A new sculpture rides into Bricktown

By Alex Cameron, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The latest sculpture for the Landrun monument, a horse and rider, was moved into Bricktown Thursday.

There are now 19 pieces in place, half of the 38 that Norman sculptor Paul Moore is under contract to produce. The $5.1 million project, which will depict the 1889 Landrun in vivid detail, called for 45 pieces, but seven of those were put in reserve due to sharply increased foundry costs. City officials said the project continues to generate excitement.

"The artwork itself is just fantastic," said Jane Abraham of the Oklahoma City Manager's Office. "It brings in a lot of people to come and actually see the monument."

Currently the sculpture stretches down the canal. When the Landrun recreation is completed, it will be one of the largest bronze sculptures in the world. 

Moore and the city had originally targeted 2009 as the project's completion date, but the wagons took longer than expected, and progress slowed. The expected target date has been pushed back to 2012.

"We're kind of getting on a more regular schedule with the installation of the pieces because they're smaller, a little bit more manageable, and so those are coming along a little bit faster," Abraham said.

Visitors said it doesn't matter that the project isn't complete, the monument makes a trip to the canal worth it.