The Sculpture Garden is getting a giant blue chicken (and 15 other new works)

When the Walker Art Center's Sculpture Garden opens again in the summer of 2017, there will be a 20-foot-tall blue chicken sculpture in the northern end – one of 16 pieces being added to the Minneapolis park after its renovation.

Six of the new works were commissioned. Among those artists is the Duluth-based Frank Big Bear (who will be the first artist commissioned for the Walker's new entry pavilion), and the Minnesota-based Aaron Spangler, creating his first public sculpture for the Garden.

The other works have been acquired by the Walker – including the above-mentioned rooster, a piece by German artist Katharina Fritsch entitled "Hahn/Cock." It'll be Fritsch's largest public art piece in a U.S. museum collection, the Walker says.

You can check out this press release detailing each of the artists,

The Walker Art website has a map, showing where each new piece will be.

And here's a slideshow of some of pieces by the artists: Some of them are what's actually going into the Sculpture Garden or Walker Art Center, while others are representative pieces.

What work is being done

The Sculpture Garden is in the midst of a significant; most of its artwork having been packed away until the work is done in 2017. The two-year project is part of the Walker Art Center's $75 million capital campaign for the art center’s 75th anniversary.

https://twitter.com/walkerartcenter/status/628980488619859969

The makeover includes both visual and behind-the-scenes updates, including a new sustainable stormwater recovery and rainwater irrigation system, as well as updates to landscaping, which will make room for additional pieces of art.