What's the progress on "The American"

[mrhaskellok]

quote: What I want to know is how the Native tribes stand on this. Do most tribes feel that this statue is representative of their culture, or is it just a purveyor of more stereotypes?

This is my question.  Why  not have a statute of an Indian who went on to be an astronaut or senator.  I am a huge fan of history but the world is full of naked men and women statutes, and like someone said, unless it is really high quality, those most likely to appreciate it (artists) wont.  

I have always thought that a pasture with a creek (could be artificial) with several bronze tepees   (sp?) scattered in a community fashion.  It would be semi-permanent and make a great retreat for boy/girl scout clubs and schools.  PLUS, it is neat for tourists.  Just my two cents.

[Townsend]

At the end of the video story they claim the American is no more.

Anyone have different info?

Huzzah Botanical Garden.


http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=8251855


Another construction job will take dozens of years, but it's finally underway.  The News On 6's Emory Bryan reports work is moving forward on the Centennial Botanical Garden.

Nothing in the barren landscape hints at what is to come.  Heavy equipment is clearing away the rocky soil to build a berm that will hold a seven acre lake.  It's just one element, the first, of the Centennial Botanical Garden that up until now has existed only on paper.

The leaders of the garden toasted the beginning of the first phase a $2.2 million taxpayer funded kick start that was part of the spending for the Oklahoma Centennial.

"Everything we've done with the centennial has been a fight, the weather, finances, but it always comes down to whether it's a good project for the State of Oklahoma," said Blake Wade with the Oklahoma Centennial Commission.

With the start of heavy construction, the project is finally showing some tangible, visual results.

Construction at the garden is just getting started.  There's a temporary visitors' center and there is a large lake.  It's one of the first defining features to be built at the garden.

"Construction is messy and it seems disorganized, but out of that disorganization, appearance of disorganization, is going to come a botanical garden the whole state can be proud of," said Barry Fugatt on the Garden Board of Directors.

The lake will be complete in three weeks, but landscaping and construction around it will take much longer.  There will be 15 theme gardens and 60 smaller gardens.  That's years away, but there is already something for visitors.

"We opened two hiking trails out on the site back in the fall and a lot of people have been hiking them.  They're beautiful," said director Pat Woodrum.

[breitee]

American, DOA? Great news! That is what we DID NOT NEED! Good riddance!

[Gaspar]

quote:Originally posted by breitee

American, DOA? Great news! That is what we DID NOT NEED! Good riddance!

I wonder what happened to the private donations they had already received.  Didn't they already have something like 4 million?

Has it been returned or reallocated?

[swake]

The stupid website is still there

http://www.theamerican.com/home/index.cfm?flash=1

[Townsend]

quote:Originally posted by swake

The stupid website is still there

http://www.theamerican.com/home/index.cfm?flash=1

I emailed Ms Bargas and asked.  I'll display her response when I get it.

[sgrizzle]

What they basically said is "The American Project claims it's still alive but we don't believe them and are officially ignoring them from here on out."

Good for them.

[cannon_fodder]

There were no "donations."  It was a private venture for profit, they have investors money.  It would be returned if the project went defunct as any company that is liquidated.

I seem to have been contacting them every 6 months, their response is consistently "we are in the financing stage" and little else.  I'm guessing they hold the party line, but would not be totally surprised if it died.

I was excited about the project (even though it is gaudy), but at this point really don't care.

[Townsend]

I'd be more excited that a grand vision succeeded in this town instead of what seems to be the usual "Look at us and what we're doing!!!" as it fades away or changes to less than what we were told.