Art Found in the Crystal Bridge and Gardens

In the Crystal Bridge

Brick Sculpture- Sculptor Paula Collins created the brick wall murals (located in the Crystal Bridge’s north and south lobbies), carving tropical plant, animal and landscape images into bricks in an intaglio style. Collins used photographs of plants in the Crystal Bridge as a source for the mural images.

In the Gardens

“Gateway” – Artist Hans Van de Bovenkamp created the sculpture “Gateway” (located on the northeast corner of the outdoor gardens) to be a connection between nature and architecture in downtown Oklahoma City. The 14-foot-tall abstract sculpture stands on a raised berm at the northeast corner of the Myriad Botanical Gardens, symbolizing a physical and conceptual link between the organic forms of the Gardens and the architecture of the downtown skyline.

“Childhood is Everlasting” – Oklahoma City Artist Robin Orbach Starke donated this abstract sculpture (located on the southwest side of the outdoor gardens) to the City of Oklahoma City on April 20, 1992.

“Philodendron Dome” – This iron and bronze sculpture (located on the northwest side of the lake) was inspired by a philodendron plant living in the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory. The Philodendron Dome consists of a dome-shaped framework, 9 feet tall and 8 feet wide at the base. Iron vines support the philodendron leaves made from naval bronze. Visitors who enter the dome through the five-foot-high opening find themselves in an arbor-like space of shadows and light. Up close, they can see the fine details of texture iron vines and subtle gradation of green and gold on patina leaves.

“Flying Fish” – The Flying Fish sculpture in the east lake was created by Kenny McCage of Artistic Metalworks in Oklahoma City. Mr. McCage, a native Oklahoman, was a U.S. Navy submarine welder for 20 years.

“Land of the Brave and the Free” – “Land of the Brave and the Free” is a kinetic sculpture located along Hudson, which was donated to the Festival of the Arts in 2002 by California artist Susan Pascal Beran. “Land of the Brave and Free” is uniquely Oklahoman. The wind sculpture is composed of brilliant colors and archetypal shapes.