Aquarium's Shark Sculpture Nearly Ready

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

JENKS, OK -- Since it opened, the Oklahoma Aquarium has been angling for a special way to finish off its entrance.  Although it took years longer than expected, the sculpture that will welcome visitors to the aquarium is coming along swimmingly.     

Actually, it's been almost three years since the shark sculpture project began.  The aquarium wanted something special to place at the entrance.  And, sharks are, after all, the stars of the show.

11/29/2006  Related Story: New Shark Sculpture At The Oklahoma Aquarium In Jenks

"We have the most Bull Sharks of any aquarium maybe in the world definitely in the U.S.," said Kenny Alexopoulos.

Commissioning something like they wanted would cost thousands and thousands of dollars, so Kenny Alexopoulos said he'd do if he could work on it in his spare time.  He didn't have any sculpture experience, but he has studied sharks and captured them.

"I did a lot of Googling," said Kenny Alexopoulos.

Looks like all that internet time paid off, his three sharks are finished.  The sculpture depicts two males pursuing a female.

Each of the sharks will have to be separated.  Once they are cut apart, a foundry in Colorado will send a team to Jenks to make a mold of each one.

The finished bronzes will be put back together and should be on display in front of the Oklahoma Aquarium this summer.