OKLAHOMA CITY –
Oklahoma City leaders and community partners gathered Wednesday morning to celebrate the installation of a new public art landmark in Bricktown.
The sculpture, called Cloud Embrace, was unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at United Way Plaza in the Bricktown Entertainment District.
The large steel sculpture, designed and fabricated by Creative Machines, stands about 24 feet tall, 40 feet wide, and 9 feet deep. The piece was commissioned and funded by Visit Oklahoma City and Inasmuch Foundation and gifted to the City of Oklahoma City.
City officials say the sculpture is designed to be both interactive and visually striking, allowing visitors to stand inside the structure for photos.
Mayor David Holt said the piece strengthens the city’s growing public art presence.
“This is a great new addition to our city’s public art profile,” Holt said. “It’s very large. It’s very iconic. It says OKC right in the middle of it. It’s going to be a real statement.”
Holt said the sculpture is expected to become a popular backdrop for visitors and residents.
The mayor also highlighted the collaboration that made the project possible, noting partnerships between the city, local developers, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Visit OKC and the Inasmuch Foundation.
“That’s often what it takes in Oklahoma City to get things done is great collaboration,” Holt said. “Working together, we’ve got a great new landmark here in Bricktown.”
The sculpture replaces a former fountain that previously stood in the plaza.
Holt said public art has become a priority for the city, in part through its “1% for art” ordinance, which dedicates a portion of public project funding to artistic elements.
“If you looked at where public art was in Oklahoma City 20 years ago, so many things that you now take for granted didn’t exist,” Holt said. “We continue to add pieces every year.”
The sculpture was created by a small team led by Joseph O’Connell, president and artistic director of Creative Machines.
O’Connell said the design began as a simple sketch meant to resemble a cartoon cloud.
The project took several months to complete as designers developed digital models, completed structural engineering and fabricated the steel structure.
“It took a team of probably about five of us and several months to weld it together,” O’Connell said.
The sculpture also incorporates skylight openings fitted with dichroic acrylic panels that reflect and refract sunlight to create changing colors throughout the day.
“It’s almost like a kinetic sculpture and a light show without moving parts or electronics during the day,” O’Connell said.
The piece is designed to be engaging from a distance, up close and from inside the structure itself.
Holt also noted the installation comes at a busy time for the city as it prepares to host major sporting events, including the upcoming NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
City leaders hope the sculpture will become a recognizable gathering place and photo spot in Bricktown for years to come.
