Senator Green Celebrates New Art Installations on Route 66 in Wellston

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston, encourages Oklahomans and Route 66 enthusiasts to visit new public art installations in Wellston that were commissioned as part of this year’s centennial celebrations.

At 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, the Oklahoma Arts Council, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation will hold a public dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate several new artworks installed just off I-44/Turner Turnpike, near the newly redone bridge crossing over Route 66 in Wellston. This event is free and open to the public.

Green said many locals have already noticed the newly installed 23-foot-tall sculpture of a map pin that marks the halfway point on Oklahoma’s 400-mile stretch of Route 66. The giant pin, titled “You Are Here” by artist Joseph O’Connell’s Creative Machines, resembles stained glass and features images celebrating Wellston, Route 66 and Oklahoma.

Eventually, this new sculpture will glow at night, making it a brightly colored landmark visible from a distance during all hours of the day. It will also complement the colorful new lighting installed under the new bridge.

“This sculpture hasn’t even been officially unveiled yet, and it’s already making Wellston a must-see destination on Route 66,” Green said. “The Mother Road has long been an economic driver for our state and for small communities along its path. It attracts more than 12 million visitors each year, generates over $1 billion in economic activity and supports tens of thousands of local jobs. The centennial and this eye-catching new sculpture are sure to draw even more travelers to Wellston and other Oklahoma communities along America’s most famous road.”

Two other new artworks celebrating Wellston, Oklahoma’s agricultural roots and the enduring legacy of Route 66 will be unveiled at the upcoming ceremony. All three pieces were commissioned through the Arts Council’s Art in Public Places program.

“This is just another reason for everyone to get their kicks on Route 66,” Green said. “As we approach the centennial of this historic highway, this is a big opportunity for Wellston to show off its unique history and Oklahoma hospitality. These public art projects will put the town on the map and help attract visitors from across the country and around the world.”

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