Art In Public Places
Edmond’s public art program has enriched the city with a strong sense of community and culture. The Edmond Visual Arts Commission (EVAC) oversees all public art throughout the city and is responsible for expanding the collection, promoting the program, and maintaining existing works. Public art projects are funded through one of three sources: donations, public–private partnerships, or the Construction Improvement Program (CIP) 1% set-aside funds.
Edmond’s public art program began in 2001 with just 13 pieces. By August 2022, during the Sunny Dayz Mural Festival, the collection reached a milestone of 300 works. As of December 2025, the city is approaching 355 public art pieces. The collection features artwork by many Oklahoma artists, as well as nationally and internationally recognized artists. Together, these installations have become a point of pride for Edmond residents and a vibrant attraction for visitors and tourists.
UCO Art Tour
This tour highlights more than 15 art installations on the University of Central Oklahoma campus. Together, these works are connected through UCO’s history and community. Admired daily by students, faculty, and sta , this self-guided tour o ers the opportunity to explore the stories and signi cance behind each piece.
Four Seasons - Kevin Box
Flight - Knowledge enables the mind to take flight - Christopher Domanski (Privately Owned)
Cougar - Unknown Artist (Privately Owned)
The Port Authority - Scott Shaffer
Symbol Symbol - Mark Briscoe (Privately Owned)
Olympic and Paralympic Strength - Jon Hair
UCO's 125th Anniversary Commemorative Dennis Johnson
Lighting the Path Ida FreemanMary Lou Gresham
Breathe - David Thummel (Privately Owned)
Unknown Piece by Harolyn Long (Privately Owned)
War Time President - Alan LeQuire (Privately Owned)
Kinetic Air - Rich Muno
Shakespeare Bench - Gary Lee Price
Dancing with the Muse - Ted Gail
Touch the Clouds - Dave McGary The Broncho - Harold Holden (Privately Owned) Legacy – Greg Reiche
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– Gary Alsum
“Four Seasons” by Kevin Box is a multidimensional piece that is displayed outside of the Center for Transformative Learning on UCO’s campus. The sculpture arrived at the university in 2010 and was sponsored by the Edmond Visual Arts Commission in partnership with the University of Central Oklahoma.
When looking at this sculpture, some people may just see four leaves, while others may see the four seasons in a year. Some viewers may see di erent seasons of life, and others, perhaps, may see their four years of education re ecting back at them. No matter what experience a viewer may take away from this work of art, each one is a contributor to the never-ending story of “Four Seasons.”
An excerpt from Kevin Box’s artist statement reads: “Most importantly is the work we have created together. It is designed to withstand the test of time, as well as touch. Please touch; I invite you to explore the work in its physical form. Be touched; I invite you to discover the meaning of the work, the stories and ideas beneath its surface.”
Flight
Christopher Domanski 2
“Flight” by Christopher Domanski is a gigantic sculpture that captures the attention of everyone who comes near it. This piece is over 3,000 pounds, and towers over the campus, reaching nearly 20 feet in height. It consists of 29 books stacked on top of each other, with the top few beginning to take o into the air.
“Flight” was the winner of UCO’s second annual Outdoor Sculpture Competition in the year 2006. The theme of the competition was “Freedom Through Knowledge,” and this brilliant bronze is the epitome of that. The statue is dedicated to the quest of nding knowledge and the expression of that journey. Education can give the mind the tools that it needs to take o and y.
Four Seasons Kevin Box
Cougar
Unknown Artist
“Cougar” is one of the University of Central Oklahoma’s greatest mysteries. The bronze piece is located in between the Mass Communications building and the Business building and shows a stealthy cougar in the midst of stalking its prey. The eyes of the cougar seem to follow each individual as they walk by, as if it is a real, living being.
Not much is known about the ferocious feline, though. There is no record of who created the piece, when it was made, or when it became a part of the UCO campus. Although there might not be many known facts about “Cougar”, it is an iconic part of the university life. Many students and faculty members have interesting stories of the big cat, with many believing that it is haunted. Some individuals have even reported seeing movement coming from the sculpture, saying that comes to life when the campus goes dark.
The Port Authority
Scott Sha er
“The Port Authority” by Scott Scha er is often confused by both students and faculty alike for a real pelican. The hyper-realistic sculpture depicts a brown pelican sitting and watching over Broncho Lake on the University of Central Oklahoma campus. “The Port Authority” is one of the most recognized statues on campus, as it is in the epicenter of almost all student activity.
The artist, Scott Scha er, is an expert at creating lifelike sculptures of wildlife. He feels that he can capture the elegance and grace of animals through his work. “I believe that the detail that separates one species from another is nature's art. I attempt to portray my subjects in the most realistic fashion possible; so that nothing detracts from the inherent beauty of the animal.”
“The Port Authority” was sponsored by the Edmond Visual Arts Commission partnered with Pelco Products, Inc. and Phil and Lois Parduhn. It was placed on the UCO campus in 2006. Since then, the pelican has acted as a watchdog of sorts, and looks out over the campus at all times.
Symbol Symbol
Mark Briscoe
“Symbol Symbol” by Mark Briscoe is a unique, privately-owned sculpture on the University of Central Oklahoma campus. Briscoe is known for his geometric-based works. His pieces are a great representation of freedom in an eccentric nature.
This particular sculpture is hard to miss. The steel form contains elements of nature as well as geometry. One of the most breathtaking components of “Symbol Symbol” is that it is so incredibly free- owing and elemental, yet it also looks strong and unmovable.
Olympic and Paralympic Strength
Jon Hair
“Olympic and Paralympic Strength” by Jon Hair was created to capture the essence of strength of the mind, body, and spirit.
The piece displays four athletes from di erent backgrounds working together to support a massive globe. Every person in the sculpture is a gold medalist, including a female, an African American male, a Paralympic male, and an ancient Greek Olympian.
This sculpture is a showstopper, measuring in at 24 feet tall and weighing a staggering 2,000 pounds. Originally named “Olympic Strength,” it began its journey at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado before moving to the University of Central Oklahoma’s campus and adopting the name “Olympic and Paralympic Strength.”
The artist of the piece, Jon Hair, began sculpting in the year 2000, and has since ful lled over 80 major public art pieces. He has worked with big names such as Dick Van Dyke, Ted Turner, and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Hair has won many national and international competitions for his work. In 2003, he was named the o cial sculptor for the U.S. Olympic Team and U.S. Olympic Committee, and is the only artist in history to be awarded both of these titles.
UCO's 125th Anniversary Commemorative
Chris Domanski
In 2015, the University of Central Oklahoma unveiled a 125th anniversary re ection park on campus. At the center of this space is a sculpture named “Ubi Motus Est” by Christopher Domanski. The name “Ubi Motus Est” is a Latin phrase that translates to “Where the Movement Is.”
This piece consists of ve panels that are eight feet tall and 20 feet in length. The sculpture hosts more than 2,000 photographs. These pictures have a wide age range, with some coming from the year 1890, all the way up to 2015.
There is not one speci c person that stands out in the photos throughout “Ubi Motus Est,” as it represents the fact that everyone who has been at UCO is a part of their history. In 125 years, people remain at the center of everything that the University of Central Oklahoma is.
Lighting the Path
Ida Freeman Mary Lou Gresham
“Lighting the Path” by Mary Lou Gresham is a sculpture that emphasizes the importance of a great teacher.
Ida Freeman was an educator for 38 years. Known locally as “Miss Ida”, she began teaching in 1898 and relocated to Edmond in 1905. She retired in 1941 and continued to live in Edmond until her death at the age of 80 in 1957.
Ida Freeman used strict but loving education methods in her classroom. These methods helped teach three generations of Edmondites. The e ect that she had in her teaching truly helped light the path for her students.
One interesting fact about Ida is that she would grow seedlings from her large pecan tree and provide them to her students. These trees that have sprouted around Edmond serve as a reminder of Ida’s impact.
In the sculpture, Ida is reading Treasure Island to two young children, both intently listening to the story. On Ida’s chest is a pin for her alma mater, Central State College, which is now the University of Central Oklahoma. When students walk along campus at UCO, they walk in the same steps as Ida did many years ago.
Breathe
David Thummel
“Breathe” by David Thummel is a sculpture that serves as a reminder for everyone to stop and take a deep breath. The 11-foot, 1,200-pound piece was the winner of UCO’s very rst outdoor sculpture competition and was put in place in concurrence with the American Democracy Project and the University of Central Oklahoma. It was chosen to be displayed on the UCO campus because of how it exempli es civic engagement, character, community, and civility.
At the bottom of the sculpture sits a plaque that displays Thummel’s artist statement. It reads: “Freedom embraces our arrangement as a civil society, allowing us to decorate our character as we wish. So, breathe deep, because at the bottom of every breath, the opportunity to make a di erence waits for you.”
When “Breathe” was unveiled in December 2004, David Thummel was feeling a whirlwind of emotions. Two major moments in this artist’s life took place incredibly close to each other. Just four days before the university unveiled his piece, David married the love of his life at 27 years old.
This unknown piece on the University of Central Oklahoma campus was constructed by Harolyn Long. This artist is an Okahoma native who has been expressing herself through the clay medium is since the age of thirteen. She is also a familiar face to UCO, as this is where she received her Master of Education. Harolyn taught for 11 years and began creating her own art in 1985.
In each of her sculptures, including this one, Harolyn uses ne details and precision to create something amazing. Many of her works are white slab stoneware that are Raku red. According to Long’s website, Raku is “… an ancient method of glaze ring involving reduction outside of the kiln,”
Unknown Title
Harolyn Long
War Time President Alan LeQuire
“War Time President” by Alan LeQuire depicts the bust of Roscoe R. Robinson. Robinson was born in Ohio in 1885 and had quite the exceptional education under his belt. He attended several schools including Lebanon University, the University of Oklahoma, and George Peabody University, where he received his doctorate.
Dr. Robinson was heavily involved in many civic roles, and served as a member of the Edmond Kiwanis Club, the Vice President of the Northern Oklahoma Boy Scouts of American, a thirty-second degree Mason, and more. In addition to his community duties, he held several educational positions across the state. On August 1, 1939, he was elected at the President of the Central State Teachers College, which is now the University of Central Oklahoma. He served as the University President from 1939 to 1948.
Kinetic Air
Rich Muno
“Kinetic Air” by Rich Muno is a sculpture that encapsulates the beauty of dance and movement. It features two life-sized dancers seemingly frozen in time. This piece sits outside of the University of Central Oklahoma’s Mitchell Hall and was placed in 2004.
Not only is “Kinetic Air” beautiful, but it tells an incredible story as well. This bronze was dedicated to a 16-year-old high school student named Hannah McCarty, who passed away due to an incredibly rare bone marrow disease. She was an avid dancer, and spent years enjoying the craft. Hannah’s mother, Pam, said that Hannah enjoyed participating in UCO’s dance workshops. Her last performance was in the Mitchell Hall Theater in 2003 and this statue does a wonderful job at keeping Hannah’s legacy alive.
Shakespeare Bench Gary Lee Price
“Shakespeare Bench” by Gary Lee Price displays an unbelievably realistic portrayal of the world’s most famous playwright. William Shakespeare is widely believed to be the best dramatist in the world and the nest writer in the English language. For more than 400 years, his beloved stories and characters have withstood the test of time.
The artist of “Shakespeare Bench,” Gary Lee Price, is often recognized for his benches. His works are so incredible, that he has the most sculptures around the city of Edmond, with a total of 12 to date.
For many, creating a sculpture of such a widely known individual can be far too intimidating, but Gary Lee Price was up for that challenge. In a memoir on his website regarding the bench, Price said “The most di cult part of creating my life-size Shakespeare was to quit working on it. Trying to represent him and his work was like trying to sculpt all of humanity in just one gure. The bench ended up being my storyboard and it could have gone on ad in nitum!”
Gall 14
Dancing with the Muse Ted
“Dancing with the Muse” by Ted Gall is a piece with the intention of drawing the viewer in both visually and psychologically. This artist specializes in thought-provoking art in an array of di erent situations. He has won many awards across the nation and has built up a massive clientele.
This sculpture is quite theatrical in nature, which is naturally why it was chosen to be placed next to Mitchell Hall at the University of Central Oklahoma. Originally, it was supposed to be put in the front of the building but was placed in a more secretive location because of the slight nudity.
This location choice created quite the stir surrounding “Dancing with the Muse.” It was eventually surrounded by bushes, so viewers could only see it by making their way through a maze of holly. Years after the placement, the holly was nally trimmed so that people could easily see and access the sculpture. Although the piece is now more out in the open, its beauty can still unfortunately be easily missed by passersby.
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Touch the Clouds
Dave McGary
“Touch the Clouds” by Dave McGary is an awe-inspiring piece, standing more than 18 feet tall. This immense sculpture was donated by Dave McGary to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and was installed in front of the Houston Astrodome in February 1998. It was eventually purchased by the Edmond City Council in November 2013 and was moved to its current location in May 2015.
“Touch the Clouds” depicts Chief Touch the Clouds, a Lakota Sioux warrior who was known for his skill and bravery in battle, as well as his diplomacy in counsel. He served as the head of one of his tribe’s war societies and was also a Delegate to Washington in 1877. Chief Touch the Clouds was a vocal advocate for his people and campaigned for peace and justice within his tribe until the day the died.
The statue of Chief Touch the Clouds was created to embody his true essence, with his arms open wide and set in a powerful stance. The artist, Western American sculptor Dave McGary, was an expert of Native American history, and wanted his legacy to involve his testament to the culture of these people. “How I want to be remembered [is]… for having documented, with respect, the culture of Native American people.”
The Broncho
Harold Holden 16
“The Broncho” by Harold Holden is a strikingly realistic piece that is displayed on the UCO campus. The sculpture is privately owned by the university and displays the school mascot in a powerful way. It was designed to be the closest representation of a real living bronco that one could get, next to actually seeing a real one.
The artist, Harold Holden, or “H” as many call him, specialized in creating life-like sculptures, with a particular focus on horses. Holden was a big believer in fully knowing one’s craft, and he exempli es that belief with his equine pieces.
When looking at “The Broncho”, you will notice the incredible attention to detail that has been shown throughout the sculpture. From each muscle to every individual hair, Holden made sure that this piece looked as if it were going to come to life at any moment. “The Broncho” and its utter realism can be used to show the strength of not only the animal itself, but the University of Central Oklahoma and its resilient sta and students.
Legacy
Greg Reiche 17
“Legacy” by Greg Reiche is a stone and glass piece that exudes intimacy and familiarity. These elements are seen and felt all over our environment, both constructed and natural. Artist Greg Reiche feels that unlimited possibilities lie within these components and has chosen them for their beauty and strength.
The elements within this particular sculpture are perfect in representing the Edmond Chamber of Commerce. On the plaque sitting below the piece, it reads: “Proud Past. Prosperous Future.” The Chamber was established in 1907, and this sculpture was dedicated in 2007 to celebrate its 100-year legacy of serving the city. The Edmond Chamber of Commerce has been committed to helping businesses within the Edmond community for over a century.
Tried and True
Gary Alsum 18
UCO dedicated the memorial statue in honor of past, present and future military-connected students, faculty and sta .
The memorial statue is a representation of the two sides of military-connected students. It features two Central students, both veterans, that died during combat; 2nd Lt. Jered Ewy of the Oklahoma Army National Guard and Sgt. Ryan Wood of the Army’s First Infantry Division, 26th Battalion.
“This statue is a place for students, faculty, sta and friends to re ect and to remember all UCO veterans. It honors the service and sacri ce of those who paid the ultimate price, those still serving and those who will serve in the future,” said Tom Mcshane, director of UCO’s Serving America’s Leaders Using Transformative Education (SALUTE) Veteran Programs.
The memorial statue was a joint e ort of Central’s Student Government Association, UCOSA and the City of Edmond Visual Arts Commission (EVAC).