PBS/OETA show provides utopia for local art community
By JOHN A. WILLIAMS, NewsOK.com
Published - TulsaWorld.com
Joe Bohrer has worn many hats — minister, musician, artist and reality TV star. But his real passion is to help Oklahoma City become known for its art and its artists.
One vehicle for that is the "Utopia Joe” show currently airing on PBS/OETA, a show that has caught the attention of the TLC and CMT cable networks. He’s also made guest appearances on HGTV.
His TV career started in the garage of his northwest Oklahoma City home. With his wife, Tiffany, in her own right a gifted artist, Bohrer began turning out furniture that best can be described as urban art. A friend chronicled the effort by following him around the garage and at art shows.
"I had bigger visions of it,” Bohrer said. "I started seeing incorporating local music and creating an amazing artistic show that would showcase artists in Oklahoma.”
OETA Executive Director John McCarroll saw the potential in the show. So OETA produced 13 shows that were shot largely at the garage, which serves as his studio/workshop. Bohrer also got his wish to include local musicians in the show. One of them, Matt Bowlin, has become a good friend who works on various art projects with "Utopia Joe.”
"He had sent me a message saying he had listened to my music and said ‘I’m doing a TV show and I think you’d be perfect for it,’” Bolin said. "We ended up shooting footage of me singing one of my songs there at his studio and that began a friendship.”
Bohrer, also known as Utopia Joe, said he was encouraged by his parents to nurture his creative streak.
"My entire family was creative in different
ways. I grew up in a very traditional Southern Baptist environment, but my folks were always supportive of whatever I wanted to do,” he said.
That religious background led Bohrer to pursue a masters of theology degree and serve in the ministry for about 15 years. He found that creativity was not always welcome in certain church circles.
"Twenty years ago I wanted to have these churches that are around today — wearing jeans or a T-shirt to church, contemporary music and videos. But it was such a constant battle with people in the church,” he said.
So Bohrer fell back on the one thing he’s always loved — art. His work as a commercial artist landed him jobs with Marvel Comics, L.A. Gear, Virgin Interactive and Precious Moments figurines.
"We have people who say they want to see Oklahoma grow, but when it comes down to it there is the same resistance there was in the church,” he said. "I just want to do what I can to help spread the word about our art and artists.” By JOHN A. WILLIAMS, NewsOK.com
No comments:
Post a Comment