Personally I think this will be the most AWESOME piece of public art for the canal! The project being done by OCCC students and volunteers....what more could we ask for?!

A whale in downtown OKC would not make sense. The whale artist is terrific, but this is much better for the City.


Council considers art plan
By Bryan Dean
The Oklahoman

The artist who plans to create a ceramic tile mosaic at the west end of the Bricktown Canal discussed her project Tuesday with the Oklahoma City Council.
The council is scheduled to vote on the proposal next week. Council members were complimentary of the design, much to the delight of Mary Ann Moore, the Oklahoma City Community College professor of visual art who is leading the $150,000 project.

Ward 5 Councilman Jerry Foshee said the mosaic will help the city's efforts to become "a destination point instead of just a stopover point."

"We are continuing to improve that area," Foshee said. "This just enhances it. It's like putting a bouquet of flowers on a dinner table."

The project is co-sponsored by the Oklahoma Centennial Commission. Blake Wade, executive director of the commission, said the two-year timeline for completing the project is longer than he would like, but will allow Moore to produce a quality project.

"We are going to hand-make all of the tiles and fire it to a frost-proof temperature to make sure it is going to work in the weather," Moore said.

Moore will make the tiles with her students and volunteers.

"I think it will be truly an exciting artistic improvement to downtown," Wade said.