New Downtown Art: Compass Rose

[Doug Loudenback]

Click on the above for a larger view. I took the above pic when attending the LetsTalkTransit public meeting at city hall on March 29. I didn't know what it was then but the next day, March 30, city council approved a proposal to construct and place the above in the Bicentennial Park east of the Civic Center Music Hall and west of Walker. Reading this Oklahoman article put the pieces all together.

Click on the image for a larger view



A packet of materials was available near the Compass Rose model and I've scanned the packet and reported on the sculpture, to be completed sometime in 2011, in this brief blog article: Doug Dawgz Blog: Compass Rose

Three of the packet's images, very nicely showing actual scenes with the sculpture inserted, are shown below ... click on images for larger views ... all the packet's images are in my blog article ...





Night view -- the sculpture includes LED lighting in the base



The $350,000 project is 100% funded by the Inasmuch Foundation, no dollars from the city. There's more information in my blog article if you want specifics.

I don't know about you, but I think this is really really cool!

[fromdust]

ohhh..... i like.

[circuitboard]

Love it!

[sroberts24]

nice!

[mheaton76]

Thumbs up!

[progressiveboy]

This is great!

[kevinpate]

Very nice. Thanks for the head's up.

[Doug Loudenback]

It's interesting that this item just popped upon us, a done deal, with no fanfare, slipping under our collective radar. It's a nice, very nice, surprise, to be sure.

[Urbanized]

I like it too. Somebody needs to hate it pretty soon though, or it doesn't count as art.

[Spartan]

I like it too. Somebody needs to hate it pretty soon though, or it doesn't count as art.

Well, I am very concerned about it blocking the view of the middle of City Hall as viewed from the Park Avenue......streetwall!!

LOL just kidding. This is great. We need more art!

[Doug Loudenback]

Oh, come on, Urbanized ... it just MAY BE POSSIBLE that a development, essentially presented as a gift to the city by the Inasmuch Foundation, which embraces a really cool design, has the capacity of escaping negative criticism and still be "art." I mean, what kid amongst us doesn't remember liking gyroscopes when we were young? My guess: None. We all liked gyroscopes. This piece of art strikes me as being a 30-foot diameter gyroscope. Maybe negative critiquers will chime in here, but my guess is that won't happen. It's just way tooo cool!

[earlywinegareth]

Hey, that's the wormhole-making machine from the Jodie Foster movie, Contact. A word of caution - if it starts to spin and glow and make a high pitched whine, don't stand too close.

[Doug Loudenback]

Hey, that's the wormhole-making machine from the Jodie Foster movie, Contact. A word of caution - if it starts to spin and glow and make a high pitched whine, don't stand too close.

It would probably be safe as long as you weren't inside it at the time.

[kevinpate]

Well, that's just great. Was all set to love it, then it gets exposed as just a marketing gimmick for the upcoming Lady GAGA concert. Now I hates it.



.oO(I keeed, but don't tell Urbanized)Oo.

[Midtowner]

I haven't paid attention to that particular lawn lately. Did the fountain in front of City Hall get replaced?

[adaniel]

Great statue, but it looks like something Lady Gaga would wear.

Actually.....



Coincidence? I think not!

[Architect2010]

Great statue, but it looks like something Lady Gaga would wear.

Actually.....



Coincidence? I think not!

When I saw the sculpture at first, that suit of hers also came to mind!

I love it. Good addition to public art downtown!

[jbrown84]

Two thumbs up to this! Thanks for the announcement Doug.

I haven't paid attention to that particular lawn lately. Did the fountain in front of City Hall get replaced?

No it didn't. This is on the lawn between City Hall and the Civic Center Music Hall (Bicentennial Park).

The last rendering is a little confusing. It does appear to be city hall in the background, looking across Walker.

[Doug Loudenback]

Two thumbs up to this! Thanks for the announcement Doug.

No it didn't. This is on the lawn between City Hall and the Civic Center Music Hall (Bicentennial Park).

The last rendering is a little confusing. It does appear to be city hall in the background, looking across Walker.

Yes, the night view does look east toward city hall ... here's a daytime view, looking east across Walker ...

[Midtowner]

Two thumbs up to this! Thanks for the announcement Doug.



No it didn't. This is on the lawn between City Hall and the Civic Center Music Hall (Bicentennial Park).

The last rendering is a little confusing. It does appear to be city hall in the background, looking across Walker.

Sounds good.

That park is a hugely underutilized public space. Only thing I ever see going on out there is homeless folks taking naps.

[Urban Pioneer]

Sounds good.

That park is a hugely underutilized public space. Only thing I ever see going on out there is homeless folks taking naps.

Except when there's ice skating. I assume that will move to the new rink on Myriad Garden and/or the fountain in the new Central Park.

I do agree about the sight lines. When does this go to the Urban Design Commission for approval?

[SkyWestOKC]

Looks good!

[Larry OKC]

Thanks Doug for the pics...saw the article in the Oklahoman and this was definitely a case where a pic would have been helpful...I agree with the consensus...kewl

[ljbab728]

Does anyone know if the design has any particular meaning or semblance? It somewhat resembles a sundial also.

[Doug Loudenback]

Does anyone know if the design has any particular meaning or semblance? It somewhat resembles a sundial also.

You can read the artist's description here: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49...mpassrose6.jpg