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More Smithsonian Searches     Who else has...     Willis, Bill,     Willis, J. R.,     Morris, Linda Willis,     Morris, W. R.,     Willis Granite Company,     Portrait male -- Rogers, Will     Performing Arts -- Other     Occupation -- Other     Occupation -- Writer     Performing Arts -- Theater     Ethnic -- Indian     Outdoor Sculpture -- Oklahoma -- Granite     Mosaic     Billboard     Sculpture

Giants of the Plains, (sculpture). Artist:  Willis, Bill, sculptor. Willis, J. R., engineer. Morris, Linda Willis, designer. Morris, W. R., designer. Willis Granite Company, fabricator. Title:  Giants of the Plains, (sculpture). Other Titles:  Will Rogers, (sculpture). Oklahoma Giants of the Plains, (sculpture). Dates:  1979. Dedicated Nov. 10, 1979. Medium:  Sculpture: Oklahoma red granite; Base: steel frame and Oklahoma red granite blocks. Dimensions:  Sculpture: approx. 26 ft. x 30 ft. x 2 in.; Base: approx. 30 in. x 62 in. x 12 ft. (30,000 lbs.). Inscription:  (On front top right of sculpture:) GIANTS/OF THE/GREAT/PLAINS unsigned Description:  A large mosaic portrait of Will Rogers composed of 185 granite panels. The panels are connected by steel straps and bolted to a large frame of four vertical I-beams and a piece of angle-iron. Will Rogers' chest, shoulders, and head are engraved in a black outline. His face and jacket are flesh-colored, his shirt a lighter shade, and his tie a red and white polka-dotted pattern. His hair and eyebrows are black. The sculpture rests atop a base of four roughly-cut granite blocks. Subject:  Portrait male -- Rogers, Will -- Bust Performing Arts -- Other -- Comedian Occupation -- Other -- Cowboy Occupation -- Writer -- Journalist Performing Arts -- Theater -- Performer Ethnic -- Indian -- Cherokee Object Type:  Outdoor Sculpture -- Oklahoma -- Granite Mosaic Billboard Sculpture Owner:  Administered by Willis Granite Company, 800 West Mountain Avenue, Granite, Oklahoma 73547 Located 700 block West Mountain Avenue at North Ada Street, Granite, Oklahoma Remarks:  The sculpture was funded through public subscription and was the first of three proposed sculptures honoring Oklahomans (others proposed were Sequoyah and Jim Thorpe). The dedication coincided with Rogers' 100th birthday anniversary. The artist was assisted by his father, J. R. Willis, who designed the steel structure to which the panels are secured. Linda Willis Morris and W. R. Morris helped to design the panels. Willie Fletcher assisted with grinding on the panels. Ken Sirmons and Steve Fletcher assisted with the installation of the panels. Jimmy Ammons assisted with welding. IAS files contain related articles from The Granite Enterprise (Oklahoma), Nov. 1, 1979, pg. 1; Nov. 8, 1979, pg. 1, 5; and Nov. 15, 1979, pg. 1; the Mangum Star-News, Nov. 15, 1979, pg. 1; the Wichita Falls Times Record News, June 15 & 16, 1991; and The Dallas Morning News, Nov. 11, 1979, pg. 1. References:  Save Outdoor Sculpture, Oklahoma survey, 1996. Illustration:  Image on file. The Dallas Morning News, Nov. 11, 1979, pg. 1. Note:  The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide. Repository:  Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 Control Number:  IAS OK000170   Copy/Holding information Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum Control Number   Inventory of American Sculpture OK000170 Add Copy to MyList Format: HTMLPlain textDelimited Subject:   Email to:

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