Ann Klefstad
art from the boreal world
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Freedom is a 22' steel sculpture created for the city of Fergus Falls, MN, as the centerpiece for the new roundabout.
A detail of the steel sculpture Freedom, a 22' work for the roundabout in Fergus Falls, MN
A detail from Freedom, a 20' steel piece for the roundabout in Fergus Falls, MN
"Freedom" is a sculpture that acts as a gateway in the center of the roundabout at the entrance to Fergus Falls. It was inspired by the columns of seagulls that follow the tractors through the fields in this rural region of lakes and farms. Steel, catalyzed paint (Imron), stainless steel, on concrete footings. 22’ x 4’ x 5’. 2015. $42,000.
This is an overview of the plaza; my work creating 3 large benches and 8 bronze animals, also incorporating some of the basalt rocks native to the area, is meant to humanize the plaza and engage building clients and workers in a warm dialogue with the natural world which is such a feature of this city.
This 14' long bronze bench is supported by the pillar at one end and the island of basalt at the other. Over it two bronze terns fly.
This is one of two native douglas fir benches ornamented with bronze frogs. The Otter welcomes people to the plaza.
Here is the second Frog Bench; here you can also see the colored concrete that outlines the artwork areas, creating the "estuary"-- the meeting place of two environments.
This lifesize cast bronze fox engages people entering and leaving the building.
Two terns fly high above the Waters Bench; the plaza has many details that people can notice over time.
One of the concerns of the selection committee was wayfinding: the surface parking for the building is across a busy street, and people often do not use the crosswalk. The Beaver points them to the crosswalk in the hopes that a witty encouragement will help.
The Beaver is sited in the midst of a pebble mosaic that evokes a beaver pond.
All the bronze animals are epoxied into holes drilled into either the stones or the concrete of the plaza, fastened with welded stainless steel threaded rod.
Bronze, 24" tall, a pygmy goat and a babydoll sheep.
Commissioned as a memorial to the barn animals who died in the flood of 2012
Bronze, 24" tall, a pygmy goat and a babydoll sheep.
Commissioned as a memorial to the barn animals who died in the flood of 2012
Bronze, 24" tall, a pygmy goat.
Commissioned as a memorial to the barn animals who died in the flood of 2012
Bronze, 24" tall, a pygmy goat and a babydoll sheep.
Commissioned as a memorial to the barn animals who died in the flood of 2012
Bronze, 24" tall, a pygmy goat.
Commissioned as a memorial to the barn animals who died in the flood of 2012
Children like Bruce Wayne and Jeb.
Trees in Season, detail.
This work was commissioned by the Duluth Public Safety Building, to be a calm and engaging focus at the entrance to the police station. The work is 6' high x 9' wide, and is painted in asphaltum on plywood. It depicts an alder thicket in spring, a old willow and alders on a summer evening, and a cottonwood in a thicket in winter.