More than a million pieces create a masterpiece

By Kathryn Simon, News Writing Student

OCCC’s artists have been working on a big project since July of 2005: a mosaic for downtown Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Canal.

Having it completed by July of 2007 is the goal. The mosaic will depict Oklahoma themes and images to be installed on nine walls at the north end of the canal.

The project consists of more than one million little pieces of pottery that have been broken and fired in a kiln.

After the pottery is cooled, the pieces are cemented together to make a pattern or scene. In this case, the mosaic will represent important Oklahoma icons such as buffalo and the scissortail flycatcher, the state bird.

After the panels are assembled indoors, they must be fastened to their permanent location.

“We are looking at the third week of September, when the weather cools off some,” said Visual Arts Professor Mary Ann Moore, when asked when the mosaic will be installed.

“There are nine walls and we are glazing wall six so we are half finished already,” Moore said.

The mosaic depicts different parts of Oklahoma on each wall. The walls range in size from 27 feet by 10 feet to approximately 5 feet by 4 feet.

Artists are currently working on a scene of the state fish, the white bass.

“Volunteers and paid employees are working on it as of now,” Moore said. “Hopefully, we will have a class working on it soon.”

Whoever works on the project will leave a lasting impression, which is one reason the workers are motivated, she said.

“This is going to be there for my grandkids and their grandkids to look at,” said Mark Horton, a paid intern from OCCC working on the project.

Horton has been working on the mosaic since he started taking the ceramic class offered at OCCC.
The project is a combined effort between the Centennial Commission and OCCC.

Retired OCCC Art Professor Carolyn Farris is assisting Moore with the project by illustrating the mosaics. Farris will teach a Fast-Track class in mosaics in April at OCCC.

Students in the class will contribute to the Bricktown Canal project.

Each Saturday volunteers have an opportunity to contribute to the project.

The work is being done in a warehouse at 400 N. Walnut Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City.

The mosaic panels will remain there until their installation on the canal.

Moore said more work needs to be done to make this project a success.

With the help of volunteers and students coming in April, the walls should be completed as planned in July, Moore said.

It is set to be ready by Statehood Day in November.