LEADERSHIP NOTES
Iconic Projects Require Innovative Partnerships Oklahoma City is no stranger to creative problem solving. We’ve seen this time and again with MAPS, community issue campaigns, our new civic branding initiative and beyond. In a few weeks, an exciting new public art installation called Cloud Embrace will be installed in the Bricktown Entertainment District. Crafted from perforated, heavy-gauge steel with a white painted finish, the cloud’s multi-colored panels will cast colorful shadows by day, and color-changing LEDs will create a fun, safe and immersive experience at night. Sitting 24-feet high by 40-feet wide and 9-feet deep, its monumental scale will easily fit groups of people inside, bringing art to life in a new way. While we’ll soon be cutting the ribbon to celebrate this new point of interest for visitors and locals, it’s worth reflecting on how this project represents the best of OKC with innovative collaboration. It began nearly three years ago with our Visit OKC team, who understand the power of placemaking since visitors often seek out unique photo-ops across the city. The idea for more photo-worthy spots that blend art and OKC signage led to conversations with the City of OKC. After discovering the City’s need to replace the aging Centennial Fountain in United Way Plaza in Lower Bricktown, it felt like something bigger and more magical could be brewing. From there, the Visit OKC team applied for and received an Inasmuch Foundation grant to help scale the idea and impact of a placemaking art installation even further. Public art transforms ordinary urban spaces into dynamic cultural hubs that foster connection and reflect a city’s creative spirit. This shared vision led to an international call for artists and a community-driven selection committee process that was thoughtful and intentional every step of the way. Each partner brought unique expertise and creative thinking to a solution that solved multiple challenges. Purposeful stakeholder engagement and representation also led to meaningful input that guided the creative process to new heights. We see similar examples of collaborative partnerships come to life in a variety of ways in our work across the region. It’s not the easy way – consensus building, partnership and community engagement take time, compromise and radical listening. This ultimately results in making individual projects – and our community – stronger.
CHRISTY GILLENWATER President & CEO
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