The NDDC received a 2020 Arts & Cultural Heritage grant through the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC). The award, in the amount of $6,750, funded the purchase, repair, and installation of a sculpture at the west entrance to the Riverwalk (219 Water Street, just north of Basil’s Pizza).
The sculpture (pictured below) is titled “Threshold” and is the work of Northfield native and St. Olaf College graduate, Kris Swanson. Before installation, the sculpture resided on the St. Olaf campus. In its new location, the sculpture provides a welcoming invitation for visitors to enter and enjoy Northfield’s Riverwalk.
While we had planned an in-person dedication ceremony, due to the pandemic, we held a virtual dedication. Thanks to Northfield Public Broadcasting, we produced a short video to commemorate this spectacular piece of art and the people involved in making it happen.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund. This specific project is a part of a larger City-approved plan to add art elements within the downtown Arts Corridor. The Arts Corridor concept was an outcome of community meetings beginning in 2013 with the goal of providing a city gateway that is attractive, inviting and a better representation of the city and its value of the arts. A collaborative subcommittee of the Northfield Arts and Culture Commission, including NDDC representatives and Northfield community members, has since been working to implement various projects within the Arts Corridor. The 2020 action plan of this ACC subcommittee identified the priority of adding a sculpture at this unique, barren site.
Some other art installations downtown are from our Artists on Main Street program. Northfield has a Percent for the Arts Initiative. Learn more about this initiative and other public art. A Sculpture Walking Tour guide is available at the Visitor’s Center located at 19 Bridge Square.