University of Central Oklahoma Art Tour

UCO ART TOUR

Edmond Public Art SELF-GUIDED TOURS

UCO's 12

5th Anniv

ersary Co

mmemorat

ive by Ch

ris Doman

www.EdmondPublicArt.com

ski

1 - Four Seasons - Kevin Box

UNIVERSITY DR

Located on the south side of the Center for Transformative Learning

2 - Flight - Knowledge enables the mind to take flight Christopher Domanski (Privately Owned) Located on the east side of the College of Liberal Art

3 - Cougar - Unknown Artist (Privately Owned)

Located in the courtyard southwest of the Business Building

4 - The Port Authority - Scott Shaffer Located on the north side of Broncho Lake

5 - Symbol Symbol - Mark Briscoe (Privately Owned)

6

7 - UCO's 125th Anniversary Commemorative Dennis Johnson

BAUMANN BLVD

Located on the southeast side of the Wellness Center

CHOWNING AVE

6 - Olympic and Paralympic Strength - Jon Hair

UNIVERSITY DR

Located at the southeast corner of the Art and Design Building

Located between Murdaugh Hall and the Education Building

8 - Lighting the Path Ida Freeman - Mary Lou Gresham Located on the east side of Old North

AYERS

9 - Breathe - David Thummel (Privately Owned)

AYERS

Located on the southwest corner of Plunkett Park

10 - Unknown Piece by Harolyn Long (Privately Owned) Located on the north side of the Labyrinth, west of the Y-Chapel

11 - War Time President - Alan LeQuire (Privately Owned)

7

Located south of the Lillard Administration Building on the south side of the sidewalk.

3

8

12 - Kinetic Air - Rich Muno

Located in front (west side) of Mitchell Hall

5

13 - Shakespeare Bench - Gary Lee Price Located in front (west side) of Mitchell Hall

11 10

14 - Dancing with the Muse - Ted Gail

9

1

Located at the southwest corner of Mitchell Hall

UCO PAID VISITOR PARKING

12

15 - Touch the Clouds - Dave McGary

13

14

BAUMANN BLVD

Located at the corner of 2nd and Garland Godfery Dr., south of the Nigh University Center

2

4

16 - The Broncho - Harold Holden (Privately Owned) Located in front (southeast) of the Forensic Science Institute

Located on the southwest corner of the Edmond Chamber of Commerce

UNIVERSITY DR

17 - Legacy – Greg Reiche

N

2ND STREET

15

16

17

E

W 2ND STREET

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.

UCO Art Tour This tour highlights more than 15 art installations that sit at the University of Central Oklahoma campus. All of these sculptures have unique and powerful stories behind them, but they are all tied together through UCO. Every piece is admired by students, staff, and faculty alike each and every day, and now, there is an opportunity to learn the stories behind them through this self-guided tour.

1

Four Seasons Kevin Box

“Four Seasons” by Kevin Box is a multidimensional piece that is displayed outside of the Center for Transformative Learning on UCO’s campus. The sculpture arrived at the university in 2010 and was sponsored by the Edmond Visual Arts Commission in partnership with the University of Central Oklahoma.

When looking at this sculpture, some people may just see four leaves, while others may see the four seasons in a year. Some viewers may see different seasons of life, and others, perhaps, may see their four years of education reflecting back at them. No matter what experience a viewer may take away from this work of art, each one is a contributor to the never-ending story of “Four Seasons.”

An excerpt from Kevin Box’s artist statement reads: “Most importantly is the work we have created together. It is designed to withstand the test of time, as well as touch. Please touch; I invite you to explore the work in its physical form. Be touched; I invite you to discover the meaning of the work, the stories and ideas beneath its surface.”

2

Flight Christopher Domanski

“Flight” by Christopher Domanski is a gigantic sculpture that captures the attention of everyone who comes near it. This piece is over 3,000 pounds, and towers over the campus, reaching nearly 20 feet in height. It consists of 29 books stacked on top of each other, with the top few beginning to take off into the air.

“Flight” was the winner of UCO’s second annual Outdoor Sculpture Competition in the year 2006.

The theme of the competition was “Freedom Through Knowledge,” and this brilliant bronze is the epitome of that. The statue is dedicated to the quest of finding knowledge and the expression of that journey. Education can give the mind the tools that it needs to take off and fly.

3

Cougar Unknown Artist

“Cougar” is one of the University of Central Oklahoma’s greatest mysteries. The bronze piece is located in between the Mass Communications building and the Business building and shows a stealthy cougar in the midst of stalking its prey. The eyes of the cougar seem to follow each individual as they walk by, as if it is a real, living being.

Not much is known about the ferocious feline, though. There is no record of who created the piece, when it was made, or when it became a part of the UCO campus. Although there might not be many known facts about “Cougar”, it is an iconic part of the university life. Many students and faculty members have interesting stories of the big cat, with many believing that it is haunted. Some individuals have even reported seeing movement coming from the sculpture, saying that comes to life when the campus goes dark.

4

The Port Authority Scott Shaffer

“The Port Authority” by Scott Schaffer is often confused by both students and faculty alike for a real pelican. The hyper-realistic sculpture depicts a brown pelican sitting and watching over Broncho Lake on the University of Central Oklahoma campus. “The Port Authority” is one of the most recognized statues on campus, as it is in the epicenter of almost all student activity.

The artist, Scott Schaffer, is an expert at creating lifelike sculptures of wildlife. He feels that he can capture the elegance and grace of animals through his work. “I believe that the detail that separates one species from another is nature's art. I attempt to portray my subjects in the most realistic fashion possible; so that nothing detracts from the inherent beauty of the animal.”

“The Port Authority” was sponsored by the Edmond Visual Arts Commission partnered with Pelco Products, Inc. and Phil and Lois Parduhn. It was placed on the UCO campus in 2006. Since then, the pelican has acted as a watchdog of sorts, and looks out over the campus at all times.

5

Symbol Symbol Mark Briscoe

“Symbol Symbol” by Mark Briscoe is a unique, privately-owned sculpture on the University of Central Oklahoma campus. Briscoe is known for his geometric-based works. His pieces are a great representation of freedom in an eccentric nature.

This particular sculpture is hard to miss. The steel form contains elements of nature as well as geometry. One of the most breathtaking components of “Symbol Symbol” is that it is so incredibly free-flowing and elemental, yet it also looks strong and unmovable.

6

Olympic and Paralympic Strength Jon Hair

“Olympic and Paralympic Strength” by Jon Hair was created to capture the essence of strength of the mind, body, and spirit.

The piece displays four athletes from different backgrounds working together to support a massive globe. Every person in the sculpture is a gold medalist, including a female, an African American male, a Paralympic male, and an ancient Greek Olympian.

This sculpture is a showstopper, measuring in at 24 feet tall and weighing a staggering 2,000 pounds. Originally named “Olympic Strength,” it began its journey at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado before moving to the University of Central Oklahoma’s campus and adopting the name “Olympic and Paralympic Strength.”

The artist of the piece, Jon Hair, began sculpting in the year 2000, and has since fulfilled over 80 major public art pieces. He has worked with big names such as Dick Van Dyke, Ted Turner, and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Hair has won many national and international competitions for his work. In 2003, he was named the official sculptor for the U.S. Olympic Team and U.S. Olympic Committee, and is the only artist in history to be awarded both of these titles.

UCO's 125th Anniversary Commemorative 7 Chris Domanski In 2015, the University of Central Oklahoma unveiled a 125th anniversary reflection park on campus. At the center of this space is a sculpture named “Ubi Motus Est” by Christopher Domanski.

The name “Ubi Motus Est” is a Latin phrase that translates to “Where the Movement Is.” This piece consists of five panels that are eight feet tall and 20 feet in length. The sculpture hosts more than 2,000 photographs. These pictures have a wide age range, with some coming from the year 1890, all the way up to 2015.

There is not one specific person that stands out in the photos throughout “Ubi Motus Est,” as it represents the fact that everyone who has been at UCO is a part of their history. In 125 years, people remain at the center of everything that the University of Central Oklahoma is.

8

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.

9

Breathe David Thummel

“Breathe” by David Thummel is a sculpture that serves as a reminder for everyone to stop and take a deep breath. The 11-foot, 1,200-pound piece was the winner of UCO’s very first outdoor sculpture competition and was put in place in concurrence with the American Democracy Project and the University of Central Oklahoma. It was chosen to be displayed on the UCO campus because of how it exemplifies civic engagement, character, community, and civility.

At the bottom of the sculpture sits a plaque that displays Thummel’s artist statement. It reads: “Freedom embraces our arrangement as a civil society, allowing us to decorate our character as we wish.

So, breathe deep, because at the bottom of every breath, the opportunity to make a difference waits for you.”

When “Breathe” was unveiled in December 2004, David Thummel was feeling a whirlwind of emotions. Two major moments in this artist’s life took place incredibly close to each other. Just four days before the university unveiled his piece, David married the love of his life at 27 years old.

10

Unknown Title Harolyn Long

This unknown piece on the University of Central Oklahoma campus was constructed by Harolyn Long. This artist is an Okahoma native who has been expressing herself through the clay medium is since the age of thirteen. She is also a familiar face to UCO, as this is where she received her Master of Education. Harolyn taught for 11 years and began creating her own art in 1985.

In each of her sculptures, including this one, Harolyn uses fine details and precision to create something amazing. Many of her works are white slab stoneware that are Raku fired. According to Long’s website, Raku is “… an ancient method of glaze firing involving reduction outside of the kiln,”

11

War Time President Alan LeQuire

“War Time President� by Alan LeQuire depicts the bust of Roscoe R. Robinson. Robinson was born in Ohio in 1885 and had quite the exceptional education under his belt. He attended several schools including Lebanon University, the University of Oklahoma, and George Peabody University, where he received his doctorate.

Dr. Robinson was heavily involved in many civic roles, and served as a member of the Edmond Kiwanis Club, the Vice President of the Northern Oklahoma Boy Scouts of American, a thirty-second degree Mason, and more. In addition to his community duties, he held several educational positions across the state. On August 1, 1939, he was elected at the President of the Central State Teachers College, which is now the University of Central Oklahoma. He served as the University President from 1939 to 1948.

12

Kinetic Air Rich Muno

“Kinetic Air” by Rich Muno is a sculpture that encapsulates the beauty of dance and movement.

It features two life-sized dancers seemingly frozen in time. This piece sits outside of the University of Central Oklahoma’s Mitchell Hall and was placed in 2004.

Not only is “Kinetic Air” beautiful, but it tells an incredible story as well. This bronze was dedicated to a 16-year-old high school student named Hannah McCarty, who passed away due to an incredibly rare bone marrow disease. She was an avid dancer, and spent years enjoying the craft.

Hannah’s mother, Pam, said that Hannah enjoyed participating in UCO’s dance workshops. Her last performance was in the Mitchell Hall Theater in 2003 and this statue does a wonderful job at keeping Hannah’s legacy alive.

15

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.”

16

The Broncho Harold Holden

“The Broncho” by Harold Holden is a strikingly realistic piece that is displayed on the UCO campus.

The sculpture is privately owned by the university and displays the school mascot in a powerful way. It was designed to be the closest representation of a real living bronco that one could get, next to actually seeing a real one.

The artist, Harold Holden, or “H” as many call him, specialized in creating life-like sculptures, with a particular focus on horses. Holden was a big believer in fully knowing one’s craft, and he exemplifies that belief with his equine pieces.

When looking at “The Broncho”, you will notice the incredible attention to detail that has been shown throughout the sculpture. From each muscle to every individual hair, Holden made sure that this piece looked as if it were going to come to life at any moment. “The Broncho” and its utter realism can be used to show the strength of not only the animal itself, but the University of Central Oklahoma and its resilient staff and students.

17

Legacy Greg Reiche

“Legacy” by Greg Reiche is a stone and glass piece that exudes intimacy and familiarity. These elements are seen and felt all over our environment, both constructed and natural. Artist Greg Reiche feels that unlimited possibilities lie within these components and has chosen them for their beauty and strength.

The elements within this particular sculpture are perfect in representing the Edmond Chamber of Commerce. On the plaque sitting below the piece, it reads: “Proud Past. Prosperous Future.” The Chamber was established in 1907, and this sculpture was dedicated in 2007 to celebrate its 100-year legacy of serving the city. The Edmond Chamber of Commerce has been committed to helping businesses within the Edmond community for over a century.