>> Destiny: THAT'S ALL THAT 
>> Destiny: PUBLIC ART GIVES 
LOCAL ARTISTS THE CHANCE TO 
CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOOK OF 
DOWNTOWN BEMIDJI WITH SCULPTURES
OF ALL KINDS.
FOR THIS WEEK'S IN-FOCUS, BETSY 
MELIN HAS THE STORY.
>> Betsy: EVERY YEAR, THE 
DOWNTOWN GETS NEW ARTISTIC 
ADDITIONS COURTESY OF A VARIETY 
OF ARTISTS CONTRIBUTING TO THE 
BEMIDJI SCULPTURE WALK. 
>> THIS IS THE 21st YEAR FOR THE
SCULPTURE WALK, WHICH WE ARE ONE
OF THE OLDEST SCULPTURE WALKS IN
THE STATE, IF NOT THE OLDEST, IN
FACT EVEN IN THE WHOLE MIDWEST.
AND EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE A 
COMPETITION WITH SCULPTORS FROM 
AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THEY 
SUBMIT THEIR ENTRIES AND WE 
JUDGE THEIR ENTRIES, AND THE 
WINNERS THEN ARE INSTALLED IN 
DOWNTOWN BEMIDJI.
>> Betsy: THE PROCESS IS YEAR 
ROUND WITH FINAL SCULPTURES 
BEING INSTALLED JUST IN TIME FOR
SUMMER. 
>> IT STARTS IN THE FALL.
WE GET A LIST OF ARTISTS FROM 
THE MIDWEST, FROM DIFFERENT 
ORGANIZATIONS, AND SEND OUT 
INVITATIONS TO SUBMIT AND WE 
HAVE AN ONLINE SUBMISSION 
PROCESS.
WE NORMALLY GET 30, 40 
SUBMISSIONS, AND THIS YEAR, WE 
SELECTED 16 SCULPTURES.
THERE'S YEAR IT WAS 12, BUT WE 
HAD SO MANY GOOD ONES THIS YEAR.
>> Betsy: ARTISTS SUBMIT 
CONCEPTS IN FEBRUARY AND HAVE 
UNTIL THE END OF MAY TO FINISH 
THE WORK AND BRING IT DOWN.
THE LINE-UP WILL INCLUDE TWO NEW
PIECES FROM TIM NELSON THIS 
YEAR.
HE USED CONCRETE TO DO HIS 
SCULPTURES, BUT USED STEEL THIS 
YEAR. 
>> I TRY TO USE RECYCLED STUFF 
WHENEVER ITS, BASICALLY TO SAVE 
MYSELF A LOT OF MONEY AND 
RECYCLE STEEL, THAT KIND OF 
THING. 
>> Betsy: THE SCULPTURE WALK IS 
AN A STUNT FOR ARTISTS TO 
SHOWCASE THEIR WORK IN A PUBLIC 
WAY. 
>> IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A 
SCULPTURE WALK IN YOUR HOMETOWN 
SO YOU HAVE A PLACE TO DISPLAY 
YOUR WORK AND MEET OTHER ARTISTS
FROM ACROSS MINNESOTA AND EVEN 
THE U.S. AND IT BRINGS A LOT OF 
PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.
IT'S A GREAT THING TO HAVE FOR 
BEMIDJI.
>> Betsy: THE SCULPTURES 
TEMPERATURES  -- SCULPTURES ALSO
DOUBLE AS WAY TO ENCOURAGE 
PEOPLE TO GET OUTSIDE AND 
DOWNTOWN.
>> Destiny: THIS YEAR THERE WILL
BE NO GUIDED TOURS OF THE ART 
DUE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING 
CONCERNS.
THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED CAN GET
A VIRTUAL TOUR ON THE BEMIDJI 
