Public Art Master Plan taking shape

Transcript Staff Writer

When the "Maverick" statue of Hollywood film and television actor James Garner was unveiled in April 2006, the Norman native quipped that he was lucky to have a statue that actually looked like him.

The Garner statue at Main Street between Jones Avenue and James Garner Avenue, formerly Front Street, is one example in Norman's public art inventory, a part of the first Public Art Master Plan.

Larry Walker, chair of the newly created Public Arts Board, presented the first nine months of the group's work on a master plan at Tuesday's city council pre-meeting conference. And he lamented the slow start in public contributions from the Art in Public Places ordinance that allowed residents to contribute to the public art fund when they pay their utility bill.

About 150 people have committed to donate with their utility bill since it debuted in late 2007. He estimates that at that pace, about $8,000 will be collected in a year. That isn't enough to fund much if any public art, but he acknowledged that it's a start.

The first step for the new board was to start its inventory of public art. Walker called it a "formative year."

"Our understanding of public art is very wide," he said.

Walker showed slides of a wide variety of public art, from the alphabet sculpture outside the Norman Public Library to the Yellow Peril statue along Legacy Trail. Some facilities that house art like the Norman Senior Citizens Center also were included. The inventory includes the name, location and who funded the piece.

To be considered "public art," the art must be on city property and at least partially funded by the city.

But Walker said they also considered the public art inventory, the art owned by the university, individuals and businesses that contribute to art in the public view.

"It's pretty hard to ignore the University of Oklahoma," he said. "Pieces that would be considered in the public view, but are owned by an institution or individual."

A Web site is being planned for debut this fall, linked to the City of Norman's Web site, Norman Arts Council and Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Postcards will be developed to market the public art fund and a contract is being written for future public art that would allow the City to reproduce likenesses of the art for promotion.

The Public Art Board also plans outreach to civic clubs.

"The presentation would talk about the economic impact of people who come to see the art," Walker said.

The board wants to develop signage, perhaps similar to a city that uses signs that look like art pieces themselves.

"It becomes like a small piece of art itself," he said.

Maps of the public art would be created, for public art tours.

Walker said sculpture competitions are popular ways for cities to acquire art. Entries are narrowed down to 10 models and then five are chosen to be displayed around the City and promoted.

"At the end of the year, one piece is purchased," he said, noting the competitions are usually sponsored by a museum or institution.

They are also looking at working on a possibility of public art for a planned 50-foot roundabout on East Main Street near Griffin Memorial Hospital.

Walker called it new and exciting project that would require major fundraising.

He said the board is also interested in developing a central art ordinance similar to many cities that would require a certain amount of public art in relation to construction costs.

"That's an increasing way of creating community through public art," he said.

Ward 5 councilmember Rachel Butler said she appreciated the board's work defining public art and that they made public art inclusive.

"I think we are off to a great start," said Mayor Cindy Rosenthal.

Council will approve the master plan at a future council meeting.

There are two ways to donate to the public arts fund, with one through a general contribution to the Norman Arts Council earmarking it for public art. The other is through the City of Norman utility bill, with any designated amount added to the bill monthly. For more information, call 366-5320.

Carol Cole-Frowe 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com

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