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Project Title What Is The City But The People
Project Completed 2021
Project Partners Martin Donlin and Anton Morton
Project Media Polycarbonate and Stainless Steel
Overview
A monumental suspended mosaic of polycarbonate and stainless steel, spanning nearly 30,000 square feet, dramatically transforms the parking garage façade into a vibrant civic canvas. A diverse procession of figures—young and old, some engaged with technology, others relying on the aid of a cane—moves in harmonious unison across the expansive surface. This dynamic composition subtly evokes the grandeur of classical processional friezes, from the timeless elegance of the Parthenon (440 BC) to the bold, expressive dynamism of American artist Norman Lewis (1909-1979). The layered, color-saturated silhouettes of the figures are meticulously interwoven, connecting the rigid geometry of the surrounding downtown cityscape with the fluid lines of organic, Native American-inspired lettering and a stylized outline of the State of Oklahoma.
Intriguing local narratives are subtly woven into the artwork, imbuing “The People,” as the collective representation is known, with a profound sense of place and shared identity as they rhythmically advance. The inherent stasis of the installation is transcended by the ever-shifting interplay of natural and artificial light, which animates the individual components with a captivating sense of vitality. At sunrise, an ethereal transformation unfolds within the garage: the tiles metamorphose from iridescent, bismuth-like sheens to a luminous, prismatic display of glass mosaic. Throughout the day, the tessellated shadows cast by the tiled wall engage in a graceful dance across the garage floors, mirroring the sun’s celestial arc.
This project has been recognized with numerous accolades, most notably the AIA Design Award. The jury’s commendation highlighted the project’s exceptional achievement: “For such a utilitarian, everyday structure, typically so mundane, it is rare that one rises to the level of civic prominence like this one does. The typically banal garage typology rises to the level of ephemeral experience. The jury appreciated the dappled quality of light and the experience of the user from both interior and exterior. The detailing of the polycarbonate panels is refined and elegant; it enlivens the street.”
Full project catalog here: https://www.okc.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/24120
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