UPDATE: After lots of criticism, the artist selected for the statue on Cry Baby Hill released a revised version.
Here are those renderings:
2 News is set to talk with the artist later today. We will update you when we learn more.
The City of Tulsa provided this statement about the statue:
“As the artwork for the Route 66 Roadside Attraction is finalized, the City is continuing to facilitate conversations between the artist and stakeholders to ensure the end product is reflective of Route 66, Cry Baby Hill, and Tulsa. As these conversations have evolved, the artist has released additional concepts on his own that represent his willingness to shape the final product in response to suggestions and community ideas. The City will continue to engage with the artist to develop the final outcome in collaboration with stakeholders.”
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The newest statue to adorn Route 66 is receiving mixed feedback.
Earlier in August, 2 News reported when the city announced the iconic Cry Baby Hill is getting a 21-foot-tall statue to memorialize one of Tulsa's colorful traditions during Tulsa Tough.
The City of Tulsa selected globally known artist Ken Kelleher for the project. His conceptual art features a large baby statue crying called — Cry Baby Cry.
The city said this is the concept for the piece but hundreds of comments on social media show not everyone likes it.
Some aren't happy with the city for not selecting a local artist. Another concern is also the lack of community input on the design.
Lauren Lunsford owns Rainbowland Arts Studio and is outspoken about the cities decision.
"I just feel like if you are going to do a project like this, you need to have the community involved, and I just feel like we were shut down in so many areas," she said. "It's disheartening, disenfranchising people, and for me personally, it's like here we go again."
She clarified she's not faulting Kelleher for getting the bid but wished the city placed more value on local artists.
"That's our livelihood they were fighting for," said Lunsford. "I am constantly seeing local artists you know wanting to get paid or wanting a job or something and somebody from another city gets it."
Local artists went to the city meetings and listened to residents’ concerns, according to Lunsford.
One Riverview neighbor spoke with 2 News at one of the December community meetings, "The idea of a 30-foot-tall baby? I think a lot of eye-rolling from the residents over that idea."
WATCH: 2 News learned the history of Cry Baby Hill:
Ellen Ray with the City of Tulsa said the statue is just the beginning for the area. She said Kelleher captured the whimsical and style that brings a fun atmosphere to the neighborhood.
"That style is just really consistent with everything that makes the 66 aesthetic special," said Ray. "It's just things that are catchy that are often lighthearted and really originally intended to enhance the boringness of those long drives."
The new statue joins other famous tall characters in Tulsa, including the Golden Driller, Buck Atoms and Stella Atoms.
2 News spoke with Buck Atoms' owner Mary Beth Babcock, "We have local artist Chris Wollard, who made Buck's rocket ship so it's very important to me to utilize to have a local artist be a part of something like this," said Babcock.
Wollard came up in a few conversations. Wollard is a local artist who submitted a proposal for the statue. He said any local artist deserved the $250,000 to share their art with Tulsa.
"Those commissions are sizable and to see all of that money leaving our community are going out of state and possibly overseas is kind of frustrating," said Wollard.
2 News reached out to the City of Tulsa after listening to the artist's concerns. The city's communications director said they've released all the info they're going to at this time.
The city said the sculpture will be built ahead of the Route 66 centennial in 2026.
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