Skylines - Building a unique monument in OKC

[Kerry]

Free zoo, free museums - what a concept. After all, the tax payers paid for the construction I think they should get in for free. Not sure about OKC Zoo but typically gate fees are a very very small portion of the money collected. If the OKc Zoo was free just think how many more high-margin sodas they would sell everyday.

[mburlison]

The Arch in St. Louis has to do w/ it the city being the gateway to westward exploration (Lewis and Clark) and westward expansion later on, many wagon trains set out from there for points west. The space needle, I believe, has some loose symbolism w/ the area's aerospace industry (Boeing).

[ETL]

What do you all think about the worlds largest flag? I could be a 745 x 1475ft., 375 x 745ft., 5280 x 10456ft., or 5280 x 2666ft. This falg would be easily seen from space, better tan the Great Wall of China!!!! THIS FLAG WOULD NOT BE CLOTH! It would be permanent, maybe concrete?

Go to this link to see where I would put it >>> http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/6583/flapis4.jpg

Largest Flag >>> Superflag.Com - Home of the World's Largest Flag!

View from space >>> SPACE.com -- What's Really Visible from Space

[Spartan]

With our wind??

A giant flag. Sounds uhh...interesting, do explain. Or not.

[SpectralMourning]

It would've been nice if the American Indian Cultural Center & Museum were to be something of an internationally-recognized monument, akin to the Sydney Opera House in architecture and stature. Instead it retains a modest size and rather conservative, inoffensive architecture and itenerary. While they may not retain as much of a significant impact on society, the Native Americans were obviously crucial to the roots of the United States. While it's too late to lobby for any changes, the center could've been quite a larger impact than what it turned out to be.

Regardless, if Oklahoma City were to build a unique monument, I'd really wish for it to be along the Oklahoma River. Hopefully Humphreys will create a design worthy of at least national appeal, drawing the river together in the process in the air park location. It's a prime location to erect such a piece.

What does everyone else think?

[ETL]

With our wind??

A giant flag. Sounds uhh...interesting, do explain. Or not.

NOT IN THE AIR. It could even be made of colored rocks place in strategic locations, like the Nazca Lines in Peru. You could even lay concrete and paint it. Think about it.

[Spartan]

I am sorry, I'm just not feeling it.

[Patrick]

The indian statue, "The American", is going in the Osage Hills up by Tulsa.

I say NOTHING symbolizing the oil industry. It is not unique to our state and there's nothing original about a giant oil derrick. There already is one at Six Flags Over Texas.

I like the idea of something clear or crystal, although we already have a Crystal Bridge, but maybe we could call it something different. I wish we could think of something other that just a tower or some sort.

Why not build the Crystal Tower, next to the Crystal Bridge?

[Patrick]

I've always liked the End of the Trail statue at the Cowboy Museum....

[RVeit]

A giant statue of Foreman Scotty & Ho-Ho the Clown Just joking!

[ETL]

What do you not like about the idea? Do you think it will draw attention and people to our metro?

[stlokc]

Slightly off topic...

I have been looking on-line for a really good photo of the Downtown OKC skyline, that I could purchase. I have, hanging in my basement, photos I or my family have taken of trips around the world. I want to add photos of OKC and St. Louis. Far and away the best photo I have seen was the one taken by Shane that was on skyscraper city. Shane: I would ask if I could buy that photo from you, but I don't know if it would even be the right resolution to blow up (if you were even willing to let me buy it). Alternatively, I will be coming home for Thanksgiving - is there a store in OKC that sells skyline photos? Deck the Walls in STL has STL photos but I want to buy the OKC one first so I can match the size. Any help would be appreciated.

[stlokc]

Oops...I just went back and looked at that photo and it was actually taken by a Steven W. in Baltimore. My bad.

[TStheThird]

If we want to get some national attention, we should build a giant crystal and/or glass tower and commission Chihuly to build the world's tallest glass sculpture. If he built it on site, it would garner some attention. It would be a long process. It would be pretty cool. With the right lighting system, it would be an amazing piece of artwork inside a giant glass tower.

The execution of the project is the most important part if the goal is to gain some national attention.

[AFCM]

That's a wonderful and creative idea TS. It would have to be tempered glass for strength purposes, right? If so, I don't know how that would be done on site, but I suppose that would be up to the artists in charge of the project. Excellent idea.

[Patrick]

Just who is going to keep all that glass clean, so you can see the tour in the middle? And what about hail?

[TStheThird]

What about hail? We have glass skyscrapers.

[CuatrodeMayo]

TS = Architect
Patrick = Engineer

[Spartan]

Oops...I just went back and looked at that photo and it was actually taken by a Steven W. in Baltimore. My bad.

Could you send me a PM of that? I'm SRG...also, I could tell you if it is Shane's or not. See, I know him to a small extent, as we've been admins together for around a year now. He had a set of photos from Lake Hefner, looking on toward the Northwest Expressway skyline that included about 6-7 photos, and he just freely posts them. Actually he doesn't even think they're that great, when in reality they are.

Again, I don't think Steven W. ever had any OKC photos, but I only pay attention to people I'm familliar with, so again, I'd love to get that PM with a link...

[Spartan]

If we want to get some national attention, we should build a giant crystal and/or glass tower and commission Chihuly to build the world's tallest glass sculpture. If he built it on site, it would garner some attention. It would be a long process. It would be pretty cool. With the right lighting system, it would be an amazing piece of artwork inside a giant glass tower.

The execution of the project is the most important part if the goal is to gain some national attention.

Sure, Chihuly's stuff looks great, but is it really art? Personally I'd liken it to a large-scale version of a Hobby Lobby kit. He does blow the glass himself, but that's craftsmanship, not artistic ability, and then he just throws it together in a random and pointless pattern that he tried to duplicate on the other side. Does that denote an art form? I don't think so. Of course, I couldn't paint my way out of a box, nor could I paint the box itself, but for to me to admire something and call it art, an artist had better have an ingenious inspriration and spent hours on end making it just right. Picasso, Renoir, Monet, all were by and large, artistes. Chihuly? He's a hack with some glass that likes to rip cities and art museums around the nation. I liken him to abstract art...

[Kerry]

What about this - The Plaza of Flags.

Any flag, any cause, any reason. Here is the only catch. Whatever group wants to fly a flag has to pay for the pole and provide a new flag ever 60 days so they stay looking new. Flags would all have to be the same size. Also, no protesting or demonstrations on the plaza. If a flag goes 90 days without a replacement being made available it is taken down and the pole is availble for the next user. I don't think I would make any restrictions on who could put up a flag. Groups could even pay to put a small brass plaque at the base of their flag pole.

We would need a couple of acres but just think how cool it would be to see thouands of flags flying. The Oklahoma wind would do a nice job of keeping the flags displayed.

[Spartan]

There is a plaza of flags in front of the Chase Bank Tower.

[y_h]

Sure, Chihuly's stuff looks great, but is it really art? Personally I'd liken it to a large-scale version of a Hobby Lobby kit. He does blow the glass himself, but that's craftsmanship, not artistic ability, and then he just throws it together in a random and pointless pattern that he tried to duplicate on the other side.

Actually, that's a bone of contention with some of the artisans with whom Chihuly has worked at his studio/foundry. There have been a number of contentions and even some pending litigation over the actual ownership of many of the works accredited to Chihuly. Several people have indicated that Chihuly may give direction and inspiration to the works produced at his place but that his actual, direct input and labor represents only a small fraction of what actually gets produced in his shop.

But I digress.

A distinctive art piece downtown would certainly be a welcome signature element for the area, however what downtown needs most right now are residences and commerce.

[stlokc]

Spartan,
OK, I'm an idiot, or else I haven't taken the time to master the intracices of this site. I don't know how to send you a PM. But if you go to the "OKC Metro Projects" thread and go to "Spectral Mourning's" post #53, and click on that link, you'll see it...

[Kerry]

There is a plaza of flags in front of the Chase Bank Tower.

I'm not talking about a plaza with 10 flags - I'm talking about one with 5,000 flags spread over several acres.