FINE ART GALLERIES

Edmond Fine Arts invites all to attend its February Gallery Opening featuring the Hustis/Mantor Family Show, alongside the premiere installation of Frozen Rain (1987) by acclaimed kinetic sculptor Meryl Taradash. The gallery opening is on Thursday, February 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., and is free and open to the public.

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The Hustis/Mantor Family Show brings together the work of Mark Hustis “Hustis Woodworking”, J. Cocoma Hustis, William Mantor Ceramics, and Cameron Mantor “Doc Art”, showcasing a dynamic range of media including salvaged wood sculpture, mixed media drawing and collage, ceramics, and functional art.

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Mark Hustis creates sculptural works from locally sourced Oklahoma trees that have died or are dying due to natural causes such as storms, fire, or lightning. Drawn to grain, knots, burls, and natural deformities, Hustis reveals the hidden beauty within each piece of wood. Favoring kinetic sculpture and steam- or heat-bending techniques, his work transforms salvaged materials into forms that are playful, inspiring, and full of life.

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J. Cocoma Hustis draws inspiration from animals and nature, with horses and birds serving as recurring spiritual totems throughout her work. Working primarily in mixed media drawing and collage, she layers western imagery, travel maps, flight paths, and memories of Oklahoma landscapes seen from horseback. Her work reflects a deeply personal visual storytelling, an evolving narrative shaped by curiosity, memory, and connection to place.

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William Mantor, a ceramic artist based in Edmond, studied at Oklahoma State University and earned his MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. After developing his career in San Francisco and Denver, including work as a production assistant at Fenway Clayworks, Mantor now continues his practice at William Mantor Ceramics. His work explores the balance between form and function, resulting in ceramic pieces that are both visually engaging and practically designed.

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Cameron Mantor (Doc Art) brings a unique perspective shaped by a 30-year career as a pediatric surgeon. Now retired, he has embraced artmaking as a new creative chapter, combining wood and resin on the lathe to create vessels and functional works that reflect precision, care, and craftsmanship.

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In addition to the family exhibition, Edmond Fine Arts is honored to premiere the installation artwork Frozen Rain (1987) by Meryl Taradash, an internationally exhibited, award-winning kinetic sculptor whose work captured the beauty of light, wind, and motion. The suspended sculpture features a clear central Lucite prism surrounded by translucent white and blue elements, interacting with reflected light to create a serene, ever-changing visual experience.

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Over her 40-year career, Taradash created large-scale installations for universities, medical centers, and public spaces across the country, including commissions for the University of Virginia, the Music Center at Strathmore, and the Aramark Corporation. Her work has been exhibited at venues such as The Michener Art Museum, Gallery Henoch (SoHo, NYC), Elaine Benson Gallery (Bridgehampton, NY), Lincoln Center Campus, Grounds for Sculpture, and more. In 2022, she was invited to exhibit her acclaimed sculpture Sisyphus at the European Cultural Centre’s Biennial in Venice, a culmination of her lifelong exploration of motion and nature.

Edmond Fine Arts is honored to display Frozen Rain, generously donated by Taradash’s family in celebration of her enduring artistic legacy.

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Attendees are invited to meet the artists, explore the gallery, and enjoy community during this free, public event. Artwork will be available for purchase, with a portion of proceeds supporting Edmond Fine Arts year-round arts programming. The exhibition will be on display in the Edmond Fine Arts Gallery throughout the month. Gallery exhibits are free and open to the public Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.​