Cry Baby Hill artwork creates controversy

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — “it’s going to be right at the top of the hill,” said Riverview resident Lauren Branum, pointing to the site of a controversy. It is there on a patch of grass at the top of Cry Baby Hill that a new statue will be erected.

“We knew that people were going to have opinions, we knew that people were going to hate it. I think a lot of people love it,” said Mayor Bynum’s Chief of Staff, Blake Ewing, describing reaction to the selection of a 20-foot statue by sculptor Ken Kelleher.

“The project was funded by Route 66 funds, so the original intent was for a Route 66 roadside attraction,” he said.

“We just felt like it could be an attraction that didn’t have to be as obnoxious as what it was finally chosen,” said Chris McCabe, president of the Riverview Neighborhood Association, home of Cry Baby Hill. He posted the news on the neighborhood Facebook page which wasn’t exactly met with enthusiasm.

“We did not feel like, feel like it accurately represents this neighborhood, the character of this neighborhood, the uniqueness of this intersection,” he said.

“I voted against it,” said Branum. She was on the city’s selection committee and was the lone vote against the statue.

“Me and my neighbors we’re going to see this artwork every day. We’re going to be eating dinner looking out our windows looking at it, just going about our lives seeing it every day. And it wasn’t what we wanted to see,” she said.

“Obviously there are mixed opinions about this thing,” said Ewing.

“I don’t know that the city was expecting this level of backlash,” said Branum.

So much backlash that at one point today the artist informed the chief of staff that he was withdrawing from the job, only to change his mind later this evening. All in all, a debate over art nearly as grueling as the hill it’s named after.

“There are some neighbors that are unhappy that it’s a baby but all in all they’ve been great and their feedback is much appreciated.