Compass Rose

[Doug Loudenback]

At its March 30, 2010, meeting the Oklahoma City Council approved a sculpture, The Compass Rose, to be placed in the Bicentennial Park (east of the Civic Center). The $350,000 project was 100% funded by a grant from the Inasmuch Foundation without cost to the city. The sculptor is/was New York artist Owen Morrel. Exemplar images of the design approved by council are shown below:





The sculpture was to be constructed from aluminum and stainless steel with a 30' diameter and was to have been completed in 2011.

However, with the subsequent approval by the City Council of a Project 180 Bicentennial Park plan designed by Rand Elliott which has turned Bicentennial Park into sort of an art deco (if viewed from an elevated angle) symmetrical series of walkways and trees ...



... Compass Rose is not to be found within it.

Substituted location and/or plans for Compass Rose has not been discussed in the media and its present status is presently unknown. See this OkcTalk thread for more.

[catch22]

I believe this is now to be placed somewhere in the Boathouse district....or somewhere along the river....

[Doug Loudenback]

My intention was to create an OKCpedia piece into which the earlier OkcTalk thread would be attached. I obviously don't know what I'm doing (since that didn't happen) but I'm hoping that Pete will have time to mitigate my ignorance and fix it.

[Praedura]

This is really cool. I had no knowledge of this object at all. Very nice piece.

I'm a bit confused though. Has it been paid for? Has it been constructed yet?

[Praedura]

I believe this is now to be placed somewhere in the Boathouse district....or somewhere along the river....

That would be a nice fit. It would go well with the existing structures (boathouses) out there. Plus it already has a semi-nautical look and feel to it.

[Doug Loudenback]

I believe this is now to be placed somewhere in the Boathouse district....or somewhere along the river....

That may well be, but no Oklahoman article that I could locate after April 7, 2010, mentions Compass Rose or its possible other locations (if any).

[Doug Loudenback]

This is really cool. I had no knowledge of this object at all. Very nice piece.

I'm a bit confused though. Has it been paid for? Has it been constructed yet?

100% of the funding was to be paid by Inasmuch Foundation, but, given the hiatus in the sculpture's location, and since it could obviously not be constructed according to the original timetable (to be completed in 2011) I wouldn't suppose that it has been constructed, or if it ever will be. Inasmuch's project was for $350,000 in March 2010 dollars. Whether that cost remains realistic I wouldn't know. And whether Inasmuch would remain committed to fund the project in a different location than that originally planned, I wouldn't know.

[catch22]

That may well be, but no Oklahoman article that I could locate after April 7, 2010, mentions Compass Rose or its possible other locations (if any).

Here's a building permit for "Compass Rose Sculpture" issued 18 Sep 2012. 649 SE 6 OKC OK, which would be located in the boathouse district.

Accela Citizen Access

[Praedura]

http://www.okc.gov/agendapub/cache/2...3012219504.PDF

The text within:

Council Agenda
MEMORANDUM Item No. VI.U.2.
4/10/2012
The City of
OKLAHOMA CITY
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: James D. Couch, City Manager

Agreement for Sculptural Design, Fabrication, Installation, and Purchase of the sculpture “Compass
Rose” by Owen Morrel, with Morrel Studios, Inc., for placement in the Boathouse District of the
Oklahoma River, within the traffic circle to be located north of SE 6th Street and east of Lincoln
Boulevard, $400,000. Ward 7.

Location
The Boathouse District of the Oklahoma River, within the traffic circle to
be located north of SE 6th Street and east of Lincoln Boulevard

Background
The sculpture “Compass Rose” has been commissioned by Leadership
Oklahoma City Inc. (Leadership OKC) as a gift to the public. It will be
created by artist Owen Morrel of Morrel Studios Inc. (Studios) and be
funded primarily through a grant by the Inasmuch Foundation.
The Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation approved this location and
agreed to maintain the art piece consistent with standards approved under
its Amended Landscape and Maintenance Agreement for the Boathouse
District.
Under a separate Gift Acceptance Agreement, Leadership OKC agrees to
provide, and The City of Oklahoma City (City) agrees to accept, funds
necessary to commission the Studios to produce “Compass Rose.” The
City and Mr. Morrel will enter into a separate Artist's Agreement to
formalize that arrangement. Those items are also docketed for approval
on this agenda.
Under this Agreement, the Studios will design and fabricate the sculpture
and sell it the City. “Compass Rose” will be a unique and original
artwork constructed according to final plans and specifications approved
by the City.
The City shall pay the Studios $400,000 for the art piece. Payments shall
be incremental and based on a milestone schedule included in the
Agreement. Following installation, the City shall provide sod,
landscaping, electrical service, and ambient lighting for the site.

The Studios will provide necessary insurance and indemnifications, and
Mr. Morrel guarantees performance of all obligations of the Studios under
this Agreement. Once the sculpture is fabricated, the Studios agrees to
store it prior to delivery. The Studios warrants that the sculpture shall be
free of material or workmanship defects for two years from the date of
final acceptance by the City.
Mr. Morrel agrees to waive certain rights under the Visual Artists Rights
Act, subject to stipulations enumerated in the Agreement. The target
completion date for “Compass Rose” is September 30, 2012.
On August 15, 2011, the Oklahoma City Arts Commission recommended
approval of the location change. On December 20, 2011, the Oklahoma
City Riverfront Redevelopment Authority recommended approval of the
Agreement.

Previous Action
Donation and Artwork Installation Agreement with Leadership Oklahoma
City Inc., purchase and installation of artwork entitled "Compass Rose"
by Owen Morrel approved by Council on March 30, 2010 (Item No.
VI.AD.)

Source of Funds
$400,000 - OCITY - Special Purpose - Compass Rose - Donations - Art
(OCITY-750-1650-54130005).

Review
Parks and Recreation Department

Recommendation:
Agreement be approved.

[Doug Loudenback]

Thanks for the news, catch22. It's good news to the extent that the Compass Rose project is apparently moving forward, but it's less pleasing that the sculpture will have a smaller public view than originally contemplated. Still, one takes what one can get.

Google Maps shows the area you identified, 649 SE 6th, as follows:

[Praedura]

Looks like my previous link wasn't a good one. Try this one:

http://www.okc.gov/agendapub/view.as...fileid=1523871

[UnFrSaKn]

Boathouse District Development: Coming Soon!

[OKCisOK4me]

I wouldn't necessarily call that a traffic circle...

[Snowman]

I wouldn't necessarily call that a traffic circle...

It functions more like a circle driveway, allowing access to the parking lots from the street and for vehicles with trailers to turn around after dropping off or picking up row boats

[OKCisOK4me]

It functions more like a circle driveway, allowing access to the parking lots from the street and for vehicles with trailers to turn around after dropping off or picking up row boats

Maybe I should have been more specific...

I was referring to the circular base around the artwork in the rendering

[catcherinthewry]

I am hearing that the Compass Rose will be installed by the end of August.

[Snowman]

I am hearing that the Compass Rose will be installed by the end of August.

It make sense they would try to get it finished before the beginning of October, which is when their biggest event of the year takes place and has the most people there from out of state.

[UnFrSaKn]

Compass sculpture changes course for the Boathouse District | Oklahoman.com

[Larry OKC]

it is sharp looking and it seems like an appropriate relocation...concerning its original intended location, what did they put in its place (if anything)?

[OKCisOK4me]

it is sharp looking and it seems like an appropriate relocation...concerning its original intended location, what did they put in its place (if anything)?

A new grand lawn between Walker and The Civic Center...

[Mel]

Does it spin?

[kevinpate]

Does it spin?

Nah, it'll sit there for folks to fawn over, but it isn't running for mayor.

[ljbab728]

Sculptor discusses 'Compass Rose' in Oklahoma City's Boathouse District | News OK