way back down via the stairs. We were able to see Pittsburgh’s influence on the young artist, and how the city looked when Warhol was there. The seventh floor began with some Warhola family history (born Andy Warhola, he later changed his name to Andy Warhol).
Andy Warhol’s High-School Yearbook Photo
Even at the age of fourteen, the artists distinct voice is visible.
An Early Warhol Work, Completed at the Age of 14
The early art school sketches are shown on the seventh floor, not nearly as colorful as his more recognizable works.
Later in his career, Warhol found his niche. He enjoyed making ordinary objects the focus of his art and making them “pop” with repetition, bright colors, large size, and striking contrasts.
He was also known for his short films which were similar in that they oftentimes portrayed his subjects doing ordinary things on camera repeating on a short loop.
One small interactive part of the Warhol experience was a screen test area that is tucked into a corner of the museum and set up to look like Warhol’s silver film studio—so named because it looked as if the walls were lined entirely with aluminum foil. We hopped in front of the camera to try it out, but it quickly became clear that we lacked the on-screen presence of most of Mr. Warhol’s other subjects.
Another interactive experience that we enjoyed at the Warhol was the Silver Clouds. The piece consists of about a dozen pillow-shaped helium-filled metallic balloons hovering in a large, dark room. The balloons are filled with a proprietary mixture of air and pure helium which ensures that they will not all stick to the ceiling but will instead float around and hypnotize the viewer.
We were able to walk in and playfully bat at them as they floated around our heads. We were mesmerized.
On one floor we came upon a huge painting of Elvis fully decked out in western wear and appearing to be just about to fire the pistol he aimed at the camera. This was Victoria’s favorite piece. She mentioned to us that she’d had a huge crush on Elvis when she was ten years old, and so we all lined up and took a photo imitating his pose.
Morgan enjoyed a larger piece that included a composition of packing labels and was able to snap a nice photo of it!
Others enjoyed Warhol’s many works depicting shoes, particularly those that employed “diamond dust” to create a sparkly visual effect.
Yvette’s favorite area in the museum was the sixth floor which houses the museum’s archives. It was here that the more minute details of the artist’s life were spelled out to us. We were able to see some of his belongings such as his wigs, shoes, and his corsets.
The museum has several wigs worn by the artist, all in the same style and color. Mr. Warhol liked to wear one wig, and rather than have it cleaned he would simply replace it with another.
Warhol was shot during an attempted murder in 1968 by Valerie Solanas because she believed he was going to steal ideas from a manuscript she had sent him. After the attempt on his life, he had to wear corsets to help keep his internal organs in proper alignment, and these were also on display in the archives.
These accessories showed us some of the smaller, more intimate details of his life and we felt as if we might have known him personally after leaving the archive floor.
We loved The Andy Warhol Museum and enjoyed the vastly different compositions. The museum does a fantastic job showing the stages of his life and how he developed over time as both an artist and a person.
After ending up back on the first floor we spent about ten minutes meandering through the gift shop and then headed on foot to our next destination, dinner.
Dinner at Max’s Allegheny Tavern
Victoria suggested that we eat at an “old World” restaurant, Max’s Allegheny Tavern, and it was a good suggestion. We began with stuffed pretzels and pierogis, which were excellent.
We also did a good job of trying different entrees. Some were heavy on meat and sausage…
…well, actually, most of the meals were heavy on meat and sausages!
…but, for the most part, the meats were different. No clear consensus was made on which of the sausages was best, but the group generally did not care for liverwurst. When all of these calories were followed by even more calories in the form of dessert, then we welcomed the long walk back to the car–even though it was beginning to snow!
Every year since 2008, the Wynne Home Arts and Visitor Center has hosted “Empty Bowls,” a fundraiser that helps fight hunger in Walker and Madison Counties.
Supervised by Sarah Faulkner, the Cultural Services Manager for the City of Huntsville, the event promoted the arts, brought the community together, and raised more than $3,000 for Meals on Wheels.
And every year since 2008, the LEAP Ambassadors have volunteered for this event–indeed, it was a LEAP intern who was charged with creating the event!
But LEAP Ambassadors were far from the only ones to help: approximately 250 people in the community participated–working as ceramic teachers, volunteering the day of the event, sponsoring the soup, or simply by showing up and purchasing a bowl of soup.
Compared to the ceramicists and soupmakers, our tasks were simple: greet people…
…serve soup…
…help clean, and take photos–all while enjoying the art, the Wynne Home, and the company of the fine people who attended.
It was a great learning experience, and it was a bonus to see the beautiful bowls created by talented others…
including those created for silent auction (which our professor won!)…
… as well as the current exhibit, which are all pieces from the Wynne Home’s archives–ranging from works by Samuella Wynne to Richard Haas. And, of course, whenever we are there, we take additional looks at the Wynne Home’s permanent collection, such as works by Pebworth and Surls.
Many thanks to the sponsors, the ceramics teachers, and the many people who came out and helped make the event a success.
To conclude our trip for Oklahoma, the LEAP members attended a Segway tour! Our instructor Mr. Skip, began with refreshment courses for Yvette since she had already ridden a Segway. For Morgan, Erin and me Mr. Skip taught us how to move the Segway using our bodies by leaning forward and stopping by leaning back and keeping the Segway upright.
The beginning of the tour consisted of a visit around Bricktown. Mr. Skip informed us about the Sonic Headquarters, Cincinnati Park and Dodger stadium where we saw sculptures of many famous baseball players, such as Mickey Mantle!
Other parts of Bricktown included the first restaurants to ever be opened in the area, such as Chenlinos and Abuelos. Mr. Skip gave us a brief history about how businesses were incentivized to open in the area to encourage foot traffic and tourism. We were also fortunate enough to see one of the murals painted to resemble a timeline of the history of Oklahoma.
Leaving Bricktown, we rode our Segway’s fast and fluently towards downtown Oklahoma City. We were welcomed by the view of tall glass skyscrapers and modern architecture.
The LEAP Members followed Mr. Skip to a bridge crossing the main road. As we looked up, we were able to see a very large sculpture of a scissor-tailed bird. Other views of downtown consisted of the Marriot Garden, a skating ring, a large koi fishpond and a river walk!
Mr. Skip took us to the large bronze “Sooners” sculptures to end off our amazing tour. We were very thankful to have such an intimate and adventurous tour of Oklahoma City. The breath-taking views of downtown Oklahoma allowed us to witness the modern and contemporized infrastructure of the city, whereas historic Bricktown allowed us to travel back into the beginning years of Oklahoma.
Cattlemen’s Steak House
Erin Juarez
After touring Oklahoma City while riding on Segways, we found that we had built up quite the appetite. So, we decided to stop at Cattlemen’s Steak House.
We walked into the restaurant, and were greeted with an old-timey Western feel. To our surprise, the restaurant has been serving steak for one hundred years and continues to promote Western Folklore.
We looked at the menu to see what sounded appealing to each one of us. The restaurant had many options: burgers, steak, lamb, and more. For starters we chose lamb fries and onion rings. Yvette got a steak, and the rest of us elected to eat steak burgers.
After we tried the appetizers, Professor Yawn mentioned that the lamb fries were in fact lamb testicles. This made me a little uncomfortable knowing what I had consumed, but they were too tasty to not keep eating.
The appetizers were good to say the least. When we saw our meal making its way to the table, we became very excited. Who would have thought riding a Segway would be a workout? The steak was delicious and so were the burgers. Everything was appealing, and this was as good as a restaurant could be to try lamb testicles.
Overall, the food was amazing, and the service was fast. The restaurant provided a nice meal to end our journey through Oklahoma!
We were so excited to get there, so the LEAP Members dressed in weather-appropriate- hiking attire and headed out!
When we got to Lawton, Oklahoma, it seemed as though we stepped into a different time. The town of Medicine Park, right outside the Refuge, was founded in 1908 as Oklahoma’s first resort town. Due to the natural abundance of cobblestone, every building proudly displays this local feature in its design. Passing through Medicine Park was a great prelude to our visit to the Refuge as it properly set the tone for the trip.
As we begin the windy climb up Mount Scott, our thoughts were of what the view might be like when we reached the top.
We were amazed by what greeted us as we made the final bend onto the top of the mountain.
One of the biggest attractions to the refuge is found in the replicas of the Holy City.
The displays of major Biblical scenes once again transported us to a different time.
Such scenes on display included the last supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, three crosses, a whipping post, the judgment seat of Pilot, and more. This was one of Saara’s favorite places we visited because it taught her more about the Christian faith and expanded her cultural awareness.
Luckily for us, the day was filled with photogenic wildlife, in all shapes and sizes. We were fortunate to see animals such as buffalo…
…prairie dogs…
…and longhorns.
The prairie dogs were modeling for us, standing still, and looking right at the camera.
The buffalos were a little further, but we were still able to take pictures of them. For many of us, this was our first time seeing buffalo.
We stopped to see several beautiful lakes and one with a perfect vantage point of the watchtower.
The tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941 and looks to be in great condition. We thought the location would be perfect for our favorite LEAPing photo, but we were ultimately unsuccessful.
We were more successful at stationary photos.
While we might have failed at being photogenic ourselves, the landscape and the picturesque scenes more than made up for it. We also discovered different types of birds including but not limited to geese, loons, and a woodpecker.
Morgan and Professor Yawn took this opportunity to practice with a new macro lens. They both found it quite difficult to photograph the still plants, but thankfully they yielded some detailed photos.
With the sun coming down at 5:20, we knew we had to find the right place to hike to admire the sunset, take pictures, and enjoy each other’s company. Yvette was the one who geared up better than anyone else, bringing her cliff bar along the hike to snack on. When we got to the top of the mountain, we set up the tripods after we caught our breath, of course.
We waited for the sun to go down while enjoying the view….
…and waited for an ideal shot.
We concluded our hike with minimal stumbles and slips and only one major wipeout. (Morgan’s editors note: I successfully scaled the steep rocks with many features not adjacent to walking on a flat surface and made it to the top with no issue. It was the loose gravel, on a flat terrain that did me in on this trip). But it was a nice view and worth it.
The Wildlife reserve greatly displays the beauty found in Oklahoma, from the towering mountains to the seemingly endless plains. We were all grateful to experience this aspect of the state.
Afterward, we had a warm and filling meal at Pho Paradise, and then we ventured off to a local coffee shop called Viridian Coffee Co. The café had amazing salted caramel cookies and energizing coffee. Each bite taken of the gooey, soft, and delicious cookie followed by a sip of my hot latte macchiato, or Erin’s cold hot cholate made a great dessert!
The OKC National Memorial Museum is laid out in such a fashion that reminds visitors of what happened on that day, April 19, 1995, but also stands as a tribute to both those who survived and that were lost.
The Museum unfolds in chronological fashion, beginning with the background of the tragedy, and going through almost minute-by-minute on the day of the bombing.
April 19, 1995 was just a nice spring day, a completely normal day in Oklahoma. One of the most difficult experiences on the tour was in the meeting room, where the Water Resource Management Committee began their meeting at 9:00am–a meeting which was recorded.
We listened to that recording, hearing the explosion, and also the screams, fear and confusion among those attending the meeting.
The lights dimmed as the explosions and screamed sounded, and then their was silence, leaving us to ponder the aftermath of that day.
The aftermath was also vividly displayed at the Museum. Artifacts included a pile of keys, glasses, desk items, and shoes: the remains of a tragedy, forever encased in this Museum–preserved, much as people’s memories of the bombing will last forever.
The lives of the innocent are memorialized in so many ways throughout the museum, but the most impactful is the wall of pictures with personal belongings that they were able to identify as belonging to specific individuals.
As we moved through the timeline, we were then shown the backstory of Timothy McVeigh and what he was doing leading up to the incident.
The stories of those who passed, those who died, and the heroism of the rescuers was emotional.
McVeigh was charged with 15 counts of murder, and he was represented by multiple attorneys, including with Chris Tritico, who is an SHSU Alumnus.
As we made our way to the outside part of the building, we experienced a great contrast to the tragedy we walked through. We breathed a sigh of relief at all the vivid fall colors of the trees and relished in the natural beauty that I believe we all needed.
The path leads up to a single American Elm tree that is known as the Survivor’s Tree. This Elm stood through the bomb and remains strong to this day. Each year the seedlings are harvested from the tree and given in remembrance to the families impacted by this event.
An offspring of this tree was even planted at the White House.
The grounds also are home to other memorial features. There is an East Gate displaying 9:01am, a reflecting pool, and a West Gate, displaying the time 9:03am.
South of the walls, the lawn is lined with 9 rows of chairs representing the nine floors of the Murrah Building.
There are 168 empty chairs, representing the lives lost, including young children (which are represented by smaller chairs).
Surrounding the grounds, there was a fence with mementos that people have placed in memory of loved ones: teddy bears, bracelets, photos, and such.
We also went across the street, where a nearby church created a statue of Jesus, with an inscription of the shortest verse of the Bible: “And Jesus wept.”
This was a tour that almost brought me to tears at several places, and our hearts were heavy as we left.
Oklahoma Capitol
Saara Maknojia
Shortly after our somber but educational tour at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, the LEAP Members coasted off to the Oklahoma State Capitol. The chilly weather and beautiful sunset allowed us to better view the magnificent and historical site.
The intricate architecture of the landmark included Greek Corinthian columns, and Greek Meanders which symbolizes and means movement. The Greco-Roman structure of the state capitol was complemented with the displayed Tribal flags from Native American Peoples who have such a rich history in the 45th state.
The Oklahoma State Capitol is further enhanced with the sculpture of a Native American woman, designed by Allen Houser, which stands in front of the Capitol.
The peak of the capitol’s dome is adorned with a 17.5-foot sculpture of a Native American called “The Guardian,” by Enoch Kelly Haney, and a version of the statue is also located inside the building.
We learned the history behind some of the Oklahoma tribes as we observed the painted murals on the third floor of the capitol.
Oklahoma’s historic significance of the “Sooners” is also integrated into the state building through some of the murals. We all learned about how the name came to be and why it was such a vital point in OK history. Oklahoma State University later adapted “Sooners” as their team mascot to exemplify their patriotism towards the state.
Probably the highlight of the Capitol Building is the interior dome, which is beautiful.
The LEAP Members grasped a better understanding of not only the political aspects of the Oklahoma State Capitol, but also the history and cultural diversity within the building itself and the state of Oklahoma throughout the tour!
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Erin Juarez
With the night still young-ish, we decided to go to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. As we walked in, there was a fifty-five feet glass sculpture towering to the right of us, one created by renowned artist Dale Chihuly.
Yvette, a born trouble-maker, immediately got into trouble for standing on a wall so that she could better pose with the sculpture…
This Museum helped expose us to various types of art: impressionism, regionalism, modern, sculptures, and many other styles and artistic media. It helped me learn what type of art I most enjoy. In particular, I liked the sculptures, especially those of Chihuly. Saara also liked Chihuly, but was also drawn to the impressionists.
The museum is separated into four floors. On the fourth floor, our favorite artist, Dale Chihuly, work is featured in a way that flows cohesively leaving the viewer to almost forget they are in an art museum. The dark room, allowed for the lights that were strategically placed to catch the art at different angles to illuminate it differently.
We found this exhibit to be exceptionally fun and dynamic to photograph. As a person new to cameras, it offered the opportunity to experiment with photography. The low light was a challenge, but the subjects were beautiful! We particularly enjoyed walking under Chihuly’s Persian Ceiling, which creates all sorts of interesting shadows and colors.
And we also had the opportunity to see some of Chihuly’s paintings–one of which, we learned, Stephanie actually owns!
Outside of the fourth floor, there’s a video of how Chihuly gets his glass done for his art. This was very interesting. We often found ourselves asking in amazement on how he accomplished such great works, so the video was insightful.
We even found another of his chandeliers in another part of the Museum, which was also beautiful.
Of course, we didn’t just see Chihuly. For some of us, it was our first time to see a Thomas Moran painting…
…and Alex Katz…
…and although all of us had seen a Georgia Okeeffe…
…it was our first time to see some other Southwestern artists, such as Ernest Blumenschein…
…and Fritz Scholder…
We also saw one of our favorites, which was a piece by the African-American artist Henry Osawa Tanner.
As we took one last gaze upwards at the towering Chihuly we left awed by the amazing art.
But, of course, our favorites were the various Chihuly pieces, including the largest of these, the 55-foot piece at the front of the building. This time, however, we took the photo according to the rules of the Museum, forcing Yvette to comply.
The Wedge Pizzeria
Morgan Robertson
To conclude our first eventful day, we opted for a quiet, carryout dinner. We selected The Wedge Pizzeria, which was Oklahoma City’s first artisanal brick oven pizza. Among the pizzas we selected were: The Perfect Margarita, Brisket, and we built our own Hawaiian Pizza. As we sampled each pizza, we all found we had different favorites, but we liked them all. Saara’s favorite was the brisket pizza; she described it as having the right amount of spice from the Jalapeños, and a great flavor from the brisket.
My favorite, and Erin’s favorite, was the Hawaiian Pizza. Although Hawaiian Pizza might be controversial among the general population, it has a place amongst this group of LEAP Members.
Overall, it was a great dinner and we enjoyed each other’s company as we ate.
Our first morning in Oklahoma began with an early start as we made our way toward Norman, Oklahoma. University of Oklahoma College of Law is located just a mile away from the main campus. As we got closer to the University it was clear what buildings were OU, as they were architecturally cohesive–and they were helpfully labeled.
As we walked toward the school of Law Building–admiring all the fall colors and weather–we were greeted by Dean Kathleen Guzman, and the Director of Technology of Innovation, Kevin Brice. After we introduced ourselves and explained that we are SHSU students touring for the first time, Dean Guzman introduced herself and explained that she walked the campus every Friday morning, talking to the students, asking how things were going, and seeing if there were any concerns. And we thought, what a nice place to be!
We then met one of our tour guides, Maddie Farris, the Associate Director of Admissions, who welcomed us and introduced us to Grayson, a 2L and mentor at the school. As we ventured further into the Law School we asked Grayson questions about her experiences at OU, which she happily answered!
The first room we saw was the library. We learned OU Law is the only law school that is an Apple distinguished Campus. The school’s emphasis on technology is apparent when you look around the computer lab, equipped with dual monitors, VR stimulators and other technological advances. Study rooms can be found almost at every turn in the school. Grayson showed us her favorite places to study and prepare for class as we made our way to the reading room.
The reading room spanning the width of the building was lined with tables and was flooded with natural light from the massive windows on either side. This was my favorite room in the library, and we all found it to be a very photogenic spot.
As we wrapped up the tour, we thanked Maddie and Grayson for their help…
…and spent the rest of the time admiring OU’s beautiful campus, which included similarly beautiful buildings, rooms, and some fun and surprising art–including works by Allen Hauser, Jesus Moroles, and James Surls.
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
Erin Juarez
Speaking of art, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art definitely caught our eyes. This museum contains art and artifacts from the sixteenth century to the present. The Fred Jones Museum also acts as a comparison to the museum we visited the night before and similarly contains art from all over the world.
As we were making our way to the museum, we began to spot pieces from our favorite artists: Jesus Moroles….
…and James Surls.
As graduates of SHSU and Texans, we were happy to see how well known these two are outside of Texas.
In the museum, we saw more work by James Surls, most impressive of which was the stand-alone flower shape that can be viewed from all angles.
We expanded our knowledge as learn more about different types of cultures and artists. For instance, Saara and I saw a Monet art piece for the very first time, and we began to recognize his style of impressionism.
I was able to recall who Georgia O’Keeffe was based on her style and motifs, and found that I prefer her work.
O’Keeffe began by painting her family, then expanded to flowers, landscapes, and bones. This is what makes her unique from other artists, her flowers are usually big with vivid colors, but her favorite theme is, interestingly enough, cow skulls.
Saara’s favorite piece was the painting that hung in the model of the Jones’ house which was a Vincent Van Gogh work entitled Portrait of Alexander Reid.
We recognized it as a Van Gogh, based on his style, right away. We also learned more about the different types of impressionism and post-impressionism,. including pointillism.
Learning more about art found on Oklahoma University’s campus was a true insight to what the University holds as values.
Greek House
Yvette Mendoza
Driving through the great college town of Norman, Oklahoma we ate at what might, at first glance, be a dive Mediterranean restaurant: the Greek House. But behind the small storefront and limited menu were massive portions and a world of flavor! As you walk in, it is impossible to miss the four rotating skewers of gyro meat that we later learned is used in almost every meal.
The hummus and chip appetizer tasted organic and fresh. The contrast of the warm, fried pita bread’s crunchy texture to the cool and tart hummus dip, enticed us even further to try more food. Morgan even commented that this was her favorite hummus that she has had. Each bite was authentic and flavorful.
The main entrees were overflowing with gyro meat, and our appetite grew much more. Everyone except for myself ordered sandwiches packed with gyro meat, spices, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki sauce. I, on the other hand, ordered the gyro plate, which consisted of the same ingredients as the sandwich but had a much larger portion. The gyro plate also came with French fries and a salad to complement the dish.
The table grew increasingly quieter as we began getting full of all the delicious food. The LEAP members absolutely loved it, and it served as vital fuel for our wonderful day of tours and museums ahead of us.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 