Press release and some new renderings in advance of tomorrow's DDRC meeting where they are seeking design approval.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oklahoma Contemporary Seeks Approval
for Arts Campus Design
OKLAHOMA CITY (July 20, 2016) -- Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center will present detailed plans for its new arts campus, planned for NW 11th and Broadway, to the Downtown Design Review committee Thursday, July 21. The DDRC administers the design review process and issues Certificates of Approval for property located in downtown Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma Contemporary has been working toward the move since a 2011 study found the arts organization could better serve the city and state in a location closer to other Oklahoma City attractions, major workplaces and residential areas. The center has raised 60 percent of the $26 million needed for its new campus and anticipates opening in fall 2018.
"Since our founding as City Arts Center in 1989, more than 45,000 students have gotten their hands dirty and their hearts filled in a class or a camp with us," said Executive Director Donna Rinehart-Keever. Currently located at the state fairgrounds, Oklahoma Contemporary is committed to arts education and keeping art accessible through a broad range of educational programs, exhibitions and cultural offerings.
"We've shown more than 300 artists in the last decade, from Oklahomans in our annual ArtNow exhibition to big names like those coming this fall," Keever said. "But as showstopping as our exhibitions and events have become, education is the beating heart of our mission. From hands-on gallery activities to cutting-edge techniques like 3-D printing and animation, we continue to be a home for artistic exploration and learning creatively. And that home is about to get a lot more square footage."
The 4.6-acre campus will be home to a new 53,916-square-foot building, a renovated 10,000-square-foot building, a three-block arts park and space for outdoor exhibitions, education programs and public performances.
The four-story building, designed by renowned Oklahoma architect Rand Elliott, is called "Folding Light" because of the way the metal exterior will reflect Oklahoma's ever-changing sky.
Architecture is a reflection of the cultural values of a city, Elliott said, and Folding Light embodies the aspirations of our city. "Just as Oklahoma is known for our ever-changing weather, this architecture reflects the dramatic transformation of downtown and our boundless community spirit and celebrates our stunning Oklahoma light," Elliott said.
The arts campus isn't the only Oklahoma Contemporary project up for approval by the DDRC. Cloud City, a large-scale art installation by Tomas Saraceno, will open Sept. 8 at Campbell Art Park, adjacent to the site of the new arts campus.
"Cloud City offers just a glimpse of the kind of dynamic, interactive experiences we'll be able to facilitate on the grounds of our new downtown campus, experiences that bring people together to celebrate art and creativity in Oklahoma," said Artistic Director Jeremiah Davis.
Made of steel and acrylic, Cloud City is both transparent and reflective, so that grass may appear overhead and the sky is reflected onto the ground. The 16 interconnected modules, each the size of a small room, will reflect, refract and rearrange the skyline of downtown.
"This kind of project lays the groundwork for conversations across diverse fields and between communities, creating connections and opening doors to new ways of participating with art in Oklahoma City," Davis said. "It's an exciting time for Oklahoma Contemporary, our city and our state."
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