Pop-up Art in Ice... as long as weather allows | HomesMSP

art-in-ice-olive trees — **“Olive Trees” by Vincent Van Gogh** – at Washburn-Fair Oaks Park

Dying to get out of the house for an outdoor adventure? Minneapolis Institute of Art partnered with the Minneapolis Park Board to create a pop-up art display in ice for this pandemic winter. Followers of MIA’s social media accounts voted to select their favorite pieces from MIA’s permanent collection… and ice sculptor Chris Swarbrick of Ice Occasions picked five to turn into stunning ice sculptures.

We made the rounds yesterday to visit all five, in parks throughout Minneapolis. “Olive Trees” by Vincent Van Gogh is in the park right across the street from MIA, in an ice frame with ice glass. It was fun to see all the people out admiring the icy art.

One of the most beloved of MIA’s sculptures is “Veiled Lady” by Raffaeolo Monti, from Victorian England. It feels like a magic trick in marble… even more so in ice. Temperatures were warm enough for the ice to have a glimmer and almost look like liquid water in suspension.

art-in-ice-veiled lady — ***“Veiled Lady” by Raffaelo Monti*** – *at Longfellow Park*

“Your Dog” by Yoshitomo Nara always makes me smile. I love knowing that in the ice version the red nose is made of ice-encased Jell-O.

“Your Dog” by Yoshimoto Nara – at the northeast corner of Bde Maka Ska

The whole idea of art works made of ice that will melt and disappear over time feels surrealistic. Salvador Dali’s “Aphrodisiac Telephone” at Boom Island is the most surreal of the group… it will be interesting to see how the lobster sprawls even more as it melts.

art-in-ice-aphrodisiac telephone — **“Aphrodisiac Telephone” by Salvador Dali** – at Boom Island Park

The “Celestial Horse” from China was our first stop, at the corner of James and Golden Valley Road at North Commons Park. The story is that a couple thousand years ago there were reports of a “heavenly horse” in central Asia. The Chinese emperor was so intrigued that he sent soldiers to acquire them, and they became spirited escorts to the afterlife in tomb art. Unfortunately its spirit doesn’t show very well in this photo… I guess you will have to visit it yourself!