Three artists from across the country presented their vision for the space, located in the median of Lincoln Boulevard just north of NE 18 Street. The steering committee for the project, which includes members of the city's black community, the Oklahoma Centennial Commission and the Oklahoma Arts Council, now will take public comment about the presentations and select an artist for the project. Committee members have estimated the project will cost between $2 million and $4 million.
The House approved legislation last week allowing the use of the land on the state Capitol grounds for the project and creating a committee to oversee the process. If fund-raisers have not raised the money needed for the plaza within two years, the land no longer will be held for the project, the legislation says.
Monday's viewing gave the crowd a variety of artistic expressions of black history in Oklahoma.
The first concept, by a Colorado artist, includes several bronze plates and engraved granite slabs to tell the story of blacks throughout Oklahoma history. The design includes a tribute to civil rights activist Clara Luper, of Oklahoma City, and a "Circle of White Resistance, depicting the struggles blacks faced in the state.
The second plan is more symbolic, proposing for visitors to walk down a path that appears to be breaking through walls of racial inequality. The walls become less of an obstacle as the plaza progresses.
A thin stream of water runs throughout the plaza designed by a firm in Washington ending in a large "pool of hope facing the state Capitol.
Finally, the third presentation, from a firm based in California, proposes incorporating numerous statues throughout the plaza, including an amphitheater for students and ironwork framing the Capitol saying "Freedom for All, Forever.
The design also features black history pages missing from a white book of history, telling the untold story of blacks in Oklahoma. Luper, who first came up with the plaza idea about a year ago, said she was impressed with the presentations, saying the artists showed a firm grasp of black history in Oklahoma.
"This will bring some people to Oklahoma, she said. "No one has seen anything like this in the whole country.
The legislation creating the plaza is awaiting action in the Senate.
