Art investments bring dividends

Oklahoma City has been hard at work creating a sense of place with public art. Thanks to the 2009 initiative that requires 1% of the construction budget for public projects to be spent on public art, we’ve seen 10 years of new sculptures, murals and art installations across Oklahoma City.

Matt Goad started this week on the public art project for the Will Rogers World Airport terminal expansion on the east end of the airport. His geometric, pop-art-inspired style will welcome Oklahoma City residents and visitors to a place as bright and unexpected as his artwork.

Goad’s project, “OKConnected,” was selected from among 35 entries from national and international artists. The project will create a sense of place by telling the story of our city’s unique beginnings then bridging to the present to celebrate Oklahoma City’s colorful cultures and industries. It will consist of geometric terrazzo floor tile, anchored by a mosaic of the airport’s namesake, holding a cowboy hat and lasso. It will be finished in the spring of 2021.

Make sure you see one of Oklahoma City’s newest murals, the peacock on the west end of the Bricktown Canal. El Pavo Real was painted by Oklahoma artist Jack Fowler and funded by the Bricktown Association. It is a colorful addition to one of our favorite entertainment districts.

Read the full article at The Journal Record