If you look at the public response online to Midtown OKC’s proposed art installation, Light and Airy, it's clear that many residents have serious concerns. This opposition is not about personal taste, it is about the fundamental right of community members to have a voice in the public art that shapes the spaces we live in every day.

Criticism from Oklahoma City residents has focused on several key issues, including: the sculpture’s incompatibility with the existing character of the Midtown neighborhood, legitimate safety concerns regarding reduced visibility at an already challenging roundabout, and the disappointment felt by many that talented Oklahoma artists were passed over in favor of a Canadian firm for a prominent public installation in our city.

Midtown is a vibrant, creative neighborhood with a deep appreciation for art and design. Public art should enhance our shared spaces, reflect our local identity, and inspire pride — goals that are best achieved when residents are meaningfully included in the decision-making process. Currently, many in our community feel that this process has fallen short.

For these reasons, we respectfully call on the Oklahoma City Council to place a pause on the Light and Airy project until a genuine, transparent community input process can take place. A pause would allow time for public meetings, resident feedback, and thoughtful dialogue, which would ensure that the final outcome reflects the values, safety, and character of the neighborhood it will be displayed in.

Mayor David Holt has consistently emphasized inclusivity and listening to the residents of our city as part of his leadership. His “One OKC” philosophy calls for bringing diverse voices into civic decision-making, and in public interviews, Mayor Holt has said he strives to “listen to as many people as possible”. Midtown OKC has an opportunity to lead by his example by listening to its residents now, and prove that the voice of our community really does matter. 

Involving the community in this process is not a big ask, it is the bare minimum of democratic governance. As residents of Midtown Oklahoma City, having a voice in decisions that shape our public spaces is our right, not an inconvenience.