OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 11, 2018) — The Woody Guthrie Coalition will introduce the inaugural Hoot at the Root on Saturday, April 21 at 4 p.m. at The Root in the Paseo Arts District in Oklahoma City. The event will collaborate with musical and visual artists in an effort to raise funds for the 21st annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, Oklahoma.
This special art show & music hootenanny will feature visual artists along with veteran songwriters who have previously performed at the annual festival. The art inspired by Woody Guthrie, first featured at during the Paseo’s monthly First Friday Gallery Walk, includes work from Oklahoma artists Sharra Beard, Nora Bisher, April Holder, Susan Yback, and more. Musical acts donating their time to the fundraiser include Andy Adams, Annie Oakley, Chris Blevins, Nellie Clay, Kalyn Fay, Cassie Latshaw, Lauren Lee, Tom Marshall, Joshua Polaschek, Buffalo Rogers, Gregg Standridge, Dylan Stewart, Tania Warnock, & Terry “Buffalo” Ware.
Woody Guthrie was a legendary folk musician and activist who wrote songs inspired by the political climate and social justice and lesser known as visual artist. However, an excerpt from the introduction of “Woody Guthrie: Art Works” states the singer-songwriter created “thousands upon thousands of pieces of art, line drawings, and color and form … that speak to us from ledgers and notebooks, decaying construction paper, and sketchbooks.” The Woody Guthrie Coalition wishes to recognize the work of visual artists inspired by Woody Guthrie and beyond.
A suggested donation of $10 will be accepted at the door. This event is 21+. All profits will go toward funding the 21st annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival this July 11 – 15, 2018. Affectionately called WoodyFest, the festival is set in Guthrie’s hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma, and organized by the Woody Guthrie Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation made up of an entirely volunteer team. The festival is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Oklahoma Arts Council. Sponsors include the George Kaiser Family Foundation and BancFirst.
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