Local artists showcase sculptures along Linwood Boulevard as part of Strong Neighborhoods Initiative
10/04/2023
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Link to video of the sculptures
As part of the City of Oklahoma City’s Strong Neighborhoods Initiative (SNI), the Metro Park Neighborhood Association selected three local artists for public art in the median along Linwood Boulevard.
Metro Park adopted the triangle at North Western Avenue and Linwood Diagonal with the intention of creating an “Art Thoroughfare.” The neighborhood’s long-term goal is to erect 10-12 sculptures along Linwood Boulevard between North Klein Avenue and North Brauer Avenue.
Zephyr
“Zephyr” was the first sculpture installed along the thoroughfare by Tracey and Rick Bewley of Art Fusion Studio. With the history of car manufacturing in this area, the artists created a modern spin on the Art Deco hood ornament. The $10,000 sculpture can be found between North Klein Avenue and North Ellison Avenue.
Knot Column
The second artwork installed was “Knot Column” (AKA Shoelace) by artist Klint Schor. The artist designed this piece with materials that seem to stretch. Schor described it as the “curious aspects of materials.” The $10,000 sculpture can be viewed between North Brauer Avenue and North Douglas Avenue.
Bloom
Local artist Paul Bagley of Design Silo, LLC created and installed the third and fourth sculptures of the project, named “Bloom”. Because of the spatial arrangement, the design appears to move as viewed from a car. The two sculptures, commissioned for $10,000, can be seen between North Ellison Avenue and North Douglas Avenue.
“Our SNI team was ecstatic when we heard Metro Park’s desire to create the art thoroughfare along Linwood Boulevard,” SNI’s Program Planner Shannon Entz said. “It is visionary, impactful, and we believe it will catalyze revitalization.”
SNI offers an annual neighborhood grant for special beautification projects in the SNI neighborhoods and Metro Park has chosen to focus on public art. They go through a competitive art selection process which includes a committee, made up of residents and professional artists, that makes a recommendation to the Arts Commission and City Council. The projects are funded by the City of Oklahoma City’s Community Development Block Grant allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.
About SNI
The City’s Strong Neighborhoods Initiative is a targeted neighborhood revitalization program that works alongside neighborhood residents to develop and implement strategies to improve their neighborhoods over a five-year period. The program currently works with these neighborhoods: Capitol Hill and Metro Park in Ward 6 and Martin Luther King and Capitol View in Ward 7. Examples of projects include home repairs, new home construction, sidewalks, parks, tree plantings, afterschool programs and improved public spaces. SNI projects are intended to be a catalyst for private investment in places that have seen disinvestment. Since the program began 10 years ago, the City has invested $16.2 million in SNI neighborhoods, and more than $51 million in private dollars has been invested. Previous SNI neighborhoods include Classen Ten Penn, Classen North Highland Park and Culbertson East Highland.
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Media Contact: Kristy Yager, (405) 297-2550, kristy.yager@okc.gov
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