After years of financial woes, Price Tower turns a corner

Bartlesville's iconic Price Tower has languished for years amid financial woes and management difficulties, but in recent months seems to be turning the corner.

In July, Donna Keffer took over as executive director of Price Tower Arts Center with the goal of paying off debt and helping the organization recover from its struggles.

"We just now have got ourselves in a good spot," said Keffer. "The board members really stepped up and believed in the mission."

As the only skyscraper realized by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Price Tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. The Tower houses an art gallery, restaurant, bar, hotel and office space rented by outside businesses.

Keffer praises the board's involvement and renewed interest in leaving no stone unturned to save the Tower. She believes that with community involvement, generations to come will be able to enjoy the Price Tower.

But the prospect for the Price Tower wasn't always certain. It's had a tremulous journey over the years yet endures as a powerful symbol for Bartlesville.

In a derelict state after years of neglect, Price Tower found relief when Phillips Petroleum began working on renovating and restoring the building before donating it to the newly formed nonprofit in 1998.

Keffer noted that before the nonprofit organization owned the building, there were bids to purchase the Tower and harvest the copper for scrap.

"We don't ever want something like that to happen," she said.

Keffer, who currently has two jobs, works tirelessly and relentlessly to save this beloved Bartlesville icon.

"We don't have an endowment that pays for everything," said Keffer, who wanted to clear up some misconceptions that they were flush with cash.

"We can't go to Lowe's to buy something that is broken here," she added. "Everything comes with a premium because everything is one of a kind here. The Tower operates at a high cost because Frank Lloyd Wright didn't have efficacy in mind when he designed the building."

She said that Price Tower needs to be viewed as a living and breathing work of art. Art isn't always practical, but art can have more value than the practical −that's why Keffer won't stop until the Tower's future is secure.

Keffer noted that Price Tower is a must-see destination in most advertisements about Oklahoma tourism.

"It's valuable to Bartlesville because it's an architectural treasure," said Maria Gus, executive director of Visit Bartlesville. "But it's an icon to all of Oklahoma and stands as a monument to the diversity of our culture."

Price Tower brought more than 25,000 visitors from all over the world to Bartlesville last year, she said.

Keffer said it will take more than memberships to keep Price Tower going.

"We know a $50-a-month membership won't save us," she said. "It's about building supporters in the community that will rally behind us."

All options are on the table to save Price Tower, including the possibility that a benefactor purchases the building with the stipulation the organization can continue to operate to achieve its mission of preservation, inspiration and celebration of art, architecture and design.

With that mission in mind, Price Tower continues to offer art gallery shows and events to Bartlesville.

On Nov 18, the Tower will host a reception for Oklahoma artist Lori Roll and her artwork will be on display until Jan 8. Roll will be available at the complimentary reception for a Q&A that offers free non-alcoholic drinks and additional drinks and food for purchase.

Roll titled her show "Solace" because it describes what she was seeking while creating the pieces for this show.

"Solace is the mood of the pieces that I have painted, and it seemed appropriate on a personal and global level," said Roll. "There have been a lot of changes in my life and the world, and expressing those changes through these paintings gave me solace. And I hope it provides that same bit of comfort for others as well."

On Jan 14, the Tower will host its annual gala and will share the night with the creators of the TV show "Reservation Dogs." Sterlin Harjo, creator; Dylan Brodie, associate producer; and Ryan Redcorn, writer; are expected to attend. Some of the show's actors may also make an appearance.