Visit OKC and Inasmuch Foundation Commission Public Art Project
OKLAHOMA CITY – An exciting new public art installation is coming to the Bricktown Entertainment District. Visit Oklahoma City and Inasmuch Foundation are partnering with the City of Oklahoma City to reimagine United Way Plaza at Reno and Walnut Ave.
Currently, this pedestrian plaza is the site of the Centennial Fountain which is operated and maintained by the City of Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department. The site is adjacent to the Bricktown Canal and Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
The art concept selected – called Cloud Embrace – was inspired by Oklahoma City’s incredible skies which frequently demonstrate how clouds are a canvas for light and color. The ever-changing sky is also an apt metaphor for how the OKC community has been shaped over time and continues to evolve. Clouds exist for a brief moment in time just as experiences do.
Cloud Embrace is crafted from perforated, heavy gauge steel with a durable painted finish. At approximately 24-feet high by 40-feet wide and 9-feet deep, its monumental scale will easily fit groups of people inside, making for dynamic moments and photo opportunities. Multi-colored panels will cast shadows within the piece and around the plaza, as well as color-changing LED lighting that creates a fun, safe and immersive environment at night. The materials are designed to withstand many years of public use and require minimal maintenance.
The concept was designed by Creative Machines, a multi-disciplinary design and fabrication company led by Joseph O’Connell. The team consists of nearly 30 exceptional professionals in art, engineering, design, architecture, project management, fabrication and installation. O’Connell already has artwork in downtown Oklahoma City. In 2016, he designed “Small Talk About the Weather,” a uniquely illuminated sculpture located in a pedestrian corridor of the Arts Parking Garage between Main St. and Colcord Dr.
Creative Machines was selected through a rigorous Request for Qualifications process that attracted local, national and international artists, sculptors and architects. The final design was unanimously approved by a local Selection Committee representing Bricktown, art, city and community stakeholders. The project aligns with other public art and placemaking efforts across the city, including 15 pieces using meteorological or sky-related themes.
“This new piece will be a prominent addition to our city’s public art inventory, and it’s another great addition to Bricktown, our region’s most successful entertainment district,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. “The piece is designed to change with the seasons and the sunlight, so it will seem different every time you visit. I think Cloud Embrace will become an immediate favorite in Bricktown.”
The location for this art installation is ideal due to multiple vantage points in the high-traffic pedestrian plaza, by car and via the OKC Streetcar.
“Oklahoma City has built an incredible public art scene, and we’re excited to add to that with Cloud Embrace,” said Zac Craig, President of Visit OKC. “This will be the perfect spot for visitors to meet up with friends and snap memorable photos as they explore the Bricktown Entertainment District and beyond.”
Funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act and an Inasmuch Foundation grant, this installation is intended to enhance the visitor experience and drive tourism business. The exceptional design offers immersive colors and light that feel different by day and night.
“This opportunity is yet another public private partnership that shows how innovative collaborations can improve our community,” said Bob Ross, Chairman and CEO of Inasmuch Foundation. “We look forward to bringing this design concept to life and can’t wait to show it off to all who visit our vibrant city.”
The public art concept was designed with consideration for those experiencing it up close or from a distance, as well as at different points throughout the day or night.
“In the same way that water molecules gather in the air to form clouds, we hope people will gather around this art piece and make it their own through interaction, memories and photographs,” said Joseph O’Connell, President and Artistic Director of Creative Machines.
Next steps include taking the design concept through review with the OKC Arts Commission and various approval processes with the City of Oklahoma City. The installation date is anticipated in 2026.
About Visit Oklahoma City
Visit Oklahoma City (Visit OKC) is a division of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. Visit OKC is the tourism information source for visitors to and the citizens of Oklahoma City, as well as the home of OKC Sports. As the City’s official destination marketing organization, the mission of Visit OKC is to contribute to the economic well-being of Oklahoma City and its citizens through the solicitation and servicing of conventions, sporting events and other related group business, to promote the city as a first-class visitor destination, and to enhance Oklahoma City's name and image.