Arts Commission approves 'Encuentro' glass installation for Lake Heffner Clubhouse

At its March 16 meeting, the Oklahoma City Arts Commission approved 'Encuentro,' a glass sculpture installation by artists Melina Ciplu and Anna Maria Nava to be installed inside the Lake Heffner Clubhouse. The commission awarded the project $59,000.

Leandre Latimore, public art project manager in the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, presented the work and described it as "a layer of composition of glass forms that intersect and overlap," inspired by agricultural fields viewed from above and designed to run up the stairwell from the first to the second floor. Latimore said the individual kiln-fired glass pieces range from about 8 to 30 inches in diameter and will be mounted with stainless-steel anchors; the artist’s goal was to keep elements mounted high enough to be out of arm’s reach of small children.

Commissioners asked technical and safety questions. The Chair asked how many feet above the ground the lower elements would begin; Latimore said the artist’s intent was to keep the work out of reach but that exact measurements were not available at the meeting. Commissioner Cooper, who served on the selection jury, said the artist described aerial views of crop circles as an inspiration for the arrangement and praised the installation’s texture and color.

Commissioner Sawyer moved approval and Commissioner Cooper seconded. Voting required a roll-call read after several members experienced difficulties with the electronic voting software; staff completed the call and the motion passed.

The city did not provide an installation timeline at the meeting. Staff said they will coordinate mounting and safety clearances and notify the commission of next steps.