MANKATO, Minn. (WCCO) — Visit the heart of Mankato this year and you will likely encounter a farmer and his dog, a pony — and even Godzilla. But most of those characters will be gone after a year, to be replaced by new ones.

They are part of the community’s efforts to revitalize the area’s City Center by placing sizable artworks along some of the busiest streets.

The fifth annual Walking Sculpture Tour features works from more than 30 artists, on loan for a year. One of the sculptures will win a permanent spot in the area by getting the most votes from visitors for “People’s Choice.”

The program is directed by the Twin Rivers Council for the Arts, a non-profit that connects people to arts and culture. Noelle Lawton, the executive director, says about half of the sculptures are from Minnesota artists, while the others come from around the world.

“We have a sculpture from Belgium this year and several from Canada,” Lawton said.

The idea grew from the fact that Mankato’s downtown needed some attention.

“It had been kind of neglected for years as the sort of suburban sprawl happened,” she said. “And really there’s been a refocus on that nucleus of the downtown.”

The group’s hope is that people will come for the sculptures and stay for a meal or some shopping. Artists like David Hyduke of Kasota get a small stipend for their trouble and a big audience for their creations.

“It’s a great place to display your work and get a little media attention, for instance,” Hyduke said.

Dick Poey of Eden Prairie is in his fourth year of lending his works to the Walking Sculpture Tour.

“Public art is a wonderful way for artists like me and more professional people to get exposure,” Poey said. “One year I even had a piece sold, so it made me very happy.”

Prices for each sculpture are listed online. Lawton says Twin Rivers works to promote the sales because it is good for the artists and good for the program, which she says has paid noticeable dividends.

“People are just really taking pride in the downtown again and it’s great to see,” Lawton said.

With help from local business leaders and donors who sponsor the sculptures, Twin Rivers and the City Center Partnership will be able to spend thousands to buy and permanently install this year’s winning piece. The balloting continues through the end of October.

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