Science Museum Oklahoma Receives Kirkpatrick Family Fund Grant for Interactive Sculpture Finity Conservation
March 11, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY — Science Museum Oklahoma has been awarded a grant from the Kirkpatrick Family Fund to support the conservation of Finity, a striking interactive sculpture by world-renowned artist and inventor Tom Shannon. As the only permanent installation by Shannon in the United States, Finity is a significant work of public art and a cherished feature of the museum’s outdoor gathering space, Founder’s Plaza.
Standing 25 feet tall, Finity consists of five spinning polyhedrons crafted from mirrored stainless steel. The sculpture’s dynamic design allows museum guests to engage directly with the artwork, setting its reflective forms in motion by pushing and pulling the bottom pyramid. The Kirkpatrick Family Fund originally commissioned Finity to honor the legacy of Science Museum Oklahoma’s founder, John Kirkpatrick, and it continues to serve as a symbol of creativity and discovery for the community.
“Conservation is an essential part of every art installation, and Finity is no exception,” said Sherry Marshall, the John E. Kirkpatrick CEO at Science Museum Oklahoma. “This sculpture has become an iconic and well-loved part of the museum experience, and we are committed to preserving its interactive nature and artistic integrity for future generations.”
Thanks to the generous support from the Kirkpatrick Family Fun, the conservation project will ensure that Finity remains structurally sound and continues to provide an engaging experience for visitors. Regular care and maintenance are crucial for interactive sculptures, particularly those exposed to the Oklahoma elements.
“Finity is a prime example of the reciprocal relationship between the art and science,” said Liz Eickman, Director of the Kirkpatrick Family Fund. “The opportunity to engage the public through active interaction with the sculpture provides youth and adults with a unique arts and science education experience.
Museum visitors are encouraged to stop by Founder’s Plaza and experience Finity firsthand—pushing the base of the sculpture to see its mirrored forms spin and reflect the ever-changing Oklahoma sky.