I know one thing that won’t be getting its kicks on Classen Blvd. anytime soon!
Late last week, the Oklahoma City Arts Commission voted against a proposal to build a Route 66 public art monument featuring a giant pair of red, neon-lit cowboy boots on Classen Blvd. in the heart of the Asian District, just down the street from the Gold Dome and Milk Bottle buildings.
You know, this thing we foolishly hyped last week:
Crack a Pho quail egg over my face and laugh, but when I first saw the renderings for this, I thought the project was a done deal.
Sure, it seemed out of place, didn’t involve community input and—like everything—had picked up some mud from the online haters, but I figured the people who dreamed up the monument had obviously polished the right boots, and the project would slide through without any scuffs.
Once again, at least that’s what I thought.
The day after I hit publish—and the day before the City Arts Commission met to vote on the proposal—Mayor McSelfie shared a social media post imploring us to incorporate “all of our city’s diverse communities in our decision-making.”
The post – which conveniently paired well with his NY Times essay – seemed like a direct shot at the Red Boot lickers.
Listen. I agree with the theme and message of Holt’s post, but can’t he just come out and say he’s against the sculpture? I know he’s just one vote out of nine, trying to toe the line between being the cool, hip, diverse mayor and being subservient to the boring white ruling class that doesn’t bat an eye at kitschy Americana being placed in the Asian District, but it’s okay to have an opinion on divisive cultural issues.
Although Holt hasn't directly stated he’s against the monument, many other people who went to the meeting did.
Because I’m a sad, boring man, I watched most of this meeting. You can do that here. After lengthy presentations, drawn-out monologues and various breaks, the Arts Commission ultimately voted down the Boot by an 8-1 margin.
Yikes! Cadillac, Black Jack, Baby, meet me out back—that’s boot scootin’s ass-whippin!
Seriously, 8-1. That has to leave the Route 66 organizers doing some… sole searching.
For whatever it’s worth, I kind of share the opinion of the Arts Commission, public commenters, and politicians who aren’t bold enough to come out against it—I don’t have a problem with the merit of the artwork, but a big red pair of cowboy boots being built on an empty lot on Classen Blvd. just as you enter our beloved Asian District isn’t the right spot. Something else should go there.
That being said, there are plenty of other spots around town where the boots would work great.
For example, I proposed they look at placing them on 39th with the OKC skyline in the distant backdrop, perhaps where the old Arby’s cowboy hat sign used to be:
Anyway, I guess we’ll continue to follow this story as it gets kicked down the Mother Road. Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
