Mural: The Cosmic Dance of Thiccfoot and the Gayliens
Artists: Jamie Pierson (@scraps_designs) and Erin Baird (@erin.bread)
Location: Pearl District, Tulsa, Oklahoma
What it shows: A view of iconic skyscrapers in downtown Tulsa, among which fantastical characters are having a wonderful day of discovery together, like an alien in a spaceship shooting rainbow beams into the city and a new evolution of Oklahoma’s mythical (or… is it?) Bigfoot.
Why I like it: Combining realism with fantasy, linking the city’s architectural past with futuristic delight, this mural writes a story about Tulsa in which surprise, play, and self-expression interact with the built environment. The version of Bigfoot depicted in the mural, far from being a lurking blur in the forest, is out and about: glowed up, making new friends, as tall and vivid a presence as the historic buildings around him. It’s a sharp, fun piece (there’s a message painted high up that says “smack it” — i.e., that booty — and viewers obey the directive) that’s also an invitation to appreciate the “cosmic dances” that happen around us every time we walk down our city streets. I also love the rainbow-nod to queer joy in Tulsa’s architectural story; this is the city of Bruce Goff, after all.
What the artist has to say: “A lot of my work engages with how the built environment can lead people to interact more and also be creative in those interactions, and how creativity and connection can build stronger community feedback into the built environment. Sidewalks, public parks, all that stuff are places where people can interact, and public art is something that gives us distinction to our neighborhoods. Before, this was just a blank empty warehouse wall. Now it’s the Sunny Dayz block. This was nothing. And now it’s something. This was just a space and now it’s a place. Public art can really help establish those neighborhood ties, connections, and identity.” — Jamie Pierson
