reveal-minnesota

The buildings and architecture that make up our cities have often been labeled works of art. But nowhere is this concept given more life than in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Home to the Sculpture Garden, a famous tourist attraction since 1988, Minneapolis has attracted connoisseurs of art and architecture for years.The garden has over 40 sculptures and architectural wonders, and they are all spread out in seven areas of the park: Arbor, Sculpture Pad, Spoonbridge, Bridge, Outdoor Galleries, Conservatory, and FlatPak in the Garden.One of the most infamous sculptures is the Spoonbridge and Cherry. The fountain was created by husband and wife designers, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Yet it was Bruggen who was inspired by the garden’s resemblance to Versailles, and the statue plays on the lavish dining habits of the royalty who reside there. The architect particularly had the Sun King, Louis XIV, in the forefront of her mind. The finished result is a quirky, oversized spoon and cherry.In the same location as the Spoonbridge and Cherry, lies the Standing Frame by David Nash. The piece looks like one of the strange sculptures from Beetle Juice; you know, the ones Delia Deetz (Catherine O’ Hara) creates? But Nash’s inspiration wasn’t Beetle Juice, and his structure, built out of fallen tree parts, frames different natural scenes.Nash’s piece is not the only naturally made sculpture. In the Outdoor Galleries, there is a labyrinth made primarily out of luscious hedges. However, the labyrinth’s translucent and mirror-like walls are artistic masterpieces, giving visitors interchanging views of the garden’s landscapes and themselves.These are only three of the garden’s popular and inspiring works of art; yet there are so many sculptures to see. And since the park offers free admission, visitors have the chance to interpret and reinterpret each work of art.