"The American"

[we vs us]

An expansion of the original KTUL article by the AP:

quote: Larger site sought for sculpture  
By Associated Press  TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A proposed 21-story, $36 million bronze monument of an American Indian warrior will likely move to a larger location, according to developers involved in the project.  

Tulsa city councilors learned this week that the 207-foot-tall monument, initially proposed for Holmes Peak in Osage County, is moving to a larger, 300-acre site 3 1/2 miles away.  

Plans to build "The American," one of the world's largest freestanding bronze monuments with an observation area, were first announced in March 2004.  

"A lot has happened over the years," said Melanie Gray, wife of Oklahoma sculptor Shan Gray, who hopes to build the monument. "It's just not all seen by the public. We're moving cautiously."  

Gray said moving the project to a new site was a "possibility" because the footprint of the project had grown.  

"What we have realized over time is that we wanted to have a strategic partnership with regard to the venues around 'The American' in order to secure and maintain some continuity," she said.  

Gray said the topography of the Holmes Peak site is limited in space, making it difficult to ensure that the venue would work appropriately.  

The Grays also are going through a process with an American Indian tribe to become a vested partner in the project. Although Gray said most people will assume that it is with the Osage Nation because of the site location, she would not confirm that.  

The Grays also have negotiated with a capital investment firm for a plan to build a luxury hotel and entertainment venue adjacent to the monument.  

"We know it's going to be a high-visibility project, and due to the very nature of that and the fact that we consider this to be a world-class icon, we want to strategically position the area as a destination point, not just a pass-through," she said.  

She said she believes that the overall project could become "a real family corridor of entertainment, especially with Branson and Oklahoma City in easy driving distance. We think you could make a whole vacation out of this."  

"The American" will depict a warrior with a bald eagle landing on his forearm.  

Visitors would be able to ride an elevator to a two-story gallery two-thirds of the way up the monument and then could climb to an observation deck in the statue's forehead. In addition to the monument, the site would have a visitors center and educational center.  

Gray said recent national economic turmoil has put a hold on some potential investors, who are waiting to see the ultimate effect on their earnings.

New takeaways:  Gray is negotiating with an unnamed Indian tribe that is probably the Osage nation for partnership.  She is also talking with an unnamed investment bank about adding a luxury (!!) hotel and entertainment venue to the site, which is, as expected not Holmes Peak.

More terribly exciting, terribly ambiguous stuff!

[Townsend]

Think Gray will move the project to an existing site with hotel and entertainment venue?

Maybe take the eagle away, change the arm position to hold up "devil horns" and make the head appear to be banging?

"The Hard Rock American"...just a thought.

[inteller]

wow, we are getting closer to my plan of having a quarter slot at the base to pull a lever and have it yell out "INUK-CHUK!".

a casino and a hotel....yeah keep it classy Oklahoma!  

don't stop there, it needs to have a smoke shop nearby too.

[waterboy]

Just a note WevsUs. Jim Gray is chief of the Osage. They are related. But it seems to me if the tribe was interested it would already be happening.

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Just a note WevsUs. Jim Gray is chief of the Osage. They are related. But it seems to me if the tribe was interested it would already be happening.

Thanks, Wboy.  I'm completely in the dark when it comes to understanding inter- and intratribal power relationships.

[cannon_fodder]

It seems to me if a tribe wanted to be involved, for tribal pride sake or for business sake, it would want an accurate representation of their tribe.  The "loin cloth" native was certainly not indicative of the eastern Indians that were relocated to Oklahoma.  Not sure who it is indicative of really - but the Osage are from the Ohio river valley originally... a very cold place for ye' ole' loin cloths.

To add some gas to the fire, maybe the statute could be headless if it was Osage?  In honor of the Kiowa women and children they massacred?  Of course it doesn't really speak anything to the merits of the statue or the tribe (one incident from who knows what band of warriors), but I do enjoy poking at the myth of the noble savage.  

Damn, I'm just asking for trouble here.

[lsimmons]

quote: quarter slot at the base to pull a lever and have it yell out "INUK-CHUK!".  

A gambling, smoking version of Apache Chief from the Justice League.  Oh, that's classic! LMAO!

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

It seems to me if a tribe wanted to be involved, for tribal pride sake or for business sake, it would want an accurate representation of their tribe.  The "loin cloth" native was certainly not indicative of the eastern Indians that were relocated to Oklahoma.  Not sure who it is indicative of really - but the Osage are from the Ohio river valley originally... a very cold place for ye' ole' loin cloths.

To add some gas to the fire, maybe the statute could be headless if it was Osage?  In honor of the Kiowa women and children they massacred?  Of course it doesn't really speak anything to the merits of the statue or the tribe (one incident from who knows what band of warriors), but I do enjoy poking at the myth of the noble savage.  

Damn, I'm just asking for trouble here.

Yeah, you are. But they know their heritage and they know the "noble savage" myth for what it is. Jim once told me that the Osage were great fighters and enjoyed getting drunk and going into other tribes' villages and raising hell. Of course, non natives provided the alcohol.[]

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

. . . maybe the statute could be headless . . .

Geez, just can't stop with all this legal-beagle talk, can you?

Now you're going to tell me that "headless statute" is a misspelling or something, right?  Yeah, that's just like you, Mr. know-it-all smarter-than-me elitist.  Mr. blahdiddyblah midtown uber-middle-class, upper echelon, too-much-education, backyard-libertarian snootypants.  SO TYPICAL!








(It's friday, yo.  I'm a little on edge.)

[cannon_fodder]

How I wish I had the time to photoshop The American headless.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

wow, we are getting closer to my plan of having a quarter slot at the base to pull a lever and have it yell out "INUK-CHUK!".

a casino and a hotel....yeah keep it classy Oklahoma!  

don't stop there, it needs to have a smoke shop nearby too.

It costs a lot to build a 20ft statue. I'm guessing $1 slots.

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by Townsend

Think Gray will move the project to an existing site with hotel and entertainment venue?

Maybe take the eagle away, change the arm position to hold up "devil horns" and make the head appear to be banging?

"The Hard Rock American"...just a thought.

That's what I was thinkig as well. At the hard Rock location lot's of freeway access and travelers passing through........

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by inteller

wow, we are getting closer to my plan of having a quarter slot at the base to pull a lever and have it yell out "INUK-CHUK!".

a casino and a hotel....yeah keep it classy Oklahoma!  

don't stop there, it needs to have a smoke shop nearby too.

It costs a lot to build a 20ft statue. I'm guessing $1 slots.

hey, whatever gets it done.

[OpenYourEyesTulsa]

Someone was asking me about "The American" statue today.  Is anything happening or is this project officially dead?

[Townsend]

Someone was asking me about "The American" statue today.  Is anything happening or is this project officially dead?

Drove by the other day.  The peak looks unscathed.