JRB Art at The Elms(38)
- Jonathan Elmore
- Aug 5
- 3 min read
I lived in Oklahoma City for a few years way back in the mid-1990's. I worked as a department manager at Barnes & Noble and I frequented the coolest little coffeehouse in the city, probably the state and it was in the Paseo District. It was called Medina's and it was owned by an amazing artist, Paul Medina. They had live music there and my band got to play there one night. It was packed and we had a great set. My memories of being a frequent Paseo denizen were of it being a gathering place of diverse but like-minded folks who wanted to just be happy in life. Make art and music and love and drink coffee and not let the world drag us into constant turmoil. That was my life in '95. Jump forward thirty years and Paseo is different. It still appears to hold onto its artistic history, but the feeling of "everyone is welcome" isn't as prevalent. It feels less Bohemian and more Boujee. There are still great pockets of hospitality around The Paseo and I think JRB Art at The Elms in a prime example of that.
Established in 2003 by Dr. Joy Reed Belt, JRB Art Gallery has become a place where artists come together to talk and learn from each other. And it's possible that those artists can be featured on the walls and in the halls of this former residential space. Since I hadn't been here before, Marcus, the manager and gentleman at the front desk, told me about the gallery before I started snooping around. After a quick explanation, I was ready to see some art. I wandered into the first gallery and my first thought when I entered was, "I would love to turn this back into a house for myself!" But I'm glad the gallery is there because art needs to be seen and purchased. Nothing contributes to an artist's life and well being like buying their work. Rather than buying mass produced drivel that only lines a CEO's pockets, buying a piece at a gallery like JRB Art can put food on a family table, get a child a sports uniform or music instrument, and contribute to the local economy. Even if the artist is from out of state like some of the artists I saw here, it's still local and personal. Okay, that's the end of my speech about supporting local!
There are quite a few little galleries inside JRB and they're all pretty great. Even the kitchen has art in it! In each room, they have maximized space to bring you as much art as possible. There was even a room with sliding walls where you could see art that didn't have a spot in one of the other rooms. The sliding walls were pretty heavy so I didn't see all the works there. I'm sure I could have asked for help and they would have moved things for me, but I didn't. That's on me. But what I liked most about this gallery was it felt homey and unpretentious. Marcus certainly started my visit on a positive note so I was at ease from the minute I got there. There have been so many galleries where snobbery is dripping from the walls. I hate that. I always think of my favorite line from Kiki's Delivery Service, "Pardon me, Miss Snooty Cat!" Really, art is for everyone. JRB makes you feel like you're welcome there and the art is incredible. Check out their website below for artists and events. This might make me want to go back to The Paseo more often.
While you're in that neighborhood, stop in at Picasso Cafe. It's another place in The Paseo that makes you feel welcome and the food is fantastic.
2810 N. Walker, OKC
405-528-6336
