A ribbon cutting was held for the unveiling of the Unity Mural located on the west side of the Chamber of Commerce building located at 420 E. Grand Ave. on Tuesday, June 13 at 6 pm.

Back in May of 2022, representatives from the Ponca City Main Street (PCMS) attended the National Main Street Center’s annual national conference held in Richmond, Virginia. A key theme PCMS representatives noticed throughout the conference was that of unity.

“We really wanted to bring that back to our downtown, and what better way then with a beautiful mural,” said Chelsi Hendrickson, PCMS Board Chair.

In December, PCMS Design Committee chair, Ally Broome, published a call for artists looking for a creative individual or collaborating group to bring an artistic take on unity to Ponca City.

More than 30 applications were received for this project, and the Design Committee reviewed the applications to submit the top three. From the finalists, the PCMS Board of Directors selected artists Carlos Barboza and Virginia Sitzes for the project.

Barboza is described as having strengths in portraiture and textured details, while Sitzes is described as a master of color with a keen eye for energetic composition and contemporary flair.

“There was an open call we both saw, and we’ve both been looking for an opportunity to work together,” said Barboza. “And we thought, with the prompt that was given to us, it seemed like a good opportunity for us to try something.”

In the application, Barboza stated: ““I love the idea that we are all unique individual shapes and pieces, but together we create a tapestry that is more beautiful than the sum of its parts.”

The original plan for the mural was a 10X40, but once the artists saw the space, they saw the potential to expand the project to cover the entire wall space.

“We were very excited to do the whole wall, it was definitely a push because that was decided four days before we got here, so we really had to change the game plan and try to get it done,” said Virginia Sitzes. “We think it is much more impactful at this scale, and we’re thrilled to work here in Ponca.”

PCMS partnered with the City Arts organization to increase the project’s budget for the expansion.

“We have had a great partnership with City Arts on this project,” said Hendrickson. “If it wasn’t for City Arts and their public art fund. We wouldn’t have been able to create this fabulous piece and really have the project to its most potential.”

The Unity Mural itself, represents people from all walks of life and presented them in a multicolored collage. It conveys this through having figures from different back- grounds in similar poses, seemingly melding or shifting from one to another.

“When we were brainstorming what we wanted to do…we got stuck with this idea of people in unison, in areas of life, were all connected through just being human,” said Sitzes. “We have pairs of different occupations, jobs, hobbies, but doing similar motions. Like the ballerina and the basket ball player are both sweeping arms. So there is that connection of unity, but also we’re all different.”

Unity was more than just the subject for the mural, as many pitched in to make this possible including Stuever’s Dirt Work donating the scissor lift used, Bill Wetzel provided the parking lot space, the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce providing their building as the canvas, lodging by Kyle and Rachel Stewart, Powell Electric moving electric wires for the project, contributions from local artists including Theresa Sackett and Kortny Miller, as well as PCMS volunteers, and of course PCMS and City Arts.

“Through the hard work of our board of directors and program volunteers, and collaboration efforts with City Arts, we’re proud to bring the largest contemporary mural to our downtown for the whole community to enjoy,” said Maci Graves, Ponca City Main Street executive director. “We believe Main Streets are for everyone and this mural is a great addition that will enhance the downtown Ponca City experience.”

In total, the mural took nine days full of painting to complete it.

“For me, it’s been really gratifying, It’s been a great experience working with Virginia as well. And as we collaborated, its been an incredible learning experience for me,” said Barboza. “Everyone in Ponca has been amazing, and extremely hospitable. Everyone took us in and treated us as one of their own. And so that is kind of what we wanted with the mural as well, to have that same level of energy, and love and hopefully that comes across.”

“Its been an incredible experience. Everyone here has been so kind and excited about the arts,” said Sitzes. “I think other cities and towns in Oklahoma should look at Ponca and bring some of that energy to their spaces too.”

The ribbon cutting held Tuesday night saw both Barboza and Sitzes presented with plaques for their work on the project. Sitzes took a moment to speak and thank all the parties involved in making this mural project a reality.

“Thank you for your hard work on making this happen, this is huge and incredible,” said Sitzes. “Every small business owner here, every random person that just walked up and said ‘hey’ and everyone that gave us snacks, and our assistants. The list just goes on and on. And we are so incredibly thankful.”

Both artists intend on returning to Ponca City next year for the Sunny Dayz Mural Festival.