Praying Hands - Oral Roberts University - Tulsa, OK
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Max and 99
N 36° 03.135 W 095° 57.415
15S E 233639 N 3993790
Enormous sculpture of bronze hands touching, at the entrance to Oral Roberts University
Waymark Code: WM8GC0
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 03/29/2010
Views: 5
Beautiful sculpture of two hands touching at the entrance to ORU. The hands are located in a beautifully sculptured garden area in the median of the main entrance drive. There are flagpoles at the middle of the median, the praying hands sculpture at the east end, and ORU spelled out in shaped hedges at the west end.
From the Smithsonian Art Inventory page:
Inscription:
(Incised in base:) ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY/Educating the whole man/"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" Luke 2:52
Description:
Colossal sculpture of a pair of hands in a praying position. The hands form the top of an overall triangular, vertically oriented work. The forearms form the sides and the base forms the bottom plane. According to the University, the sculpture symbolizes "the University's mission to join human hands and work with those of God."
Dimensions:
Approx. H. 60 ft. (60,000 lbs.).
Remarks:
The sculptor worked from sketches of the hands of Oral Roberts, founder of the University, initially, then Gary Mitchell served as a live model. The sculpture was cast in 450 pieces and assembled on site. It is reportedly one of the largest cast bronzes in the world. IAS files include a fact sheet from the University's Public Relations office.
TITLE: Praying Hands
ARTIST(S): Leonard McMurry
DATE: ca. 1978-1980. Completed Nov. 1980
MEDIUM: Sculpture: bronze; Base: stone
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS OK000212
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
Entrance to Oral Roberts University
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
none noticed
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Visit Instructions:
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