Click for more details on the annual and permanent sculptures
Spirit of Community
About the Sculptor - James Pedersen received his MFA from the University of Minnesota. He had a successful career teaching Art for over 35 years. He has been producing artwork since 1969 Working primarily in mild steel, stainless steel, copper, brass and glass to abstractly represent landscapes that add playful splashes of color texture and contrast to suit the subject and design.
About the Sculptor - Ryan Pedersen studied Fine Art and Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University and completed his Art degree from Minnesota State, Mankato and MED through the University of St. Marys. Originally he worked as a helpful hand in his father’s studio, learning the process and developing a passion for creating sculptures. Over the years working together the relationship naturally developed into a productive partnership of more than 30 years. Today the collaboration continues to provide new opportunities and new ideas and designs.
Everlasting Garden
About the Sculptor - Nancy Wurzer
- As a longtime resident of Delano, MN, I’ve spent most of my “off time” in the garden and also going thrifting. Soon after retiring, I realized that my love for both could turn into a colorful new way keep me busy. Suddenly I found myself scouring shelves for old metalware, oddly shaped pans and trinkets, and teaching myself new skills like drill work, painting, sanding and welding. I’ve never considered myself to be an artist, but all of a sudden there I was…standing in paint-splattered clothes, holding my first creation of recycled garden art.
- To describe my artwork can be put simply: flowers that never die. Each piece is entirely unique. Layers of metal kitchenware, farm accessories, and other useful oddities are carefully hand-chosen, painted and secured together to create one-of-a-kind works of art reminiscing of flowers that can be tailored to anybody’s personal taste.
- I’ve learned to never pass up a thrifted item that catches a good second glance, and I live by the quote “Nothing haunts you more than the junk you didn’t buy.” Everything can be used somewhere and somehow; you just need the imagination and creativity to figure it out.
Sculpture Statement
A spiraling carousel of a metallic flower garden, representing the sustainability that our hometown of Delano has carried through history and the renewing of resources that has helped in that objective. My intent is to help beautify this town by bringing what is old back to life again, while using materials that speak generations of local farming, garden and homestead history for themselves. Because not only is Delano a place to grow, but it is a place to shine and to be more than what you thought you could be. Dimensions: 48"x48"x72" Weight: Appx. 250lbs (assembled) Materials: Wagon wheel from side rake (vintage farm machinery), metal poles/hardware, Assortment of vintage and not-so-vintage cookware/bakeware/kitchenware, spray paint
Gates to Historic Downtown Delano
About the Sculptor - Zoran Mojsilov
Born in Serbia, Zoran Mojsilov attended the University of Belgrade from 1975 to 1979. He later emigrated to the United States and now resides in Minnesota. Since the late 1980s, Mojsilov has regularly shown his sculptures at galleries, college campuses, and museums in this country. His work is featured at: DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Massachusetts, and Socrates Sculpture Park in New York. Recent one-person shows were given to Mojsilov by the Art Gallery at Rochester Community and Technical College, the Conkling Gallery at Mankato State University, and Thomas Barry Fine Arts, all in Minnesota. His sculptures are in collections at the North Dakota Museum of Art, South Bend Art Center in Indiana, and Runnymeade Sculpture Farm in California, among others.
Sculpture Statement
To help identify the entrance to Historic Downtown Delano, Zoran was hired to create sculptures from granite from the Delano Granite Works. The "Gates" were the result.
Delano Labyrinth Project
Lisa Gidlow Moriarty is a professional labyrinth designer and master labyrinth maker. With a Fine Arts degree in Design, Lisa has 40 years of experience in large scale fiber and fabric installations, and has been making labyrinths professionally since 1999. She has built over 100 labyrinths internationally. She shared her expertice and guided the Delano Labyrinth Committee in creating the Delano Labyrinth. (www.pathsofpeace.com).
The Delano Labyrinth Project was founded by a collaborative effort between community members and the Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture dedicated to seeing a Labyrinth built in the local Sculpture Park. They are committed to an intentional, meditative walk being available to our community, and all that visit Delano.
Sculpture Statement
A labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool that involves walking a path as it winds in a circular pattern toward the middle of the circle and than out again. This is not a maze. In many ways the walk is a walking meditation, a symbolic pilgrimage, the journey being as important as the destination.
Labyrinths have been used around the world for thousands of years as a tool for contemplation, healing, inspiration and relaxation. They are used by churches for prayer and meditation; by hospitals for healing and grief; and by schools to calm children and for conflict resolution. Walking with a group can be a time for shared intention or walking alone can be a time for personal, inner conversation.
This is a replica of the labyrinth in Chartres, France.
To stay informed with the Delano Labyrinth Project, visit them on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/Delanolabyrinth.
Flood of '65
About the Sculptor
Born in Serbia, Zoran Mojsilov attended the University of Belgrade from 1975 to 1979. He later emigrated to the United States and now resides in Minnesota. Since the late 1980s, Mojsilov has regularly shown his sculptures at galleries, college campuses, and museums in this country.
His work is featured at:
DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Massachusetts, and Socrates Sculpture Park in New York. Recent one-person shows were given to Mojsilov by the Art Gallery at Rochester Community and Technical College, the Conkling Gallery at Mankato State University, and Thomas Barry Fine Arts, all in Minnesota. His sculptures are in collections at the North Dakota Museum of Art, South Bend Art Center in Indiana, and Runnymeade Sculpture Farm in California, among others.
Flood of 65
As if the water of the Mighty Crow River gathered pieces of Delano’s past and forever stitched them together into a sculpture. Zoran’s sculpture is reminiscent of the agricultural life, manufacturing and the railroad that made Delano what it is today.
While looking for appropriate pieces of granite at the old Delano Granite Works site for another Delano project, Zoran found pillars from a downtown Minneapolis building. These pillars have resided behind the Delano Granite Works site on the Crow River since the 60’s. He wanted to incorporate a pillar into a sculpture as a tribute to the Delano community before it was crushed for granite fill. He mentioned a project he had done with school children to a member of the Council for Arts and Culture. The idea was shared with the Middle School Art Teacher, and the project began. The owner of the granite works site was contacted and a column in four sections was generously donated for the project.
The “Artist in Residency” Grant helped financed the collaborative project between Zoran Mojsilov, Delano Middle School Art Department and other Delano organizations to create a sculpture as a tribute to the Delano Community, past and present. Zoran worked with each of the 7th grade art classes to expose them to the work he does as a sculpture as well as getting their input by collecting artifacts to represent the people of Delano and things they used to make Delano what it is today. The result is a large sculpture for a public site. The site and the configuration of the pillar designated by the city inspired the final creation of the “Flood of ’65” Sculpture
Project Redefined
Sculptor Gabrielle Raye Cordes
My goal with “Project Redefined” is to take and mold the traditional context of the “White Picket Fence” or the “American Dream” notions that it implies. Many aspects of our society are changing, however that doesn’t mean that our past and present can’t inform the future. I want to promote Delano’s previous and positive community values while also highlighting and kickstarting the positivity and progression for the community’s future. The original fence structure represents the past and present, while the reformed “White Picket Fence” sculpture represents the compelling and bright future for the city. Historical and Geographical Ties The fence references the rural and suburban history of the city of Delano. The community input is directly includes the current members of the town and their thoughts on the future.
Silverado
Silverado was originally displayed in a saddle shop in the cities. It was purchased by John T. McQuay for his shop, Tumbleweed, in Ham Lake. In the late 90’s McQuay closed his store because of health reasons. Both McQuay and John Tackaberry were very involved in Zuhrah Shrine Horsemen and the horse world in Minnesota. Tackaberry, owner of Star West Chevy, purchased the horse and restructured it in his body shop.
Dr. James Turner was approached by John Tackaberry to paint the large, fiberglass horse to display at Star West Chevrolet and reflect on his interest in the west and his life long involvement with horsemanship. John is a fine horseman and a longstanding supporter and member of the Shriners drill team and the Hennepin County Mounted Patrol. The design process included many sketches and ideas including abstract patterns, clouds, and eventually, the group of mustangs being corralled by cowboys (and cowgirls). A couple of the horses pictured belong to Jame’s wife, Kristin Von Seggern, and the starry sky is in honor of Star West. The paint is a two part epoxy car paint with a clear-coat finish that had to be applied within 15 minutes of mixing so James had to work fast!
After it was painted and clear coated “Silverado” was dedicated to John T. McQuay and displayed at Delano Star West where the horse encouraged donations to the Minnesota Horse Council to help rescue and shelter horses. When John Tackaberry sold Star West, with the help of Cal Brandt, Silverado found a home in the Delano Sculpture Park.