Tulsa seeks Route 66 art projects

Tulsa traffic circle rendering

If you’re an artist inspired by Route 66, the Arts Commission for the City of Tulsa is seeking artwork at two Route 66 sites in town.

The first site is for the traffic circle at East Admiral Place and South Mingo Road, which is on the original 1926 to 1932 alignment of Route 66 in Tulsa. According to the official request for proposals:

The proposed artwork may represent the overall era or a specific timeline of Route 66, portray an interpretive feature or represent the highway’s role in the future. The project should result in a unique, alluring and memorable artwork becoming highly recognized within the Route 66 culture. […]

Tourists should be able to learn something concerning historic culture, relevant events or the future of the roadway. A multi-material presentation could be included in the overall design of the artwork. Varying projects and concepts could also be considered. A water feature or interactive component cannot be considered. However, a moving but non-mechanized component or one which includes neon or LED would be considered.

The site also is the spot where Cyrus Avery, known as the Father of Route 66, owned a gas station and auto court.

The budget for the traffic-circle artwork will not exceed $500,000.

The second site for artwork will be at Howard Park at 2510 Southwest Blvd. (aka Route 66).

The Arts Commission and Project Manager wish to procure free-standing statuary(s) or other artwork(s) in a style and theme representing the southwest Tulsa community’s original culture and prominent role in rail, oil and cattle during the early era of Route 66.

The proposal also notes that Howard Park is about a mile from the Route 66 Village. The budget for the Howard Park artwork will not exceed $92,000.

Proposals for artwork are due Nov. 23. The complete specifications may be found here.

(An artist’s rendering via the City of Tulsa of a possible design at the East Admiral Place and South Mingo Road traffic circle)

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