Star Party at Eastside Rise

Join us for a night under the Tulsa sky as we host a community Star Party in collaboration with Space For Us and Tulsa Artist Fellow Alicia Smith, whose work explores Mesoamerican cosmologies and horizon-based astronomy. Together, we’ll trace the movements of the stars, planets, and constellations that have guided stories and timekeeping for generations.

As Saturn glows in the south and the Pleiades rise in the east, Alicia will share cultural insights on how ancient observers connected with the horizon and sky above.

This free community gathering invites all ages and backgrounds to slow down, look up, and connect, with the stars, each other, and the stories that shape our view of the universe.

1801 S. Garnett Rd, Tulsa, OK 74128

Please note: Star parties are weather dependent and may be cancelled or rescheduled in the event of poor conditions.

We encourage guests to bundle up, bring a lawn chair, and, if you have one, your own telescope or binoculars. Warm beverages will be provided to keep spirits bright as the evening cools.

Highlights:

• Telescope viewing (including live deep-sky imaging with eVscope) + others
• Guided horizon-based sky navigation
• Cultural cosmology insights
• Community reflection under a darkening sky

About Alicia Smith

Alicia Smith is a Xicana Multidisciplinary artist and activist and a 2025-2027 Tulsa Artist Fellowship Awardee. She received her Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Oklahoma with an emphasis in Contemporary Sculpture and Printmaking and her Masters of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her work utilizes ancestral prayer technologies, oral tradition, indigenous futurism and New Weird Science Fiction to interrogate colonial narratives and explore identity. Through this practice she advocates for cultural perpetuity as a response to the unfolding Anthropocene. Smith’s work has been shown at Pulse Contemporary Art Fair in Miami, Untitled Art Fair in San Francisco and A.I.R. Gallery, Field Projects and Ortega y Gasset in New York City. Additionally she was a resident at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and her pieces have been included in the Kaddist Collection and the Whitney Museum of Art’s Special Collections.

About Space for Us

Space For Us is dedicated to making STEAM resources and careers in space sciences more visible and accessible to underserved communities, particularly minorities and BIPOC individuals of all ages while promoting dark sky protection and advocacy. Regardless of background, everyone should be able to explore and contribute to the infinite possibilities of space exploration and astronomy. Space for Us empowers and inspires the next generation of diverse space enthusiasts, spacefarers, and professionals and fosters an equitable and inclusive environment within space sciences and related fields.

About Tulsa Artist Fellowship

Established in 2015, Tulsa Artist Fellowship was created as a place-based initiative by the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) that addresses pressing challenges faced by contemporary artists and arts workers living in and joining Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa Artist Fellowship believes the arts are critical to advancing cultural citizenship and supports community-invested practitioners who intentionally engage with our city.

Our exhibitions and events are free, documented, and archived.

About Eastside Rise

is a community-rooted organization advancing economic opportunity and neighborhood vitality on Tulsa’s East Side. Working alongside residents, business owners, and local partners, Eastside Rise supports efforts to preserve the area’s cultural diversity, protect against displacement, and promote development that reflects the community’s identity. Through programs that strengthen small businesses, expand access to resources, and build local leadership, the organization helps ensure that East Tulsa continues to thrive on its own terms. Eastside Rise is an initiative of the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF)

Visitor Experience

Eastside Rise is located at 1801 S. Garnett Rd., Tulsa, OK 74128. Free parking is available in the onsite lot. Restrooms are located on the first floor of the building, which is fully wheelchair accessible. The star party will take place outdoors, so guests are encouraged to dress for the weather, bring blankets or chairs for additional comfort. Hot beverages will also be served.

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Host or Publisher Tulsa Artist Fellowship