Installation for the 2016 Sculpture Garden in Milbank began Tuesday, June 14, with all nine pieces set in place by Saturday, June 18.
“Four artists were on hand to remove the 2015 pieces and help install this year’s pieces,” explained Bobbie Bohlen of the Grant County Development Corporation and the Whetstone Art’s Council. “We are really excited this year to have two pieces located downtown on Main Street. In addition, we have artists from Idaho and Colorado as well as Minnesota.”
A call for artists was sent out in late 2015 for this year’s pieces. “We knew we wanted to add some pieces downtown as well as replace those at the Milbank Visitor Center.” All the pieces are leased from the artists for one year. If the piece is sold while on display, a portion of the sale goes to the Whetstone Arts Council to fund the project.
“Many volunteers make this happen,” noted Bohlen. “This year Mayor Rafferty ran the fork lift that brought in an additional base for T-Rex, a piece by Paige Frazee. The city park crew worked to move in the new piece by Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby called Schools’ Out, a tribute to little league baseball. We are lucky to have one of a kind originals by Jacque Frazee who is instrumental in making sure that all the pieces are installed correctly. This year, as well as last year, Olson Welding has welded the pieces in place and does an extraordinary job. I usually have a favorite, but this year, we have some showstoppers with Butterfly and Fish. We truly have our own menagerie.”
Pieces displayed along Main Street feature a girl on her cell phone and a farmer with his dog. The pieces are located next to Nelson Law Office and in front of Valley Office Products.
Sculptures featured around the Milbank Visitor Center include Taking Flight by Benjamin Victor, Butterfly and Fish by Jacque Frazee, Xuberant by Craig Snyder, Cloudy Day II by Paige Frazee, Schools’ Out by Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby along with the three pieces by the Frazees just east of the front of the building.
Staff Writer
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