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1926: Boston Avenue Methodist Church

1926 | 1301 S. Boston Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma | Completed in 1929 and considered by many to be one of the best examples of ecclesiastical art deco construction, the story of the design and construction of the building points to one of the first of many scandals that plagued Goff's life and career. The progressive church was determined to create a building that looked to Tulsa's future. They had hired Adah Robinson, Bruce Goff's friend and art teacher to do initial sketches and lead the design of the church. Robinson tapped Goff and his architecture firm to collaborate and the firm, Rush, Endacott and Rush is credited with the execution of the project. There is still debate and contention about who is more responsible for the final design of the building. The soaring straight lines of the tower provide physical, visual, and philosophical linkage to the Gothic Cathedrals of past ages as well as allowing the designers to indulge in the Art Deco celebration of the vertical. Like many other Art Deco buildings, the Boston Avenue Church employs various building materials, so metal, glass, terra cotta, Indiana limestone and Minnesota granite can all be found. The exterior terracotta sculptures were crafted by the Denver sculptor, Robert Garrison, who had been a student of Adah Robinson's in Oklahoma City and represent famous Methodist leaders.