City Beat: Boutique Hotel Opens In NW OKC, Art Installations To Be Unveiled In January

At Western Avenue and NW 63rd, The Ellison said it's a sign of the recovery from the pandemic.

“We welcomed our first guest last night,” said Carrie Parker, with The Ellison's sales and marketing.

In the hotel lobby, a mural made from book spines, called “The Reader” pays tribute to the hotel's namesake, Oklahoma City Black author Ralph Ellison.

”We wanted to highlight the creativity and the exploration and the evolution of our city. In doing that, we looked at creators in Oklahoma,” said Parker.  

A copy of Ellison's first novel, Invisible Man, can be found in the hundreds of books shelved for “The Reader.”

The Ellison is six stories tall, has 120 high-design rooms, along with a rooftop bar and pool on the 4th floor.

Milo, a restaurant featuring contemporary cuisine, opened a few weeks ago on the first floor of the Ellison.

Meanwhile, artwork belonging to Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips gets a new home.

The famous OKC musician teamed up with internationally acclaimed artist Damien Hirst for an 18 by 18 foot spin painting.

It's in storage now, but will go up in the new convention center.

“Because its been crated, it will be stretched for a 30 day period,” said OKC Arts and Cultural Liaison Robbie Kienzle. 

The artwork is expected to be hanging again in January and will be at the Convention Center for at least 10 years. 

The $50,000 cost is being paid for through Oklahoma City’s 1% for Art program.

In about six weeks, a mural outside the downtown library designed to welcome people back after the pandemic will take shape.

It's the work of muralist Kiona Millirons and poet Angie LaPaglia.

The mural will read: If we all leaned in together, we could hold each other up.