city council

Nancy Edmonds Hanson

Four artists have been selected to create public art under the city’s Call for Activation request, members of the city council learned Monday.

The “Moorhead Active” projects will go along Moorhead’s riverfront and in the downtown. Nine artists submitted proposals, which were reviewed by the Arts and Culture Commission in April. A total of $17,500 for the installations will be funded by the Moorhead Economic Development Authority’s experience marketing budget.

The four artists selected and their proposals:

• Matthew Wuorinen – Downtown Mural ($2,000): The local artist has completed more than a dozen downtown murals and taught spray-painting classes for kids and adults. His interactive project will incorporate design ideas from the community. The MBA will assist in finding a location.

• Patrice Delaney – Wildlife Sculptures: Specializing in botanical illustrations and experienced in sculpture, she will install three temporary curious sculptures (such as a rabbit, butterfly and bee or native wildflowers) between the riparian forest and urban plantings to be viewed from River Corridor Trail.

• Rourke Art Gallery – Sculpture Walk: The Rourke Art Gallery+Museum project will create a digital interactive map and plaques at existing sculpture sites, such as The Sticks Garden, Go Bison Gogh, The Heritage Garden and The World’s Largest Dilly Bar.

• Steve French – Mary’s Light Tunnel: Steve installed Mary’s Light Tunnel, a popular attraction in Viking Ship Park in 2021. This funding will be used to run power and lights more effectively and efficiently, and will upgrade the electric panel for the tunnel.