Beginning April 25, 2022, three planned art installations on the OU-Tulsa campus began to take shape: a revitalization of our existing penguin and bison statues, as well as a large mural on the western wall bordering Stuart Square.
Spearheaded by the OU-Tulsa Marketing and Communications team, the goal of these projects is more than aesthetic: we hoped they could serve as a reflection of our unique OU-Tulsa community and the shared experiences of our students, faculty, and staff. A local art collective, Black Moon, has been engaged to complete these projects. Through this application of creativity and community expression, we join a broad Tulsa community that has become known worldwide for its bright, thriving public art scene, and create an inclusive, quality public space that people want to live, learn, work, and play in.
The Penguin as it stood in May 2022
Standing 6 feet, four inches tall, with a wingspan measuring 6 feet, 5 inches, the penguin statue was originally brought to campus in 2002 as part of a fundraiser for the Tulsa Zoo. It was originally painted by local artist Tommy Campbell and sat unchanged outside the west entrance to what would eventually become Founders Student Center for 20 years.
The new design is inspired by our students, with clothing representing the coming together of both OU and the city of Tulsa. The back sports patches with emblems representing the many programs and discipiles taught here at OU-Tulsa.
The lead designer and artist for the revitalization is Alexandra O’Neal.
The Bison as it stood in May 2022
Standing 7 feet, 5 inches long and 5 feet, 1 inch tall, the bison was actually one of three identical statues placed on the each of the three OU campuses in 2004 as part of a community art project benefitting the Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma. Originally dressed in scrubs and clad in a white coat, it served as a popular landmark outside the east entrance of what is now Founders Student Center.
On the sides of the bison, now colored deep blue, shows a timeline of students in the careers that they'll take from their time at OU-Tulsa.
The lead designer and artist for the revitalization is Karina Cunningham.
Over the past decade, Tulsa has become known for its public art, especially the dozens of outdoor murals in downtown and along Route 66. Occupying the entire west wall of Founders Student Center facing Stuart Square, the OU-Tulsa mural occupies 1,934 square feet, standing 16 feet, 4 inches tall and 119 feet long. It was completed in July 2022.
The mural depicts several students of all shapes, colors, and sizes, set against a vibrant, moving background of waving hues. On either end, framing the piece, are two sets of hands: the left-most is shown sowing a seed, an iconic part of OU mythology, while the right-most depits the fruits of those seeds in the growth of knowledge.
The mural was designed by Alexander Tamahn, Alexandra O'Neal, Melody Allen, and Neil Hello. It was painted by Alexandra O'Neal, Melody Allen, and Neil Hello.
The mural in progress, June 2022
Black Moon is a collective of black artists in the Tulsa area breaking standards, pushing innovation, and cultivating creativity among the local community. Black Moon artists are responsible for several important and ground breaking art projects and installations across Tulsa and the surrounding communities, including the iconic Black Wall Street mural in Tulsa’s Greenwood District, the ‘Oklahoma’ mural inside Tulsa International Airport, and ‘Time Travel’, part of the ‘From the Limitations of Now’ exhibit housed at the Philbrook Museum of Art in spring 2021.
Alexandra O’Neal is an artist from Tulsa, OK.
Tulsa is my hometown and I wish to use my capabilities to show as much love to my city! Most of my artwork is done with purpose, I want to be able to touch others through my artwork - no matter the subject!
I have always been a creator and storyteller. As a child, I’d spend hours drawing with my brothers and copying drawings from picture books. But it was an issue of Amazing Spider-Man I received as a gift when I was 11 that truly captured my passion. Comics, anime, manga, film, sci-fi and politics continue to be my primary influences. The fantastic and surreal have always been key to my world view, and through my work I intend to open doors to new modes of thought and perspectives on experiences that may not be our own.
When I am creating art, I want the whole piece to invoke an emotional response. I don't want the woman to be the single voice, but I want how she blends with the patterns and designs of the whole background, to inspire the viewer.
Art has been the convergence of creative expression and anthropology, I have found employing mixed medium best helps me consolidate the litany of things I could say about both my subjects and audience alike. I equate combining diverse materials and different techniques with having a substantial vocabulary; if you have a lot you’d like to say, it helps to have many words at your disposal.
Karina Cunningham is an emerging black artist residing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her art focuses on deconstructing and reconstructing traumatic events from her realities and surroundings through toys, balloons and surrealist landscapes.
October 2020: The mural concept is proposed. Inclusion of the penguin and bison statue revitalization is soon folded in
Winter 2020 – Spring 2021: Research, feasibility studies, planning, sourcing, and stakeholder discussion
Summer 2021: Black Moon is selected as primary artists
Fall 2021 – Spring 2022: Community and stakeholder input sought and collected
April 25, 2022: Bison is moved to Stuart Square and work on it begins
May 2, 2022: Penguin is moved to Stuart Square and work on it begins
May 11, 2022: Bison is completed
End of May 2022: Penguin is completed, mural work begins
June 2022: Mural completed
