New Sculptures for Downtown OKC - 405 Magazine

New Sculptures for Downtown OKC

Artists chosen to breathe new life into unused space

 


New sculptures will soon adorn Downtown OKC after two projects were selected through the annual Artist Invitational.
 

Downtown OKC’s project serves as a call to artists to help breathe new life into unused spaces. Artists were encouraged to submit original ideas on how they would improve downtown through public art, and a selection committee chose two outstanding projects.

Hightower Park, near the city’s art museum, will be decorated with sculptural seating created by OKC-based artist Beatriz Mayorca, and local artist Klint Schor will be creating a sculpture entitled “The Kiss.”

This year, Downtown OKC extended its Artist Invitational to an unlimited number of artists, rather than a select group, as done the previous year. 

Mayorca’s permanent “Nurture” project will include a long bench and four chair-like benches, designed to encourage social activity and interaction in and around the space.

The Venezuelan artist explains that her project “injects an element of surprise into the urban routine, brings to life the hidden layers of the park, brings a spark of better environment quality, inspires the imagination and opens the window of what else could be possible.”

She adds that because sculptural seating is missing in the OKC area she hopes it will set an example for other public spaces to follow.

Schor’s “The Kiss,” likely to be erected in the Central Business District, is designed to show no gender, ethnicity or religious belief. It’s not only an obvious gesture but shows two separate pieces coming together to give each other stability.

Downtown OKC says the artists began permitting their projects in June. Previous projects, funded through the Artist Invitational have included Adam Lanman’s “Skyline: Timeline” at OCU School of Law and Leigh Martin’s fiber installation “Contained Aesthetic” at the downtown basketball court.

 

Like what you read? Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram

To stay posted about other events in the metro, sign up for our free email newsletter here.