Not A Velociraptor, Lake Creature spotted in Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 2009, by QuoinMonkey. All photos © 2009 by QuoinMonkey and SkyWire7. All rights reserved.
Liz and I set out on my birthday to geocache around the Minneapolis chain of lakes. One of the joys of caching is the chance to learn about local history that might otherwise be swallowed by day-to-day routines. We dropped off two Travel Bugs and scooped up three caches that evening. Along the way, we headed over to the edge of Lake Harriet to listen to a full orchestra perform at the band shell and waved to passengers on the retro streetcar rumbling along tracks that stretched all the way from Minneapolis to Lake Harriet in the 1880s.
Perched high on glacial debris, Lake Harriet was formed when continental glaciers spread over Minnesota during the Great Ice Ages. Starting with the Mississippi River channel at the Plymouth Avenue Bridge, a preglacial valley runs almost directly south beneath Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, and Lake Harriet to the Minnesota River at Bloomington. Lake Harriet lies 250 feet over this ancient valley filled by glacial deposits, and is nestled between hills that piled up when the ice front paused in its final retreat about 10,000 years ago.
At dusk, we were making our way home when Liz spotted a shadow skimming the lake surface with a shape much like Dino, the Flintstones’ pet dinosaur, or a distant relative of the Loch Ness monster. Quickly pulling over to the side of the road, we scooted down the hillside Indiana Jones style, and landed right smack dab next to the Minneapolis Lake Creature. Had it risen from the depths of a preglacial valley?
Several fishermen paddled behind the creature oblivious to any danger; we decided it was safe to approach. The air smelled like honey, the night quiet and breezy — no mosquitoes. The sun fell behind the oaks, ash, and elm. A couple on a tandem bike stopped to photograph the 13-foot creature. Kids could not resist leaning over the edge of the rails to get a closer look. “I wonder if it’ll move,” one boy said. “Yeah, we wouldn’t be standing here for long!” his sister replied.
Everyone was drawn to the mystery — the power of public art.
After Lake Creature’s mysterious appearance in Lake Harriet on July 8th, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation came forward on July 16th to formally announce that it was the sponsor of a special art project in the parks with its first sculpture being the collaboration with New York City artist Cameron Gainer who now resides in Minneapolis. According to Cecily Hines, President of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation:
The Minneapolis Parks Foundation and artist Cameron Gainer came together because of our shared passion for the arts and belief that public works of art can truly enrich a community and the lives of its residents. We are proud to bring that passion and belief to life with Gainer’s _[ and invite people to share in her beauty while enjoying the Minneapolis parks with family and friends.
Gainer’s work includes film, video, sculpture, and performance art and explores human perception and the notion of “cinema inside out” when you encounter something in an environment and are not exactly sure what you are looking at. Symbolically titled _[, Lake Creature is based on the iconic, “Surgeon’s Photo” of 1934 that was presented as evidence of the existence of Scotland’s Loch Ness monster. Though later proven to be a hoax, the photograph remains a universal representation of the mystical lake creature.
In support of the Arts, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation has also established a new Public Arts Fund to support future art projects in Minneapolis parks. The Foundation believes that public art is important, especially in tough times, and can make a difference in a community’s quality of life. Public art is not only free, it’s accessible and:
Φ inspires imagination
Φ can be enjoyed by all age groups
Φ helps foster a sense of community and mutual enjoyment
Φ accesses audiences that may not be going to art museums
Φ allows people to encounter art in their environment which creates an unexpected “moment of access”
Φ creates opportunities to reach audiences not expecting to see art which increases appreciation for the Arts
-from the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, Public Art In The Parks, Lake Creature
Lake Creature At Sunset, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 2009, by SkyWire7. All photos © 2009 by SkyWire7 and QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
The Lake Creature project leads me to think of Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk, another public art project collaboration between Saint Paul Public Works and the City of Saint Paul. These projects are living reminders of how the Arts matter and I’m grateful to all the people and organizations that make them possible.
_[ has been seen in New York City, the Salt Marsh Nature Preserve in Brooklyn, and Key West, Florida and is making plans to explore another Minneapolis lake sometime this summer. Keep your eyes peeled on a lake near you.
There is also a storytelling contest to name the Lake Creature and create the mythology surrounding her life. What nickname would you give to the Lake Creature? You can enter the contest and tell your story at Nickname the Lake Creature.
-posted on red Ravine, Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
-related to posts: State Of The Arts (haiku for Kuan-yin), Wet Cement (It Only Takes A Second), A Little Less War
What a wonderful project for Minneapolis Parks Foundation to undertake. It shows that they value art in many forms. Truly a worthwhile message to send!
I bet is is truly awesome to see this piece of art!
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Corina, I love seeing public art and am always so excited when it’s supported and funded. I think public art changes the way people see, feel, experience the world — one of the many benefits of making and viewing art.
You know, there were two parts to the experience of seeing the Lake Creature. The first was when Liz happened to spot it on the lake that day. We knew it was there but didn’t know what part of the lake it was on. It was almost dark and when she caught it out of the corner of her eye while we were driving, and we stopped and ran down to see it at sunset.
For a while there were only two of us and it was quiet and silent. You could imagine what it must have been like to actually see a living creature like that.
Then the next part — one of my favorites — was to watch how people passing by interacted with the Lake Creature. It’s a busy lake, one of the biggest in Minneapolis. And I tell you, nearly everyone stopped, did a double take, took photographs. And nearly everyone smiled at the site of her.
So experiencing it for ourselves, then watching other people interact with the Lake Creature really made our night.
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The best part — people engaging , being curious, smiling. That’s art at its finest. Love that MN is so art-supportive.
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How fun, QM! I’m personally fascinated by all supernatural and possibly natural yet bizarre phenomena, as are so many people, and so the idea of a lake creature is fabulous. I love the old photo, and this piece of art captures it. I guess that old photo has become a universally known image.
Great shot, too, with the sunset.
I’m enjoying Hanoi. It’s a culturally rich city. Some cities exude a certain aesthetic…most cities in which art is revered are also artful cities. Tasteful, beautiful, different. That is Hanoi.
Tomorrow after the work day I will go meet an old artist. Looking forward to it. Such friendly people here; the tourism agency owner who facilitated my Mekong Delta boat trip and is now getting me on a small boat in Halong Bay has invited me to meet this well-known artist, and just because I happened to comment on the beautiful pieces in the tourist agency office.
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Bo, that truly is the best part — people engaging with the art. And all those smiles. 8)
ybonesy, are you seeing any river creatures on your travels in Vietnam? Last time you went to Vietnam, I pulled out this old set of encyclopedias from the 1960s that I grew up with that talks about different countries in the world. It was fascinating to read about the geography and rich cultural history of Vietnam. Sounds like you might be going on another boat trip?
Also just plain good to hear from you. Yes, I think that old Loch Ness photo of Nessie is one of the most recognized in the world. At the “Surgeon’s Photo of 1934” link in this post there is that image and also a bunch of others that you can send as postcards by email. Kind of fun for kids.
I’m so excited that you are going to meet a well known Vietnamese artist there! Your art is really kicking up into high gear. Hope you can take photographs and maybe do a post on the artist when you get back. Can’t wait to hear more about what kind of work they do. And you are right — all because you graciously commented on the artwork in the tourist office. Wonderful connection for you.
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QM, I would chalk this one (meeting Pham Luc, the Vietnamese artist) up to one of the highlights of my life. Much more on this later, but I just have to say that sometimes you go with your gut. I opened up myself to something, and I have found kinship in this world.
I definitely will do a post about Pham Luc [LINK]. The person who connected us and whom I now realize embodies what it is I love about Vietnam, told me on the ride home: You probably don’t realize this but you just met one of the most famous and beloved individuals in all of Vietnam. And he was right. It was an ordinary thing.
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ybonesy, I like the way you put that — “I opened up myself to something, and I have found kinship in this world.” It’s inspiring. Thanks for the link to the artist’s website, too. I can’t wait to read about your personal experience there. The ordinary as extraordinary.
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QM, another post Brant will find totally cool. We returned today from our visit to W-PA. Can’t wait to show your & yb’s latest posts to him! D
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diddy, hope you had a great time at home in Western PA. Let me know what Brant thought of the Lake Creature! Would love to know. In the short time that Liz and I were standing there, the kids that walked by went nuts. Kids love art like this. Stirs the imagination.
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QM, he had a great time in W-PA! He’ll be back tomorrow, so I’ll share the post with him. This is our last week with him before he goes back to school. 😦 I can imagine the children who saw the creature were thrilled! Brant wants to visit you & yb thanks to your blog. He is a big fan! D
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QM, just showed & read this post to Brant! He was excited but before I got to the part about it being a sculpture, he had already guessed that it was part of an art project. What a great thinker he is! Hey, you had me believing it was real when I first saw it!
Now, even more reason he would like to come visit you! D
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diddy, that’s wonderful! So glad Brant liked the post. How did he know it was part of an art project? Guess he’s old enough to know what’s real and what isn’t. 8)
If Brant visits ybonesy and me, he’ll have to travel to both New Mexico and Minnesota! Maybe he can get a lift in the Batmobile. I sometimes used to bother Batman for a ride to Taos when I was taking the year-long workshop — 4 times in a year span.
You all should do a road trip someday and take him along. It’s doable. But you have to plan stops along the way and fun places to rest. Big hugs to Brant! I can’t believe he goes back to school next week. Isn’t that just way too soon?
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Oh, diddy, did Brant go to the link and put in his suggestion to Nickname the Lake Creature? Seems like something that kids would love.
Only a few more days to Nickname the Lake Creature! Contest ends on August 16th. (Link is at the end of the post.) I heard that the Lake Creature might be moving soon to another lake. Where will she be next?
I’m going to be at Lake Harriet tomorrow night for a movie at the bandshell. Liz and I will have to check and see if the Lake Creature is still in her usual spot. Will be back to report in. 8)
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QM, I missed the link, thanks! He’ll be thrilled to think of a name! We’ll make sure to enter, also. D
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Oh & I’ll tell him about the Batmobile & he will certainly try to wish for one! Yeah, he knows that you & yb live in different states. A road trip…Maybe in a few years?
He will be going on vacation next week to the Jersey shores & returns the 22nd. His school begins on the 26th, so he goes back to his Moms. We will certainly miss him. Today we made 2 cakes. Yellow with peanut butter & chocalate frosting mixed & a cake for our strawberry & blueberry shortcakes. We also picked 6 different bunches of herbs & dried them in our dehydrator. He’s a good helper. D
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I read yesterday that the Lake Creature had moved to Lake of the Isles. It’s a much smaller lake than Harriet. I’m going to keep my eyes peeled!
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Drove by the Lake Creature at Lake of the Isles tonight after dinner with a friend at Pizza Lucé (we tried the Baked Potato pizza — quite unusual). By the time we got to the Lake Creature, was a little dark for photos. Took a few but you can barely make “Nessie” out. Will have to revisit and take a few more before late Fall.
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