RSU Hosts First-Ever Art on the Hill

The first-ever Art on the Hill is the brainchild of Peggy Rice, first lady of Rogers State University, and Gary Moeller, longtime RSU faculty artist, professor and head of the RSU Department of Fine Arts.

The first-ever Art on the Hill is the brainchild of Peggy Rice, first lady of Rogers State University, and Gary Moeller, longtime RSU faculty artist, professor and head of the RSU Department of Fine Arts. The two are serving as co-chairs of the event, and are hoping to make Art on the Hill an annual spring tradition.

RSU will host the invitational art show April 23-24. The event will feature a variety of works from artists from across northeastern Oklahoma.

Art on the Hill will be conducted outdoors “on the hill” at Claremore’s RSU campus, and exhibited works of art may be purchased by the public. RSU Food Services will be selling food and beverages throughout the event, and the RSU Choir and Jazz Ensemble will provide a variety of entertaining music. Art on the Hill is sure to be a fun and festive atmosphere, and is free to the public. You’re invited to enjoy both fun-filled days. The event will take place from noon to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 23, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 24.  

In addition to Art on the Hill, you are invited to attend the Emerging Artist High School Art Competition. Scholarships and fee waivers will be awarded to winners of the competition. RSU offers a unique bachelor of fine arts degree to students, and gives them the opportunity to take all four undergraduate years of their art education at RSU, with multiple options. The high school art exhibit will be on display in downtown Claremore at the Gallery of the Arts from April 1-23. For more information about the Emerging Artist competition, please contact Gary Moeller at (918) 343-7740.

RSU’s annual Spring Student Art Show will be held April 8-26. Each student may enter up to six original works of art in any medium. Art will be on display in the Old Student Union Gallery at RSU, and fee waivers and scholarships to special programs will be awarded to winners of the competition.  

Other junior high and senior high school art students will also be exhibiting their art at Art on the Hill. Art depicting the RSU Centennial was created by Claremont Elementary School students and will be exhibited as well.

Last year, RSU art students were commissioned to create a mural celebrating RSU’s 100-year anniversary. A painted version of the mural, one-twelfth the size of the final product, will be at Art on the Hill. The actual mural measures 16 feet by 48 feet and was created in sections on canvas material mounted on marine grade plywood.

Mrs. Rice is an enthusiast of the arts and active in numerous civic and non-profit organizations in northeast Oklahoma. Mr. Moeller is a longtime artist and one of the university’s longest-serving faculty members. He is recognized as a leader on the RSU campus and served as the North Central Association Serf-Study Coordinator, leading the university to national accreditation for the maximum period of ten years in 2004. Moeller’s work, focusing mainly on painting and drawing, has been exhibited in the United States and abroad, and some of his works will be on exhibit at Art on the Hill.  

Bring the whole family to enjoy Art on the Hill and the abundance of fine art representative of northeastern Oklahoma. For artist registration information, email Brent Ortolani at  eat0@eau0eav0eaw0 or call him at (918) 343-7771.

For more information, contact

Art on the Hill

(918) 343-7771

eat0@eau0eav0eaw0