LESLIE ANNE MARTIN
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Weathering Oklahoma


​The Weathering Oklahoma Project involved the participation of Oklahomans in all 77 counties, to create an art piece that depicts weather variations across the state.
    During tornado season, every aspect of an Oklahoman’s life is influenced by the weather. When watching local TV, there is commonly an image of the state of Oklahoma in the corner of the screen with counties highlighted in shades of green, blue, yellow and red, warning the public of heavy rains, flooding, thunderstorms, and tornadoes. It is interesting to me this map of Oklahoma and its counties never changes. The political boundaries that humans have created to serve as a sense of place remain constant and recognizable, maintaining a feeling of familiarity and safety. However in reality the impact that deadly weather has on this land can dramatically alter the landscape, causing streets to become unrecognizable because familiar landmarks are no longer there for way finding. To further this conversation, I have used sheets of 20 gauge steel to cut the shape of each of the 77 counties in Oklahoma. Each county has a rod welded to the back, which was converted into a stake. I contacted people that reside in each of the counties and formed an itinerary to travel through Oklahoma to each county to install each stake. Each stake was at full exposure to the weather, and facing the appropriate cardinal direction of the actual county for three months, then returned to me via pre-paid postage. The resulting piece provides a new perspective on how the weather actually affects the land across the state. Weathering Oklahoma is available for viewing at the National Weather Center in Norman, OK.

"Weathering Oklahoma" is available for purchase. Please contact the artist for information.
Picture
Map of Weathering Oklahoma expedition. Each color change along the route indicates a new day of the journey. The expedition took 13 days and over 3,500 miles to complete.

​It was important to personally install each stake, because the journey was a crucial part of this project. This expedition took 13 days and over 3,500 miles to complete and documentation was a necessary component. My husband and I filmed the entirety of the journey, interviewing Oklahomans across the state. We have 100's of hours of footage from across the state, in hopes that a full-length documentary film can be formed. The various contacts interviewed were asked where they take shelter during a tornado, what supplies they have handy, and what memorable moments they have had with the weather in their area.  The purpose of this documentary would be to showcase the diverse beauty of Oklahoma’s landscape and culture as we travel through the state, braving her infamous Spring storm season.

​Insight on the life of an Oklahoman during tornado season is truly unique and worthy of sharing with those unaware of the precautions necessary to stay safe.

​The counties were left exposed to the elements from March until June. Many of the contacts sent photos of the progress of their stake. During this short period of time, the stakes were exposed to drastic temperature and humidity changes, as well as strong winds, hail, and even snow in some locations.
Photo courtesy of Pushmataha County contact Wayne Hawkins & Family
Photo courtesy of Texas County contact Clancy Green
Photo courtesy of Wagoner County contact Kurt & Kathie Klein
Photo courtesy of Sequoyah County contact Paula Haraway, DVM
Photo courtesy of Love County contact Bre Roberts
Photo courtesy of Pittsburg County contact Lyndell Collins & Family

​The map below depicts all the tornadoes in Oklahoma between March 23rd and June 3rd, 2016. There were 70 tornadoes during this time period. One county was relocated due to a tornado. Although bent and rusted, it was recovered and returned to complete the sculpture.
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Data courtesy of Andrew Dean at the NOAA Storm Prediction Center & Dr. Christopher Fiebrich at the Oklahoma Mesonet

Weathering Oklahoma received ample coverage from local news stations throughout it's creation and the expedition. Below is one video from KOCO News Channel 5.

​If you are interested in learning more about Weathering Oklahoma, it's inception, creation, the journey, the participants, and more, a hardback full-color page book is available for purchase for a discounted price of $25 + shipping. Contact the artist to purchase "Weathering Oklahoma: A collection of works by Leslie Anne Martin."
​
This book is also available full-price via the link below.
Weathering Oklahoma
Weathering Okl...
A collection of wo...
By Leslie Anne Martin
Book Preview
Photo book

​Thank You for Your Participation
Adair County                Nichole Cooper
Alfalfa County               Medicine Valley Farms
Atoka County                James, Karen & Malachi Kraakevik
Beaver County               Jordan Shearer
Beckham County           Ann Rosenbaum
Blaine County               Daniel & Amenda Shieber
Bryan County                Carl & Sonja Burns
Caddo County               Gerg Brasky
Canadian County          Tony & Felicia Gamble
Carter County                Steve Douglas
Cherokee County           Rick & Terri Fields
Choctaw County            Jimmy & Linda Smith
Cimarron County          Representative Casey Murdock
Cleveland County          Alicia McGuire
Coal County                  Johnny D. & Debbie Ward and Family
Comanche County        Tonya & Michael McCleskey
Cotton County              Kim Oliver
Craig County                 Carolyn Piguet-Advisor with Vinita FFA
Creek County                Tanner & Molly Wilcox
Custer County               The Hensley Family
Delaware County           The Aiken Family
Dewey County               Bobby & Anita Logan
Ellis County                   Jeff & Helen Dodd
Garfield County             Rick & Marsha Billings
Garvin County               Bill & Carol Naberhaus
Grady County                Amy Walkup
Grant County                ARM Climate Research Facility, Southern Great Plains
Greer County                 Jeremy & Brooke Kirby, Farmer/Rancher
Harmon County            Warren & Lori Austin
Harper County              Medic Pharmacy & Gifts
Haskell County              Casey & Samitra Smith
Hughes County             Natalie Maxwell
Jackson County              Warren & Lori Austin
Jefferson County            Bartling Ranch
Johnston County           Nan & Charles Swank
Kay County                   Lesley Schieber
Kingfisher County        Chalker-Gundlach Farms
Kiowa County               Pete, Mary, Peter & Ray Baxter
Latimer County             Red Oak 4H
LeFlore County             Sabrina Milligan
Lincoln County             Kid’s Life Learning Center
Logan County               Ashley Jones
Love County                  Bre Roberts
Major County                T&L Cattle Company: Steve Stauffer & Tammy Treece
Marshall County            Bridget N. Diaz
Mayes County                Dian Powell
McClain County            Hibbs-Corbin Families
McCurtain County         Brian & Tommie Armstrong-Eagletown School
McIntosh County          Lt. Col. Larry Cope (dec.) & Nowatha Cope
Murray County              Jim Dixon
Muskogee County          Phillip & Tootsie Henderson
Noble County                Marcus, Brooke & Jarron Davis
Nowata County              Suzanne Hughes with Capstone Music Company LTD
Okfuskee County           Tony & Rhonda Bartos
Oklahoma County         Collins Family
Okmulgee County         Wright Ranch: Brandon & Rebecca Wright
Osage County                Bryan & Mary Boy
Ottawa County              Kathy Crow
Pawnee County              Morrow/Bennett
Payne County                Troy Williamson
Pittsburg County            Lyndell Collins & Family
Pontotoc County            Laura Pounders
Pottawatomie County    Don & Laquitta Pitts
Pushmataha County       Wayne Hawkins & Family
Roger Mills County        Jason & Lindsey Orgain
Rogers County               Crissy Matlock
Seminole County           Marc Thomas
Sequoyah County          Paula Haraway, DVM
Stephens County           Bray/Doyle 2015/2016 FCCLA
Texas County                Clancy Green
Tillman County             Paula Haefner
Tulsa County                Ryan & Brenda Smith
Wagoner County           Kurt & Kathie Klein
Washington County      Ben & Tasha Hollander
Washita County             Jared & Alyssa Wedel
Woods County              Dr. Richard & Connie Moore
Woodward County        Vic & Lynette Terbush
 
 
Contributions That Helped Make This Project Possible
Representative Casey Murdock – Cimarron County – drill bit
Sue Selman with Selman Ranch – Harper County – dinner & lodging
Jeff & Helen Dodd – Ellis County – breakfast, postage
Jason & Lindsey Orgain – Roger Mills County – steak knife set
Beverly Robertson Thomason – Roger Mills County – monetary contribution
Vic & Lynette Terbush – Woodward County – mallet
Dr. Richard  & Connie Moore – Woods County – lunch & cupcakes
Medicine Valley Farms – Alfalfa County – beer & chocolates
T&L Cattle Company: Steve Stauffer & Tammy Treece – Major County – dinner
Rick & Marsha Billings – Garfield County – lodging & breakfast
ARM Climate Research Facility, Southern Great Plains, David & Kristen Swank – Grant County – muffins
Jack & Loyd Hedrick-Lightfoot – Payne County – lodging & sunflower seeds
Monica Casey & Josh Barnard with OSU Atherton Hotel – Payne County – welcome bag 
Dr. Rebecca Brienen – Payne County – monetary contribution
Dana & Kathy Crow – Ottawa County – dinner & lodging
Dian Powell – Mayes County – BBQ lunch
Sandra Phipps – Mayes County – monetary contribution
Katie Teel – Osage County – monetary contribution
Elizabeth Gray – Tulsa County – monetary contribution
The Whitaker Family – Tulsa County – monetary contribution
Glenn & Linda Martin – Tulsa County – dinner, lodging, breakfast & monetary contribution
Randy Vaughn with Customs by Vaughn – Tulsa County – bottled water
Lindsay Larremore Craig – Tulsa County – monetary contribution
Paula Haraway, DVM – Sequoyah County – dinner, lodging, breakfast
Michelle Finch with Girls Gone Wine – McCurtain County – wine tasting and complimentary glasses of wine
David & Kristen Swank – Johnston County – monetary contribution
Bill & Carol Naberhaus – Garvin County – lunch, spade & monetary contribution
Natalie West – Hughes County – monetary contribution
Tony & Rhonda Bartos – Okfuskee County – dinner, lodging & breakfast
Carol Heard – Okfuskee County – monetary contribution
Megan Hecker – Lincoln County – monetary contribution
Jerry & Jenny Pratka – Lincoln County – monetary contribution
Marc Thomas – Seminole County – monetary contribution
Don & Laquitta Pitts – Pottawatomie County – lunch
Romy Owens – Oklahoma County – monetary contribution
Ashley Jones – Logan County – Girl Scout cookies
Daniel & Amanda Schieber – Blaine County – lunch 
The Hensley Family – Custer County – beer
Ann Rosenbaum – Beckham County – coffee & monetary contribution
Kim Avant Oliver – Cotton County – monetary contribution
Tonya & Michael McCleskey – Comanche County – Weathering Oklahoma car decals & pecans
Alicia McGuire – Cleveland County – Gatorade
Joy Fesler – Okfuskee County – Postmaster of the Year Award
 
Film Contributions
Greg McLaughlin – storm footage
David Hughes – storm footage
 
A Special Thank You to my Committee:
Ellen Babcock
Kirsten P. Buick
Constance DeJong
Lee Montgomery
 
Additional Thanks to…
Justin Nighbert
Kat Heatherington
Peter Lisignoli
Jessamyn Lovell
Regina Chavez-Puccetti
Melinda Frame
Waterjet Cutting, Inc.
and my fellow Oklahomans whom lended their participation and support.
 
Thank You to the Following Individuals for their Expertise & Assistance with Weathering Oklahoma…
Daniel Martin
Tony & Rhonda Bartos
Abbey Hepner
Eugene Ellenberg
Kristen Roles
Nick Clifford Simko
Rusty Ayrton Chapman
Katelyn Bladel

​
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  • HOME
  • GALLERY
    • WEATHERING OKLAHOMA
    • Undercurrents: The Oklahoma Sage
    • Displaced
    • Doppler Radar Series
    • Bronze & Abstract Metalwork
    • Commissions
  • ABOUT
  • Teaching
  • Contact