Blog: About Our Gallery
January 16, 2020 - Joy Reed Belt
The first time someone visits The Elms they usually ask about our iconic Spanish Mission style building, and its history. The building, which became the first art gallery in Oklahoma, was built in 1916 by Oklahoma art pioneer and organizer, Nan Sheets and her husband, Dr. Fred Sheets. When Nan moved to Oklahoma City in 1914, she found a growing city with only a fledgling cultural scene and no museums or galleries. She longed for a place where she could exhibit her paintings and the work of others who shared her passion. Initially, The Elms was a gracious home and working studio for Nan. The Illinois native and her husband began opening her home and studio to the public in 1918. Four times a year, furniture was moved out of the front room and art by European and American artists of “recognized prominence” was exhibited. The Elms also served as a salon for Oklahoma City hosting many gatherings, talks and lectures.
In 1919, while Nan was traveling abroad with a group of Oklahomans visiting museums and artist’s studios in Europe, Dr. Sheets surprised her by building an addition to The Elms where children and adults could take art lessons. The Oak Room with its own entrance was added in 1920 and became a gallery with regular operating hours. Nan was subsequently appointed head of the Public Works Project by Franklin Roosevelt and became the first Director of the Oklahoma City Art Museum.
Fast forward to 2001, many years after Nan’s death, The Elms had become a rundown day care center. Attorney John Belt purchased the Sheets’ former home and gallery and began restoring it to its former glory. Shortly thereafter his wife, Joy Reed Belt persuaded her husband to lease the building. She moved her small art gallery on Paseo Drive to The Elms in time for the 2002 Paseo Arts Festival and celebrated its grand opening as JRB Art at The Elms in 2003, Like Nan Sheets, Joy is passionate about art and continues to feature the work of emerging artists as well as American and Oklahoma artists of “recognized prominence.”
Image - JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave, Oklahoma City, OK, 73103
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