A new mural is drawing attention in downtown Gore after being completed by American folk artist and native Oklahoman, Rick Sinnett.
The mural was made possible by donors who contributed to the cost, according to Terry Sloan, with the Gore Chamber of Commerce.
A muralist, printmaker and curator, Sloan said Sinnett’s work is known for incorporating bold lines, repetitive patterns, and vibrant colors.
In 2015, he won Artist of the Year for the Paseo Arts Association, and in 2017, he received recognition for Artists Making a Positive Impact on the Community through the Norman Chamber of Commerce.
His early artistic career took him to California, and due to the elements of nature and animals present in his work, he adopted the moniker “Mothman.” This is when he began to sell screen prints and ink drawings, as well as give away hand-drawn pieces in exchange for the recipient “paying it forward” with kindness.
This initial ideology became the basis for his “Art for the People” campaign, which has included public murals and “art drops” using social media and helium-filled balloons to give away prints.
Though he still produces silk screened artworks and acrylic mandala paintings, Sinnett has become best known for his large murals that can be seen in Tulsa, Pauls Valley, Norman, El Reno, and various locations along Route 66. The most notable work in the Oklahoma City metro area is his “This Land” mural, measuring 100×128 feet, on the Rocktown grain elevator near Bricktown.
OETA filmed Sinnett and his crew during the two-year process of painting the 12,800 square foot mural, which aired on an episode of “Gallery” that was centered around public art.
In addition to his mural projects, Sinnett continues to exhibit his paintings and prints throughout the community. Following his oneperson show at Lotus Flowers and Butterflies at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma State Arts Council selected a serigraph created by him to be included in the state’s permanent art collection, which is on display at the state Capitol.
Most recently, Sinnett created a license plate in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy and State of Oklahoma featuring the Monarch Butterfly. The license plate design won a national award as the number one license plate in the nation.
Sinnett’s passion for bringing art to the masses has driven him to create exciting and colorful larger-than-life paintings that he plans to continue for years to come.
Donors who contributed to the cost of the mural included: Cherokee Nation, Gore Chamber of Commerce, Sequoyah Fuels (President John Ellis), Town of Gore, Armstrong Bank, Gore Nursing Home (Schuyler and Bobbie Montgomery), John Montgomery, Larry Pack, Pirate Ice (Kurt and Robin Henry), Sloan Farms Inc., Souter Limestone & Minerals LLC, Bradford and Aubrey Montgomery, Emily’s Tea Room (Kim Barnes), Gore Bait & Tackle (Kenneth and Haley Byrd), and Lisa Settlemyre.
