Forever Noun Sculpture at Art City
A Nouns-Themed Interactive Sculpture at Art City
TL;DR:
- Build a large-scale, Nouns-themed interactive sculpture made of poured concrete at Art City.
- The sculpture will occupy 80’ x 124’ of space, designed to be visible on Google Earth.
- Created by artists from The Most Famous Artist (TMFA) collective.
- It will feature a water-filled Noggle area for interactive engagement.
- Based on Noun 0.
- Yes, it will be sk8 frenly :)
What if you could see Noun 0 from space along Route 66?
A noun every day, forever? Yes, please! Imagine a permanent Nouns sculpture large enough to be visible from satellite imagery—right in the heart of Art City, a vibrant creative hub in Tucumcari, New Mexico, located off the iconic Route 66.
In 2021, The Most Famous Artist (TMFA) launched an artist residency in Tucumcari, planting creative roots by painting murals and starting development on his Art City concept. Art City has invested over $1.35 million to create a home to 13 interactive sculptures (many from Burning Man) for the public to enjoy. In the last year, Art City became a top-rated destination for global travelers and artists.
Art City expects 25,000 visitors in 2025 and even more in 2026 for Route 66’s 100th anniversary.
Once installed, we can ask mapping companies to update their images of Art City so that Google Earth displays the Nouns artwork.
This sculpture proposal aims to blend art, functional design, and the playful spirit of Nouns, creating a lasting touchstone for creativity and exploration.
Why Build a Concrete Noun at Art City?
- Art City is designed as a sanctuary where art can live and inspire forever. Concrete, known for its durability, ensures that this large-scale installation will endure for generations.
- Scale: The sculpture’s dimensions (80’ x 124’) make it large enough to appear on Google Earth.
- Interactivity: The Noggle section will feature a water installation, inviting visitors to cool off on hot days and creating a dynamic gathering space.
- Community Use: Free public programs, including concerts, workshops, and community events, will be hosted around the sculpture.
- Nouns Use: Maybe a Nouns overnight event at Art City!? We are happy to host a Nouns camp-out event at any time in the future.
Why Route 66?
Route 66, often called the “Mother Road,” is a legendary 2,400-mile highway filled with whimsical roadside attractions. Some iconic sculptures along Route 66 include:
- The Gemini Giant (IL): A towering rocket-holding statue.
- World’s Largest Rocking Chair (MO): A 42-foot-tall red chair.
- Blue Whale (OK): A giant, whimsical whale built as a swimming hole.
- Cadillac Ranch (TX): Graffiti-covered, half-buried Cadillacs.
- Twin Arrows (AZ): Two massive leaning arrows.
- Dinny the Dinosaur (CA): A giant dinosaur sculpture with an interior gift shop.
These attractions embody Route 66’s playful, creative spirit, and our interactive Nouns sculpture will join this celebrated tradition.
Why Art City?
Located on 40 acres in Tucumcari, Art City is now in its second year of operation. Founded by TMFA, it’s home to iconic sculptures created by artists from around the world, including Ghana, New York, Argentina, and San Francisco.
Art City offers camping, glamping, and day passes, drawing thousands of visitors eager to experience large-scale interactive art. The park transforms at night with neon lights and fire installations and is set to host dozens of events in 2025.
Recent coverage in New Mexico Magazine highlights Art City’s growing significance as a cultural destination. Read the article
Learn more:
Why Tucumcari?
Tucumcari boasts passing traffic of over 20,000 vehicles daily on Interstate 40 and over 150,000 room nights annually in the town’s many retro motels for travelers exploring Route 66. Once a thriving railroad town, it’s now a central stop on Route 66 conveniently located:
- 1.45 hours from Amarillo, TX
- 2.5 hours from Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucumcari,_New_Mexico
Why The Most Famous Artist?
TMFA has a proven track record of creating large-scale spectacles that capture the public’s imagination since 2015.
Notable projects include:
- A selfie-friendly private jet installation (2018).
- An entire block of pink houses (2017).
Community Focus:
- TMFA supports the CC0 movement, sharing best practices with a network of digital artists.
- TMFA leverages cloud-based and open-source collaboration to execute projects and secure grants and government support.
NFT Experience:
Since 2021, TMFA has created NFT collections, collaborating with brands like Liquid Death.
Permitting & Team
No land use ordinances in Quay County. No permit is needed to install this artwork on Art City property. TMFA maintains strong relationships with local officials, tradespeople, and suppliers, ensuring smooth project execution.
Key Team Members:
- Matty Mo: Project Manager
- Discord: themostfamousartist
- Instagram: instagram.com/themostfamousartist
- Wikipedia: Matty Mo
- Michael Di Carlo: Engineer
- Nate Uyeda: Lead Builder at Art City
- Wendel Smith: Ground Preparation Specialist
- Luis Acosta: Cement Expert
- Kevin Losani: Video
- Mike Good: Nouns Representative
- Twitter: @Goodbeats
- Warpcast: @mikegood
Project Details
- Material: ~4,000 cubic feet (~148 cubic yards) of concrete with a minimum 6-inch thickness.
- Design: Pixelated aesthetic with fiberglass and rebar-reinforced concrete.
- Noggle Pool: Requires reinforced concrete, water connections, and drainage.
- Timeline (8 weeks):
- 3 weeks: Ground preparation.
- 3 weeks: Form creation and concrete pouring.
- 2 weeks: Surface finishing and landscaping.
The sculpture will be positioned within a 5-acre walking trail at Art City, offering views of Tucumcari Mountain.
Total Proposed Budget
$190,365.84, allocated as follows:
- Design and Project Management: $10,000
- Engineering and renderings
- Coordination and execution
- Ground Preparation: $35,000
- Leveling and preparing a 160x100-foot area
- Laying down crusher fines to prep the pad for concrete
- 16,000 square feet
- $2.19 per square foot
- ~ 0.37 acres dedicated to sculpture
- Concrete Material: $16,365.84
- 3,000 PSI concrete
- $110.58 per cubic yard
- 148 cubic yards
- Rebar Material: $1,000
- 4,000 feet of rebar at $2.50 per linear foot
- Concrete Labor: $48,000
- $12 per cubic foot
- Plumbing & Electrical Material: $20,000
- 200 feet of 4-inch Schedule 40 PVC drain lines
- 1000 feet of 1.25-inch PVC water service hook-up lines
- Pump and filtration systems
- Electrical components
- Plumbing & Electrical Installation: $10,000
- Trenching and connecting PVC material
- Water service connection
- Electrical hook-up
- Finishing: $20,000
- Treatment of concrete to withstand the elements
- Lighting
- Sk8 frenly features
- Landscaping: $20,000
- Replanting and xeriscaping the area around the construction zone
- Video Capture: $10,000
- TMFA team to document and share the project’s creation across social media
- Examples on instagram.com/themostfamousartist
Join Us!
This sculpture is more than just a public art installation—it’s a statement of Nouns’ creativity and ambition. Together, we can create a landmark that inspires and endures for generations. Let’s make magic happen! See you in the Forever Noun at Art City!
| Voter | Cast Power | Vote & Rationale |
|---|---|---|
 0x39a7...F3aBc0 | 50 | AGAINST |
 0x094B...f6C8B8 | 45 | AGAINST |
 0xcC26...0f6Ed5 | 36 | FOR |
 0x29B6...a2aFD4 | 33 | AGAINST |
 0x73E0...1677Ec | 27 | FOR |
VOTE POWER
Proposal Status
- Mon February 10 2025, 02:56 pmVoting Period Starts
- Fri February 14 2025, 03:41 pmEnd Voting Period
- Queue Proposal
- Execute Proposal
Current Results
1-AGAINST
167
2-FOR
151
3-ABSTAIN
3