Mississippi Riverwalk - Canoe Sculpture
Perspective showing turtle painting on canoe ribs.
Canoe Sculpture
Completion Date: 2020
Location: Mississippi Riverwalk, Grand Rapids, MN.
Materials: Stainless Steel, Vinyl
Dimensions: 20’ L x 4’6” W x 6’6” H
Steel sculpture designed by Aaron Squadroni in collaboration with Leah Yellowbird, applied image by Leah Yellowbird, fabrication by Furin and Shea, foundation and installation by City of Grand Rapids.
Perspective showing canoe sculpture and Mississippi riverwalk bridge.
East elevation of canoe sculpture.
Perspective of canoe sculpture.
Turtle image on south elevation.
Loon image on north elevation.
This sculpture was commissioned by the Grand Rapids Arts and Culture Commission through the City of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It is located near the Mississippi River along a high traffic walking path adjacent to KAXE community radio station and Grand Rapids Public Library. It is a collaboration between Leah Yellowbird and Aaron Squadroni that focuses on the relationship between people (canoe form) and water (wave form). It references the Anishinaabe story of water - how water travels over the earth and transmits knowledge of the earth to the creatures inhabiting the land and sky. The waves in the sculpture represent the movement of water over rock and the gathering of knowledge embodied in the earth. The ribbed canoe form in the sculpture depicts a loon from one view and a turtle from another view. They symbolize the creatures of the land and sky.
Perspective of canoe sculpture with landscaping.
Perspective of canoe sculpture structure.