The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden has stood as a hub for local and international artists to showcase their work since 1988.
Since its opening, the garden has welcomed millions of visitors, allowing them to see pieces from the Walker Art Center’s renowned collection in a unique urban, outdoor setting. The garden is a partnership between the art center and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.
It's also free and open to the public 365 days a year from 6 a.m. to midnight. No tickets are required.
As visitors peruse the grounds, they can stop to take in more than 40 sculptures, all of which are created by generations of artists from 10 different countries. According to garden representatives, many of the works are site-specific and constructed especially for the park – from the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry centerpiece to structures that offer spaces for gathering, conversation, or dreaming.
In 2017, the garden was fully reconstructed, now featuring sustainable water management, habitat for plants and wildlife, and new landscape elements.
One of the newest artworks to join the grounds is Okciyapi (2021), a commission by Twin Cities–based artist Angela Two Stars (Dakota, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate). Her sculpture was inspired by the legacies of her grandfather and treasured elders working in language revitalization efforts.
According to garden representatives, “The rings of seating elements are based on patterns of rippling water and symbolize relationships between individuals and communities. Just as a drop of water creates ripples that flow across a lake, one speaker’s shared knowledge can spread to future generations. Parts of the work bring forward aspects of the environment and the land’s history. Plantings of flowers and grasses native to the region draw our attention to the natural world in this urban setting.
“In the sculpture’s center, a water dome mirrors the sky, a reference to the name Minnesota—or Mni Sota Makoce in Dakota—which means ‘land where the waters reflect the clouds.’ Throughout the work, Two Stars offers ways for us to encounter and experience the Dakota language both as written and spoken words. Some are engraved into the benches, expressing Native values and offering encouragement: woksapé (wisdom), wóohoda (respect), and wóohitika (bravery).”
This fall art connoisseurs can see Okciyapi on display as they attend the 2023 Avant Garden party. The event combines dancing, dining, cocktails, and an art auction for a night full of fun. Don't forget to get creative with your outfit and wear something art worthy.
Tickets are on sale now. All proceeds will benefit the Walker, helping them empower people to experience the transformative possibilities of the art and ideas of our time and to imagine the world in new ways.
For more information about the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Walker Art Center, or Avant Garden, visit walkerart.org.
