Since opening in 1988, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden has welcomed millions of visitors. The 11-acre destination unites two of Minnesota’s most cherished resources: parks and culture.
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden recently underwent an 18-month renovation, which refreshed existing pieces and introduced new ones. Now, we think it’s better than ever!
The Spoonbridge and Cherry
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is one of the most popular and acclaimed attractions in the city. It features more than 40 works from the Walker Art Center’s collections and is open 365 days a year.
The garden’s centerpiece is the sculptural fountain-piece Spoonbridge and Cherry, designed by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. The sculpture is made from aluminum and stainless steel.
It consists of a spoon resting on a cherry partially straddling a pond. It was commissioned in 1985 and completed and installed for the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden’s opening in 1988.
It is a work of Pop Art that has become an iconic symbol for the Twin Cities. It has become a favorite destination for families and visitors of all ages.
Woodrow
During a recent 18-month renovation of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, many existing pieces got a refresh and some new sculptures were added. The result is a renewed space that not only makes the Walker Art Center better than ever, but is now also more beautiful and welcoming to visitors.
Guests can enjoy a stroll through the park with works by international artists from the Walker Art Center’s permanent collection and other contemporary artists on view. A thoughtfully landscaped ecosystem was developed with trees and plants that create a nurturing habitat for birds, butterflies and other friends of nature.
In addition to the art, the park features several sculptures that make for a great place to sit and take in the scenery. One such piece is Woodrow, a bronze sculpture by Minnesotan artist Raymond Rickey.
Wind Chime
Wind chimes are a beautiful and relaxing way to add music to your home. They are also considered a good luck symbol.
They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Some are made of metal, while others are glass or shells.
You can hang them from your porch, patio or garden. Some can be solar-powered and glow by night.
They are often used for Feng Shui, or the Oriental practice of “calm rightness.” If you have a cluttered yard, you can hang a chime to break up the sticky energy and help clean it up. Other Feng Shui techniques suggest hanging them in specific areas of your house to attract positive energy.
For Whom
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the city’s crown jewel and one of the most influential urban sculpture parks in the country. Open 365 days a year, the property is free of charge and is easily accessible by car, bus or train.
Located next door to the Walker Art Center, the sculpture garden features more than 60 works by artists like Alexander Calder and Sol LeWitt. It also hosts the two-day Rock the Garden musical festival every June.
Theaster Gates’s Black Vessel for a Saint (2017) is a tempietto, or a small, circular Renaissance temple, that sits prominently in the north meadow. The work reflects Gates’s larger strategy of civic-minded art making.
Hahn/Cock
Hahn/Cock, a large, bright blue fiberglass statue created by German artist Katharina Fritsch, has become a beloved landmark in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. It stands adjacent to Spoonbridge and Cherry, a much-loved sculpture that was also crafted by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.
The sculpture is an intentional nod to the rooster, a strutting symbol of France, and Trafalgar Square, where Britain celebrates its naval victory over French and Spanish forces in 1805. The work also serves as a feminist statement against the male busts surrounding it, as well as a cheeky nod to the city’s naval history.
Originally created for a plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square, it’s now on loan to the Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden. The work is made of fiberglass, polyester resin and blue paint.