HISTORIC ART TOUR
Edmond Public Art SELF-GUIDED TOURS
Yellow Ri
bbon by
Rich Mun
www.EdmondPublicArt.com
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1 - OKC Bombing Memorial for Edmond Victims Architect, Duane Mass Located in the center of Mitch Park along the pathed trail
2 - West Edmond Field - Jim Franklin
Located at Mitch Park northeast of the YMCA
3 - Purple Heart Memorial Monument - Pete Delasi
Located at the main entrance to Mitch park, just north of Sacagawea.
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Mitch Park
2 3 4
5 W. Covell Rd.
E. Covell Rd.
4 - Sacagawea - Glenna Goodacre
Located off of Covell on Shortgrass Road on the north side of the entrance to Touchmark.
6 - St. Francis - Beverly Steigerwald
N. Bryant Ave.
5 - Mark Twain - Gary Lee Price
N. Boulevard
N. Kelly Ave.
Located at the main entrance to Mitch park on the northwest corner
Located on the northeast corner of Broadway and Colcord
7 - Monet - Gary Lee Price
Located on the south side of the Fine Art Institute between Littler and Broadway on the north side of Edwards
8 - Yellow Ribbon - Rich Muno (Privately Owned)
Located on the south side of the post office at Campbell and Broadway
9 - Dawn of Hope - Mary Lou Gresham
Located on the southwest corner of Broadway and Hurd
10 - Leaping into History, Kentucky Daisy - Mary Lou Gresham
W. Danforth Rd.
E. Danforth Rd.
Located on the south side of 1st Street, between Broadway and the railroad tracks
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11 - Ready to Serve - Janie Tigert
N. Broadway
Located in front of the Edmond Police Station on the southeast corner of 1st and Littler
12 - The Reader - Mary Lou Gresham
Located on the east side of the Edmond Library at 1st and Boulevard
13 - Shannon Miller - Shan Gray
Located in Shannon Miller Park south of Main and Jackson
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14 - Shakespeare Bench - Gary Lee Price
Located on the UCO campus in front (west side) of Mitchell Hall
15 - “Lighting the Path” Ida Freeman
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Located on the UCO campus on the east side of Old North
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16 - Touch the Clouds - Dave McGary
Located on the UCO campus at the corner of 2nd and Garland Godfery Dr., south of the Nigh University Center
W. Edmond Rd.
11 1213 17
17 - Edmond Stations Land Run Settlers - Dr Bob Palmer and UCO Students
15 14 16
University of Central Oklahoma
E. 2nd St.
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Located on the wall of Market Beverage Co behind the 1889 Territorial School on 2nd west of Boulevard
18 - Peace (also known as Plow Shears) - Rich Muno Located in Stephenson Park at 4th an Boulevard
S. Broadway
19 - Las Brisas - Sandy Scott
Located on the west side of Broadway at 11th Street Located north of the pond at 15th Street Station, just west of Broadway
22 - Aidan’s Legacy - James Haire
Located in front of Fire Station #2 on the north side of 15th just west of Kelly
W. 15th St.
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20
S. Kelly Ave.
21 - Poppies (WWII Vet Memorial) - Sandy Proctor
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19 S. Bryant Ave.
20 - Blue Hippo - Unknown Artist
S. Boulevard
Located at the entrance to Pelican Bay Aquatic Center on Bryant between 9th and 15th
N
E. 15th St.
E
W
S
Art In Public Places Edmond’s public art program has helped fill the city with a sense of community and culture. The Edmond Visual Arts Commission is responsible for all of the public art around the city, and is in charge of expanding the art collection, promoting the public art program, and maintaining the pieces. These pieces are funded in one of three ways: Donations, public/private partnerships, and CIP 1% set-aside funds. The public art program began in 2002, with 14 pieces in the inventory. Now, there are over 200 pieces, with the 200th being installed in June of 2018. Within this collection, there are many installations from Oklahoma natives, and some from artists who are known and admired throughout the world. The City’s art program has created a great attraction for tourists and given Edmond residents something to be proud of.
Historic Art Tour This tour features some of the many pieces around Edmond with historic ties. It hosts more than 20 amazing sculptures with stories that are just as captivating. Some of these installations dive into the history of Edmond, and some highlight history from across the world. Regardless of their background, all of these pieces are an integral part of the Edmond community and its history.
1
OKC Bombing Memorial for Edmond Victims Architect, Duane Mass
The “OKC Bombing Memorial for Edmond Victims,� created by architect Duane Mass, is one of the most chilling installations in the city of Edmond. It is located in a quiet area of Mitch Park and honors the Edmondites who lost their lives in the bombing of the Murrah Building on April 19, 1995. Diane E. Althouse, Paul Broxterman, Robert Chipman, Benjamin Davis, Carrol Fields, Ethel L. Griffin, Christi Jenkins, Donald Ray Leonard, James A. McCarthy, Kenneth McCullough, Pat Nix, Antonio (Tony) Reyes, Jules Valdez, Johnny Wade, David Jack Walker, Michael Weaver, Alan G. Whicher, and Ronota Ann Woodbridge were 18 of the 168 Oklahomans who passed away on this day. Each one of these victims had a unique life. Some were former military members; some were parents; some were coaches; and some were on their way to retirement. Although these people had their own stories, they did have at least one thing in common: they were all cherished members of the Edmond community. After the blast, the community showed their support for the family members of the victims, and turned a dark time into a moment of hope, unity, and strength.
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West Edmond Field Jim Franklin
“West Edmond Field” by Jim Franklin is a marvelous bronze that sits inside of Mitch Park. This piece commemorates the West Edmond Field, which, at one time, was one of the most productive oil fields across the globe. In the 1940’s, at the peak of World War II, this field produced 7.75 million barrels of oil. This amount of product meant there was significant revenue for the workers. Many of the men who worked on the rig were military members coming back from the war. West Edmond Field gave these men an opportunity to start families and create a life here in Edmond. The two men depicted in “West Edmond Field” were based off of veterans from the community. Thanks to the help of Foundation Chairman Curt Munson and artist Jim Franklin, two young veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan were chosen to model for the statue. The young veterans who helped model for this statue are a great representation of the men who worked on the West Edmond Field and helped make Edmond what it is today.
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Purple Heart Memorial Monument Pete Delasi
“Purple Heart Memorial Monument” by Pete Delasi is a sturdy, granite tribute that honors Purple Heart recipients. It was a partnership piece, funded through public and private partnerships, including funds from the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The memorial is located around the West entrance of Edmond’s Mitch Park and stands at about five feet tall. The “Purple Heart Memorial Monument” was placed in recognition of the heroes who have received the great honor of the Purple Heart, and in communicating the purpose of the Purple Heart. The text at the top of the monument reads: “Dedicated to all men and women wounded in combat. All gave some. Some gave all.”
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Sacagawea Glenna Goodacre
“Sacagawea” by Glenna Goodacre stands tall at the entrance of Edmond’s Mitch Park. This piece was made possible by Mo and Richard Anderson, in partnership with the Edmond Visual Arts Commission. This bronze is the largest single-donor piece in Edmond’s art collection with a total cost of $95,000 and the donation being $65,000. This sculpture depicts Sacagawea, a Native American woman who was most famously known for helping Lewis and Clark on their mission of exploring the Louisiana Territory. She was born in 1788, and at the age of 12 was taken by Hidatsa Indians. She was eventually taken by a French-Canadian Trapper named Toussaint Charbonneau, and at the age of 16, was forced to become his wife. That same year, Sacagawea began her journey with Lewis and Clark. For the rest of her life, she contributed to natural history and became a symbol for women’s independence and Native American liberation.
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Mark Twain Gary Lee Price
“Mark Twain” is the first of many life-sized sculptures that celebrates the great contributors in the sciences, arts, philosophy, literature, and music. These works appear in a series by Gary Lee Price, a bronze artist who holds the greatest number of works in Edmond’s public art inventory. The people in this series are the ones who went above and beyond at their craft and worked to change the world. Samuel Langhorne Clemens, widely known by the pen name Mark Twain, is one of the world’s most well-known writers. Two of his most famous novels are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain was a wildly interesting and intelligent man whose wit and satirical nature earned him international attention. He was friends with many prestigious individuals, including presidents, royalty, and artists. One of the most interesting facts about Mark Twain is that he was born shortly after Halley’s Comet, and stated that he would probably die, or in his words, “go out with,” the comet as well. Twain passed away on the day after Halley’s Comet came the closest to Earth.
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St. Francis Beverly Steigerwald
“St. Francis� by Beverly Steigerwald sits peacefully outside of the Church of the Good Shepherd. This sculpture portrays St. Francis, one of the most famous patron saints. Born around 1181, the legacy of this man has lived on for centuries. He passed away in 1226 and is still one of the most highly respected individuals in Catholic history. St. Francis dedicated his life to Christ after hearing the voice of God, who commanded him to live in poverty and rebuild the Christian church. He was commonly associated with animals and nature as it became custom for churches to bless animas during ceremonies on or around feast day. He eventually became the patron saint of animals and the environment. Later in his life, St. Francis received a vision that left him with wounds similar to the crucifixion wounds that Jesus Christ suffered. He was also the first person to organize a live Christmas nativity scene. During his relatively short life, all of these instances helped St. Francis gain millions of followers globally.
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Monet Gary Lee Price
“Monet” by Gary Lee Price depicts one of the world’s most renowned artists. This bronze shows Oscar-Claude Monet in the middle of creating one of his many masterpieces. The bench in this sculpture invites viewers to sit, reflect, and get to know this incredible artist. Born in France in 1840, Monet is known for his interesting creation of landscape and nature paintings. Because of his unique style of painting, he became the father of Impressionism. He became most widely known for his water lily paintings, where he depicts the plants from his estate’s pond. Monet was greatly inspired by the nature at his home and garden. He died in 1926, but left behind a legacy that will last forever.
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Yellow Ribbon Rich Muno
“Yellow Ribbon� by Rich Muno is a privately-owned sculpture representing a tragic moment in Edmond History. On August 20, 1986, a disgruntled part-time mail carrier opened fire in the Edmond Post Office, wounding six and killing 14 before taking his own life. Citizens across the area donated funds toward the purchase of this bronze. This statue features a couple standing on top of a pedestal, holding a yellow ribbon. This represents the yellow ribbons that were displayed in Edmond neighborhoods after the tragedy to show support for the victims. These pieces of fabric were tied onto trees, mailboxes, lampposts, and more. There is a plaque featured on the monument that displays the names of the 14 lives lost. There is also a large fountain surrounding the pedestal that features 14 spouts, representing each one of the victims.
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Dawn of Hope Mary Lou Gresham
“Dawn of Hope” by Mary Lou Gresham is a life-sized bronze that stands tall in front of Russell Dougherty Elementary School. It was dedicated in 2009 and was sponsored by the Edmond Parks Foundation. This piece is dedicated to the young men and women from Edmond who served their country during World War II. There are bricks surrounding the statue dedicated to many military members, including those who died by Russell’s side. The man depicted in the statue is none other than Russell Dougherty himself. The name “Dawn of Hope” was chosen to show us the role of the United States Marines in Guadalcanal. This bronze shows Dougherty heading to his aircraft on the last dawn of his life. He is carrying his parachute and looks up at the morning sky as the sun rises, the glare reflecting off his sunglasses. “Dawn of Hope” is facing to the East, so that the sun catches the glasses, just like it did on Russell Dougherty’s final morning in Guadalcanal. Each element of this sculpture is incredibly realistic and looks as if Russell Dougherty is frozen in time as his memory lives on.
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Leaping into History, Kentucky Daisey Mary Lou Gresham
“Leaping into History: Kentucky Daisey” by Mary Lou Gresham depicts a captivating story of early Oklahoma history. The woman shown in this stunning bronze is Nannita Daisey. Nannita’s family was originally from Kentucky, but her restless spirit led her to Texas, where she became a newspaper reporter. Her job sent her to cover the Oklahoma Land Run, and she began her journey in a press car. While stopped in Edmond, Nannita Daisey used her sweet-talking charm to convince the engineer to let her ride on the cowcatcher at the front of the train. As the train reached two miles North of Edmond, she leaped off of the train, drove her stakes into the ground, and ripped off her petticoat to use as a flag. She then fired her gun into the air and ran back to the moving train, where her friends pulled her into the caboose. Nannita’s story captured the attention of newspapers across the country and the world, and Edmond had its first internationally famous resident.
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Ready to Serve Janie Tigert
“Ready to Serve� by Janie Tigert is an incredibly realistic sculpture that looks as if it is ready to leap into action. It depicts a life-sized Belgian Malinois Canine Officer and honors the canines and handlers of the Edmond Police Department. This piece was made possible by the Edmond Visual Arts Commission partnered with the Edmond Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, Edmond Fraternal Order of Police, and friends. Edmond, Oklahoma is one of the safest cities in the country for its size and population and the Edmond Police Department continually strives to find new and unique ways to serve the community. The city of Edmond is filled with amazing citizens and police officers who have vowed to serve and protect, and this bronze is in honor of them.
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The Reader Mary Lou Gresham
“The Reader” by Mary Lou Gresham is thought to be the second bronze statue that was installed in Edmond, right behind “Lady Liberty.” In 1994, Mary Lou Gresham created a series of clay sculptures of people on pedestals. One of these sculptures featured an older gentleman sitting on a pedestal, reading a newspaper. At the Canterbury Art Festival, Edmond Parks Foundation Member David Bickham was stricken by the piece and asked Mary Lou to recreate a life-sized version of it. Over the next few months, Gresham taught herself to make a bronze statue, and “The Reader” was born. This piece was modeled after Charles Boldin, who had 29 years of service to the state of Oklahoma and the city of Edmond, working with the Edmond Boys Ranch.
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Shannon Miller Shan Gray
“Shannon Miller” by Shan Gray is a stunning bronze that captures the strength of Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller. She was born in Missouri, but moved to Oklahoma at just 6 months old, where she would call Edmond her home. From her Edmond roots, she sprouted into one of the world’s best gymnasts. Miller was once the most decorated American gymnast, now falling slightly behind Simone Biles. Shannon Miller is a member of eight halls of fame and is the only female to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame twice. She won over 100 national and international competition medals, with over half of those being gold. Miller has also claimed two World All-Around titles and has won 5 Olympic medals: two silver and three bronze. After her retirement from competitive gymnastics, she received a degree in marketing and entrepreneurship, and later earned a law degree from Boston College. Shannon Miller is truly one of Edmond’s greatest, and her legacy is honored through this sculpture.
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Shakespeare Bench Gary Lee Price
“Shakespeare Bench” by Gary Lee Price displays an unbelievably realistic portrayal of the world’s most famous playwright. William Shakespeare is widely believed to be the best dramatist in the world and the finest writer in the English language. For more than 400 years, his beloved stories and characters have withstood the test of time. The artist of “Shakespeare Bench,” Gary Lee Price, is often recognized for his benches. His works are so incredible, that he has the most sculptures around the city of Edmond, with a total of 12 to date. For many, creating a sculpture of such a widely known individual can be far too intimidating, but Gary Lee Price was up for that challenge. In a memoir on his website regarding the bench, Price said “The most difficult part of creating my life-size Shakespeare was to quit working on it. Trying to represent him and his work was like trying to sculpt all of humanity in just one figure. The bench ended up being my storyboard and it could have gone on ad infinitum!”
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"Lighting the Path" Ida Freeman Mary Lou Gresham
“Lighting the Path” by Mary Lou Gresham is a sculpture that emphasizes the importance of a great teacher. Ida Freeman was an educator for 38 years. Known locally as “Miss Ida”, she began teaching in 1898 and relocated to Edmond in 1905. She retired in 1941 and continued to live in Edmond until her death at the age of 80 in 1957. Ida Freeman used strict but loving education methods in her classroom. These methods helped teach three generations of Edmondites. The effect that she had in her teaching truly helped light the path for her students. One interesting fact about Ida is that she would grow seedlings from her large pecan tree and provide them to her students. These trees that have sprouted around Edmond serve as a reminder of Ida’s impact. In the sculpture, Ida is reading Treasure Island to two young children, both intently listening to the story. On Ida’s chest is a pin for her alma mater, Central State College, which is now the University of Central Oklahoma. When students walk along campus at UCO, they walk in the same steps as Ida did many years ago.
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Touch the Clouds Dave McGary
“Touch the Clouds” by Dave McGary is an awe-inspiring piece, standing more than 18 feet tall. This immense sculpture was donated by Dave McGary to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and was installed in front of the Houston Astrodome in February 1998. It was eventually purchased by the Edmond City Council in November 2013 and was moved to its current location in May 2015. “Touch the Clouds” depicts Chief Touch the Clouds, a Lakota Sioux warrior who was known for his skill and bravery in battle, as well as his diplomacy in counsel. He served as the head of one of his tribe’s war societies and was also a Delegate to Washington in 1877. Chief Touch the Clouds was a vocal advocate for his people and campaigned for peace and justice within his tribe until the day the died. The statue of Chief Touch the Clouds was created to embody his true essence, with his arms open wide and set in a powerful stance. The artist, Western American sculptor Dave McGary, was an expert of Native American history, and wanted his legacy to involve his testament to the culture of these people. “How I want to be remembered [is]… for having documented, with respect, the culture of Native American people.”
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Edmond Stations Land Run Settlers Dr. Bob Palmer and UCO Students
“Edmond Stations Land Run Settlers” was created by Dr. Bob Palmer and University of Central Oklahoma students. It was painted in the alley next to the Historic School House in the year 2002 and can be seen from the schoolhouse window. This piece was paid for in partnership with the Edmond Historic Preservation Trust. Dr. Palmer and his students learned a great deal of history while working on this mural. Palmer said that he has learned more about history while painting than he has in any other season of life. When asked about his colleagues on this painting, he said, “I am thankful that the university allowed me to teach mural painting.” Some of his former students now paint for him, while some have even become his competitors.
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Peace/Plowshares Rich Muno
“Peace,” also known as “Plowshares”, by Rich Muno is a sculpture dedicated to all of the men and women from Edmond who have served in the armed forces. This piece depicts a tall young man driving his sword into a plowshare. It is surrounded by bricks that bear the names of current and former Edmond residents and donors to the Edmond Centennial Project. Many of the names are in honor of Edmond Veterans The name and concept of “Peace” stems from Isaiah’s second chapter in the Bible. The verse reads: “He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” The purpose of this statue is to serve as a reminder that those who serve in the military will continue to fight for us and create peace until weapons are no longer needed.
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Las Brisas Sandy Scott
“Las Brisas” by Sandy Scott is a naturalistic bronze that captures the attention of everyone who walks by. This piece depicts a large pelican in a powerful stance, with its wings spread open wide. This beautiful bird is quite fitting for its location, as it is located in front of Edmond’s Pelican Bay Aquatic Center. This particular sculpture was funded with donations raised by Former Judge Jim Harrod for his daughter, Laynie. Laynie served as the liaison to the Parks Foundation for the Edmond Parks and Recreation Department, which is why this stunning piece has such special significance for her.
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Blue Hippo Unknown Artist
The “Blue Hippo” is an icon for both Edmond residents and Route 66 travelers alike. Although the artist of the fiberglass sculpture is unknown, it is one of the most widely known art pieces across the city. The hippo, unofficially named Buddy, is hard to miss, and is the subject of many conversations and photos. “Blue Hippo” is also quite the travel enthusiast. Since he first came to Edmond in the 1990’s, Buddy has appeared at a wedding, in the middle of Broadway Extension, fishing at Oklahoma Christian University, and on top of several buildings. This hippo is now filled with concrete and resides at a more permanent residence.
Poppies World War II 21 Vet Memorial Sandy Proctor “Poppies” by Sandy Proctor is a beautiful tribute to the people who have served for the United States Armed Forces. This sculpture features an elderly veteran, sitting on a bench, holding a small bundle of flowers. The text on the bench reads: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his country.” The poppies that the man is holding are a symbol of Memorial Day, and serves as a memorial to our veterans, and reminds future generations of the sacrifices that they made. This bronze piece can be seen as a great opportunity for an individual to explain history to their children and grandchildren, and make it known that there are countless men and women who have put their lives on the line for our freedom.
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Aidan's Legacy James Haire
“Aidan’s Legacy” by James Haire is a statue that highlights two amazing individuals from Edmond’s history. This bronze was purchased with 1% CIP funds and installed in front of Edmond Fire Station #2. It honors both Aidan Hooper and Captain John Werhun. Aidan was killed in a tragic accident during the 2013 LibertyFest Parade, and John passed away later that year, following a battle with cancer. “Aidan’s Legacy” depicts a little boy playing with a firetruck and wearing a fire helmet. The jersey that the boy is wearing displays a number “10,” which was Aidan’s football number. There is a turtle, Aidan’s favorite animal, on the back of the jersey. The turtle’s shell displays three small hearts; the largest of which represents Aidan’s heart, and the other two representing the recipients of his donated heart valves and their second chance at life. This sculpture also gives tribute to John, who served the Edmond Fire Department for 19 years. Aidan is depicted playing with a fire truck and wearing a fire helmet that displays the number “301,” representing John’s last assignment before his passing.