Dedication of The Guardian, 2002
Nearly 24 years ago, on June 7, 2002, Robert and I attended the dedication of The Guardian at the Oklahoma State Capitol. We watched as a crane lifted it high in the air and affixed it to the top of the dome. Our picture appeared in The Oklahoman. Robert told me it was a sign that we were supposed to be together forever.
We had met at an art opening in the East Gallery of the Capitol just three weeks prior. We were engaged the following February and married in a formal ceremony in the Blue Room outside the Governor’s office in May.
We moved into our house on 20th Street, one mile west of the Capitol, in November 2004. We have lived in the shadow of The Guardian our entire relationship. The significance did not even occur to me until the other day.
When Enoch Kelly Haney designed the statue for the dome, he was deliberate about both its symbolism and its stance. Facing south, the 17-foot bronze figure stands as a sentinel over the state, looking out across the plains toward Oklahoma’s southern horizon.
Haney described the statue as a protector, holding an eagle staff to represent honor and leadership and extending a calumet in a gesture of peace. More than ornamentation, The Guardian was meant to embody Native strength and continuity, keeping watch over Oklahoma’s people and land for generations to come.
Postscript:
I worked as PR Director for the Oklahoma Arts Council when Robert and I met. The Council managed the artist selection process for the bronze finial that would top the dome. Five artists competed for the chance to create it. When they brought their maquettes to the Capitol to be judged, I told my boss we should call the media and have them do a story. The next day, it was on the front page of The Oklahoman. All the maquettes were beautiful, but Senator Haney’s was the best.
This is the second post in my new series about my 35-year career in communications and nonprofit leadership. The work has included journalism, public relations, public affairs, public information, advocacy, and public policy, primarily in Oklahoma. As a member of Generation X, I spent most of those years focused on execution, not documentation. This series is a record of the work. Thank you for your interest and support.