UCO and the City of Edmond Commemorate "Touch the Clouds"

May 22 on the University of Central Oklahoma’s campus, the official dedication of artist David McGary’s statue, “Touch the Clouds” occurred.

The dedication honored both the artist of the statue and the history behind the statue, while underscoring an appreciation for relevant public art. 

“The addition of David McGary's magnificent “Touch the Clouds” to Edmond's Art in Public Places adds a new dimension to Edmond's collection - that of a nationally acclaimed piece of Southwestern art,” said Ward 2 Councilmember Elizabeth Waner. “The Council is also pleased that our partnership with the University of Central Oklahoma has enabled us to place the piece on Historic Route 66.”

Present at the dedication were Mayor Charles Lamb, UCO President Dr. Don Betz, Former Mayor Randel Shadid and the family of the late David McGary. Touch the Clouds was a chief of the Minneconjou Teton Lakota, and was known for his ferocity in battle, ability to counsel others and bravery. 

The dedication underscored the 17-year-old statue’s purpose and its restoration process, a process that occurred as a result of private donors and Council funds. Located on Second Street in front of the University of Central Oklahoma, the 18-foot statue is made of restored bronze and was purchased from the Houston Livestock Rodeo Association. The late artist David McGary, considered a “Master of Realism,” worked diligently to honor Native American heritage through pieces such as “Touch the Clouds.”