If you’ve been looking for a reason to break out your cowboy boots and hats, now might be your chance. Circle Cinema is hosting the “Focus: Black Rodeo” exhibition Thursday, two days before the Oklahoma Invitational Black Rodeo arrives in Tulsa Saturday.
The exhibit, crafted by Tulsans Jamie and Richard Glisson, celebrates the art and culture of Black rodeo. It will feature 120 images captured over the past five years.
Jamie Glisson told The Oklahoma Eagle she was so impressed by her first Black rodeo in 2021 that she wanted to turn it into a project to shine a light on the community.
“It’s not just one community story, it’s a broader American story,” she said. “I grew up in south Texas, so I grew up attending rodeos but this was completely different. I felt like I was almost uncovering a secret, or a community, a whole tradition that I hadn’t known anything about.”
The display at Circle Cinema kicks off with a gallery reception at 6 p.m. Feb. 5. A one-hour “Riding Legacy: An Oklahoma Black Cowboy Story” documentary film screening is scheduled for 7 p.m., followed by a discussion with the film and exhibit producers.
The film explores the 175-year history of Black rodeo in Oklahoma and chronicles the 2022 Oklahoma rodeo season. Meanwhile, the exhibit will be on display throughout the month of February.
On Saturday, two Oklahoma Invitational Black Rodeo events are set for 1 and 7 p.m. in the Ford Truck Arena at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. respectively. Tickets can be purchased at Black Rodeo USA.
