Artist behind 'Bolt Tower' talks on proposed sculpture for State Fairgrounds
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - The departure of the iconic space needle left the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds with little iconic structures. Now there's a push to change that.
This week, the Oklahoma City's art commission voted to recommend the installation of the Bolt Tower to the City Council.
It's named after what horses do during events at the fairgrounds. Its name also comes from lighting bolts, plentiful during Oklahoma storms, making people look up into the sky, just as they will with the hopeful 75-feet structure.
"The hope and vision is that it will inspire moments of pause and wonder and excitement," said Jenny Sabin, an Ithaca Architectural Designer and Cornell Professor.
The Oklahoma City Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs said if approved by city council, the $905,000 would be funded through the city's 1% for arts ordinance.
"This is being funded through the coliseum which is largely a MAPS 4 project," said Mayor David Holt.
"Everybody agreed that using that money as one lump sum for an outstanding work of art would be the ideal choice," said Randy Marks, with the OKC Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs.
The plan for a new iconic structure has been in the works for three years.
The city ultimately sent out the bidding process to artists all over the world. Sixty responded, which were then narrowed down to three.
"It's unfortunate that there were no Oklahoma artists selected," said Marks. "We can't show any favoritism to Oklahoma artists."
"Every member of the selection committee said of each of the three works, 'Can we buy all three of these?'" said Marks.
Sabin's unique design, with a focus on community, made it's way to the top.
"I think their selection was fantastic," said Marks.
Sabin says her concepts combine nature and biology with art.
"One of the fundamental questions that I pose is how might buildings and their integrated materials respond and adapt like organisms do," said Sabin.
Sabin said like her other structures, the tower's form presented itself while doing research to embody and celebrate the Oklahoma State Fair, while using durable materials that play off nature.
"There will be a mesh of steel cable, we'll have a full gradient of poly-carbonate panels," said Sabin. "We're going to laminate those panels with what's called a wavelength dichroic film, that changes based on the orientation to the sun and also our orientation to it."
Sabin said she also wants to incorporate your family's pictures from the fair.
"Those memories and photographs will become the exterior skin," said Sabin. "Our plan is to have them processed as silhouettes."
The artist said if everything goes according to plan, it will be the largest structure to incorporate 3D printed stainless steel in the world.
Sabin hopes to work with local companies to help with construction.
The goal is to have the tower completed in June of 2025, around the same time the coliseum is also completed.