Norman’s first roundabout on a major street will also be home to the city’s newest public art site in November.

The roundabout at the intersection of East Main Street and Carter Avenue will feature a landscaped sculpture in the center.

The Norman Public Arts Board is narrowing down 62 artist proposals from Oklahoma and across the country for the project. Ten finalists will be asked to submit a more detailed proposal.

“Hopefully this project will be one of many to come in the near future,” said Larry Walker, chairman of the Norman Public Arts Board.

The Norman City Arts Council, Norman Public Arts Board, and the City of Norman are joining together to make this and many similar projects a reality in the future, Walker said.

The City of Norman gave the Norman Public Arts Board plans for a sculpture in the roundabout’s 29.5 foot diameter space, Walker said.

The final artist selection will be June 1.

The qualifications for the sculpture include one large piece of work, weather resistant materials, and a theme relating to Oklahoma according to a request for qualifications and concepts.

Residents in the area of Carter Avenue and East Main Streets were able to give input on what type of art they would like to see, Walker said.

Public art helps define a community, said Rick Fry, director of the Norman Arts Council.

“Public art states how a city feels about itself,” said Fry, a longtime artist who recently took the position.

Most cities have a large amount of public art on display, Fry said.

Norman has many new art projects underway, including work by OU students and artwork on Interstate 35.

OU and the City of Norman are always looking for new projects to do together, Fry said.

One project in the works includes an “art incubator,” a space provided for art students and recent graduates to work on their artwork at a reduced rate. In conjunction with OU, the city is offering a tour of art galleries from downtown Norman to Campus Corner, he said. The project is called “Second Friday Circuit of Art” and will begin the second Friday in February.

Artwork on new I-35 overpasses will be constructed within the next few years. State officials will develop a common theme for the bridges.

Project dates

Notification to artist: February 2, 2009

Selected Artists’ submissions proposal: April 1, 2009

Finalist’s presentations: May 18, 2009

Selection of Artist: June 1, 2009

Dedication/unveiling of complete art project: November 30, 2009