Art By The Dozen: 12 Public Art Experiences in Greater Grand Forks

My love for public art is inherent as I have a family full of artists that never cease to amaze me with their talents. This appreciation for public art was cultivated as I worked in the North Dakota Museum of Art café during my undergraduate career.

But my appreciation does not make me an expert, so I sat down with Kristi Wilfahrt and Vicki Arndt of the Public Arts Commission because I wanted to know what does public art symbolize in Grand Forks? They told me public art can be anything from a worm-shaped bike rack (Willy the Worm located downtown!) to a series of painted forks designed by regional artists.

According to Public Arts Commission, there over 165 public works of art in Grand Forks and they are working diligently to catalogue and map pieces to provide accessibility and visibility for all the art-seeking Courtney types of the world.  As Wilfahrt said, “Grand Forks is a gallery.” Get out there and check it out!

Here’s a list of a dozen public art pieces to see at various locations in the city:

2 S 3rd Street, Grand Forks, ND 58203

Grand Forks is situated on the ancestral lands of the Anishnaube, Metis, Oceti Sakowin, and Sisseton Peoples. But did you know that the City of Grand Forks was established by Alexander Griggs after his steamboat froze into the river one frosty night? He camped out all winter long on the Red River’s banks and decided to settle in the area. The stainless steel paddlewheel is a nod to the steamboat era and Grand Forks’ history with fur traders, boat captains, and bootleggers.

2 S 3rd St, Grand Forks, ND

450 Kittson Ave, Grand Forks, ND

4251 Gateway Dr, Grand Forks, ND

Made of recycled metal and concrete, three six-foot tall planters painted by regional artists Carly Swenson, Katie Brown Bergner, and Billy Rerick, can be found three locations throughout Grand Forks – near town Square, by Cities Area Transit station downtown, and at the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

116 S 3rd St, Grand Forks, ND 58201

Want to get pixelated? Check out this 3-story mural with a pointillistic view of a North Dakota landscape recently designed by local artists Casey Opstad and Chad Caya. It’s located on the south wall outside of Rhombus Guys Brewing Company, so make sure to grab a cold one or a bite to eat when you’re done art gazing.

210 N. 4th St, Grand Forks, ND

Do it for the ‘Gram! Earn your wings by taking a selfie at this UND-inspired hawk mural on the south wall of Lyon’s Auto Supply building. This iconic art piece was created by local designer Greta Silewski as a way to spread some UND pride.

211 Demers Ave # 4, East Grand Forks, MN 56721

1300 S Columbia Road, Grand Forks, ND 58201

1726 S Washington Street, Grand Forks, ND 58201

Three local artists, Mary Ann Austin, Hillary Kempenich, and Lillian Stegman, transformed pianos into performance art by painting their individual designs. They can be played and enjoyed in the River Cinema Mall, Altru Rehab Center, and Grand Cities Mall.

606 South 5th St, Grand Forks, ND

In 2019, chainsaw artist, Jason Soderlund transformed a tree stump into a massive 10-foot Viking, complete with a sword. The wooden statue is an homage to his Norwegian heritage, and to the original occupant of his home built in 1888.

507 2nd St NW, East Grand Forks, MN

If you haven’t taken a picture with this beloved, giant blue moose are you even a real Grand Forksian? After you get done noshing on some spinach dip at the East Grand Forks eatery, step outside for a photo session with this local fave.

University Avenue, Grand Forks, ND

If you haven’t taken a drive down University Avenue lately, things are looking pretty snazzy. Twelve decorative light columns were installed recently, with each pillar depicting one of the colleges on campus, or an element of university life.

261 Centennial Drive, Grand Forks, North Dakota

Surrounded by peonies in the summer months, the Garden Path flanks the North Dakota Museum of Art. Granite stones etched with art represent donors to the museum, which is free for visitors all throughout the year. And during the summer months, take in a concert in the garden on a balmy evening.

264 Centennial Dr, Grand Forks, ND

Created by Stanley O. Johnson in 1963, the half-ton metal sphere is located between Merrifield and Twamley Hall where the Old Main once stood. A never-ending flame burns in the center of the sphere, which is surrounded by flowers and a brick wall outlining the building’s original footprint.

3051 University Ave, Grand Forks, ND

Located behind the UND Chester Fritz Library, a rebar sculpture of an eagle created by artist Bennett Brien is situated amongst a diversity of native North Dakota prairie grasses. Former UND professor Glinda Crawford wanted to invite others into the beauty of native prairie habitats and planted the garden in 2002. It’s now maintained by groundskeepers and anyone with a green thumb who wants to volunteer.

3515 S Washington St, Grand Forks, ND

A 14-foot sculpture of pink polka dot bra is proudly displayed to encourage breast cancer awareness. Artist Peter John Larson originally created the sculpture in the 1990s as a protest against the lack of support for government arts funding, but Tim Shea got permission to repurpose the piece. He sandblasted it and painted it pink to honor family members who battled breast cancer.

So if you’re looking for some art exploration or some great photo ops – there you have it! This isn’t even 10% of the Public Art pieces in the Greater Grand Forks area. PAC continues to look for innovative way to build community engagement by supporting local art ambassadors. Watch for the rollout of the #GFiscolorful hashtag and information on the 20^th Anniversary of ArtFest on the second weekend of June.