Orange People and February Feelings at StreetSmART Gallery

Jennifer Jones
1 hour ago
2 min read

Hello! It is freezing in Oklahoma City, but we changed out a few pieces of art at the StreetSmART Gallery anyway. First Friday is almost here, and I like to keep the walls feeling new, interesting, and mildly judgmental in the best possible way. February leans hard into Valentine’s Day, so I hung pieces that suggest love, connection, or at least the complicated negotiations that usually pass for both.

Several years ago, I painted orange people. Yes, there is a story behind them. There is always a story, whether anyone asked for one or not.

My niece, Jentry, unknowingly started it all when she was in kindergarten. She came home with a picture of a little girl drawn on orange construction paper. I liked it immediately. (I snagged the drawing for myself and held on to it for years but can't locate it now. I am sure I put it in a "very" safe place and it will never be seen again.) The color did most of the work, which I respect. I painted the little girl, and she eventually became Purplette.

Once Purplette existed, leaving her alone felt irresponsible, so I painted Romeo. I did not plan a series or map out a narrative. The paintings simply demanded company. Together, Purplette and Romeo launched what became the orange people. They remain bold, simple, and emotionally flexible, which means they have aged better than most ideas and several people.

After I finished Romeo holding out the flowers, Jentry studied the paintings and offered her critique. Romeo had clearly done something wrong, and Purplette planned to smack him regardless of the floral peace offering. Little kids say the funniest things because they skip the entire politeness phase.

She was not wrong. Romeo looks hopeful, maybe apologetic. Purplette looks unimpressed. The flowers show up, but they feel late. This makes the piece a surprisingly honest Valentine story. Love gets messy. Gestures misfire. Timing decides the outcome.

In the year of the Monk Choir, the monks quietly observe and record their findings. Intention matters. Timing matters more. Flowers do not rewrite the immediate past.

These pieces will hang on the StreetSmART Gallery wall throughout February, ready to be interpreted however you see fit. Romance. Regret. Humor. Or that familiar realization that you should have handled something differently. If you attend First Friday, stop by the gallery and spend some time with Purplette and Romeo. They tend to reward close looking.

(PS: I will not be at First Friday this month. I will be in Tulsa supporting Matt and Tretura. If you are in Tulsa and looking for Friday night plans, come by The Shrine to see Tretura open for Black Top Mojo.)

Thanks for reading The 3rd Flamingo, a blog for art lovers, creative wanderers, and anyone who’s ever made a beautiful mess.