The Future of Our Past
The OKPOP Foundation has officially completed the $18 million Heart & Soul Campaign, and the State Treasurer has now approved and certified the pledges, releasing the state’s matching funds. This milestone marks the beginning of OKPOP’s next chapter: exhibit design, fabrication, and the build-out of Oklahoma’s first museum dedicated to the global creative impact of its people.
Hello Friends and Potential Donors,
“You know, this whole campaign wasn’t just about raising $18 million – it was about backing a mission that means something. OKPOP is here to celebrate the crazy amount of creativity that comes out of Oklahoma, to tell the stories of the folks who shaped music, film, and art, and to fire up the next generation to chase their own big dreams. The way people showed up to support this blows me away. Oklahoma should be proud of what’s coming.”
Honorary Campaign Chair
We had the opportunity to connect with acclaimed actor and filmmaker Ed Harris to discuss his family’s Oklahoma roots, his creative journey, and the impact this state has had on his life and work.
Harris shared memories of family ties to Walters, Durant, and Haskell, and reflected on childhood summers in Oklahoma that helped shape his identity. He spoke about Oklahoma as a second home, recalled the formative theatrical experiences that set him on the path toward acting, and offered thoughtful encouragement to aspiring artists about perseverance, humility, and dedication to the craft.
From early stage work and his time at OU to reflections on Pollock, Appaloosa, theater, and collaboration, Harris gave a meaningful look at a remarkable career grounded in authenticity, discipline, and heart.
We’re grateful to Ed Harris for taking the time to share his story and Oklahoma connection with OKPOP.
#OKPOP #EdHarris #OklahomaStories #CreativeJourney #OklahomaCreatives
It was an honor to connect with Oklahoma-born composer and musician Aryn Ward.
From Sapulpa to Houston, Aryn’s journey is one of voice, identity, and creative courage. Raised in a musical home and shaped by both classical training and self-taught exploration, her work blends chamber music with Indigenous language, rhythm, and lived experience.
For Aryn, music isn’t just composition. It’s connection. It’s preservation. It’s healing.
Her work draws deeply from Muscogee and Yuchi language and culture, using rhythm as a living bridge between past and present. Projects like her Muskogee Month Suite transform language into sound, inviting audiences to not just hear music, but to feel history, identity, and place.
She also carries that mission into community through the Good Medicine Indigenous Music Festival, creating space for Indigenous artists across genres to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
At the heart of it all is something simple and powerful:
“Music… has been a way for me to find my voice.”
And in sharing that voice, she’s helping others find theirs too.
#OKPOP #OklahomaCreatives #IndigenousArtists #MusicAsMedicine #StoryFirst @mvskokemusic
Today we remember Robert DoQui, the Stillwater, Oklahoma-born actor whose presence left a lasting mark on film, television, and stage.
Best known as Sgt. Warren Reed in RoboCop, DoQui brought strength and authenticity to every role. His career also included Nashville, Coffy, voice work in Total Recall, and acclaimed stage performances with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Beyond the screen, he was a proud and active member of Screen Actors Guild, serving on its national board and advocating for fellow performers—another reflection of his commitment to the craft and the community behind it.
At OKPOP, we celebrate Oklahoma creatives like DoQui whose stories remind us that impact can begin anywhere and reach everywhere.
Happy Birthday, Robert DoQui.
#OKPOP #RobertDoQui #RoboCop #OklahomaStories #FilmHistory
For today’s Superman Day, we’re doing something a little different and spotlighting a major inspiration behind the modern superhero: Doc Savage, the “Man of Bronze.”
Created by writer Lester Dent, Doc Savage was a brilliant adventurer, scientist, and larger-than-life hero whose influence can still be felt across pop culture. He’s widely recognized as an early blueprint for Superman, from the “superman” idea itself to echoes like the name Clark and the concept of a Fortress of Solitude.
Dent’s story runs through Oklahoma. Before Doc Savage became a pulp icon, he lived and worked in Ponca City, Chickasha, and Tulsa, including time as an Associated Press telegrapher. Those late nights writing in Oklahoma helped shape one of the most influential heroes of the 20th century.
From the “Man of Bronze” to the Man of Steel… the roots of hero stories run deeper than you might think.
#SupermanDay #DocSavage #ManOfBronze #LesterDent #OKPOP
A very special thank you to our new friends at the @mimphx in Phoenix for welcoming us this morning and sharing more about your world-class museum, mission, operations, and storytelling approach. We’re grateful for the generosity, insight, and inspiration, and for the chance to learn from a team doing such thoughtful work in service of music, culture, and connection.
We left encouraged, energized, and even more excited about the possibilities ahead for OKPOP.
#OKPOP #MIMPhoenix #MuseumLearning #MuseumLeadership #Storytelling
Today we’re remembering Delia Bell on her birthday.
Born April 16, 1935, Delia Bell spent her formative years in Hugo, Oklahoma, where she began singing as a teenager and learned guitar after being inspired by bluegrass greats like Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers. She went on to become one of the most respected voices in bluegrass, best known for her work with Bill Grant and Delia Bell and the Kiamichi Mountain Boys, helping carry Oklahoma’s bluegrass story far beyond the state.
With her warm, expressive voice and deep roots in southeastern Oklahoma, Delia Bell remains an important part of our state’s musical legacy. Happy birthday to a true Oklahoma bluegrass great.
#OKPOP #DeliaBell #HugoOK #OklahomaMusic #Bluegrass
Remembering legendary guitarist, singer, songwriter, and entertainer Roy Clark on his birthday today.
Here he is with Steve Ripley and Gatemouth Brown at Tulsa Studios during Makin’ Music in 1979, a great snapshot of three remarkable artists crossing paths in Oklahoma music history. Roy Clark’s career stretched across country, television, comedy, and guitar virtuosity, and his influence reached far beyond any one stage or screen.
His story is part of a much bigger Oklahoma story: bold talent, deep musicianship, and a creative spirit that could connect with just about anyone. We’re grateful for the legacy he left behind and for the joy, skill, and personality he shared with audiences everywhere.
#RoyClark #OklahomaMusic #TulsaMusic #OKPOP #CountryMusic
It`s our good friend, JD McPherson`s birthday today! When he was at OKPOP not long ago, he sat down with us to play a song or two from his album Nite Owls. Here he is playing "Just Like Summer."
Donate
Your charitable donation directly contributes to OKPOP’s future, we are grateful for your support! Donations to support the OKPOP Museum may be made to the OKPOP Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Donations may be made through the secure online donation form or mailed to:
OKPOP Foundation
422 North Main Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103
If you have questions about additional gifting options, please contact Abby Kurin at akurin@okpopfoundation.org
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