Arts and Culture to Enjoy

 photo courtesy of Roni Delaney

Local artist Patrice Delaney created Bun-Bun the rabbit, Georgie the hummingbird, and Buddyfly the butterfly from urban wood waste, natural materials, wire, and found objects, along with some screws, nails, and glue to keep them together. The Forest Friends are nestled into the forest of Viking Ship Park.

Patrice stated “I wanted to create public art that would surprise people on the trails in Moorhead and encourage art lovers to explore the natural areas near the Red River. The riparian ecosystem is at the center of our community, and I want to encourage people to go there, look closely, and enjoy the environment for a moment or two.”

Local artists Catie Miller and Emily Williams-Wheeler have partnered to bring vibrancy to the park with an unexpected and humorous approach. Over several weeks, they carved the beaver prototype from a stacked block of foam insulation and covered it with plaster. Once the prototype was complete, it was delivered to a fiber glass studio in Buffalo, MN to create a mold and multiples.

Breaking the Surface has two distinct meanings. To start, it refers to the ecosystem of the Red River Valley and character traits of our community. Beavers can be seen throughout the Red River Valley and are symbols of persistence and hard work. They are also team orientated, working together to create a strong colony.

Of equal importance, the project represents one of the first large public art installations in Moorhead, bringing a uniqueness and playful identity to the City and park while providing access to art for all!

This project was made possible through generous donations  to the Moorhead Community Fund and a grant from the FM Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Florence Klingensmith mural

The artist team of Cory Gillerstein and Jared Froeber painted a mural of Florence Klingensmith, a Moorhead native, who was an aviation pioneer in the 1920s. She was recently a subject of a best selling book “Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History.” Her little known story will now be honored as part of Moorhead’s history. Ace Hardware on Main Avenue has enthusiastically offered to display the mural on the west side of the store.

Storm Drain Community Art project

In the summer of 2022, River Keepers has partnered with artist Olivia Baine to design and implement public art around storm drains. The project is intended to leave a lasting impression on the community to monitor and protect our water system from storm drain pollution.