A look at one of the three sculptures that compose Triptych at Valerie Theberge's studio
Norman’s newest park brings Norman’s newest piece of public art with it. Triptych by Valerie Theberge joins Norman’s ever-expanding collection of world-class public art and can be seen at Ruby Grant Park, 3110 W. Franklin Rd, Norman, which opens to the public on Friday, December 4.
A virtual ribbon cutting for the park and dedication for Theberge’s art will be broadcast at 1 p.m. Friday, December 4 on the Norman Parks and Recreation’s Facebook page.
Triptych — the working title for the piece — is a trio of sculptures celebrating the City of Norman, the spirit of the park’s namesake Ruby Grant and the rhythm of the grounds itself. With joyful and uplifting colors, the mosaic glass-tiled pieces highlight and complement the natural setting, nodding to our community’s artistic, progressive, pioneering spirit with intricate hand cut patterns.
“The artwork gives visitors a place to pause and commune with the surroundings,” Theberge said in the narrative explaining the inspiration and purpose behind the piece. “In the spirit of Ruby Grant, the sculptures are grouped facing each other and can be considered an outdoor classroom where people can gather and enjoy the wide array of flora and fauna.”
Theberge was selected out of 61 requests for qualification submissions, which were generated from artists and designers from across the globe. Three finalists were asked to create design proposals, and Theberge was chosen by the selection panel composed of stakeholders from the Norman Parks and Recreation, City of Norman, Norman Arts Council, Public Arts Board Ruby Grant Park Ad Hoc Advisory board and regionally-renowned Norman artist Don Longcrier.
Theberge graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute, where she majored in painting and drawing. She moved to China to study the Chinese language and Chinese painting. She received a certificate in Chinese painting in 1992. Her art career took her to Hong Kong where she trained with a British company and specialized in the art of mosaics. Theberge has worked on projects in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, India and the United States. She currently works in her studio located in the Washington, DC- metropolitan area.
The selection was approved by the Norman Arts Council Board and the Norman Public Arts Board in March.
This is the fourth public art project made possible through the Norman Forward 1% for Art Program, led by Public Art Manager Debby Williams. Mark Aeling’s SPLASH was installed at the Westwood Family Aquatic Center, 1017 Fairway Drive, in December 2017. James Johnson’s Prairie Wind was installed at Norman Public Library East, 3001 E. Alameda, in June 2018. Paul Cocksedge’s Unbound was installed at Norman Public Library Central, 103 W. Acres, in July 2019.