August 15, 2017
Interstate State Park near Taylors Falls, MN
Minnesota and Wisconsin each operate an Interstate State Park on their respective sides of a gorge carved by the St. Croix River. We enjoyed a scenic boat ride on the river.
Along the banks of the river is the greatest concentration of glacial potholes in the world. Sand or gravel was caught in whirlpools and acted like a drill, forming holes in the rock. One hole is 10 feet wide and 60 feet deep.
Rocks in the park showed crystals, interesting fracture patterns, fun colors and a variety of erosion patterns. Oh, and just plain beauty.
Franconia Sculpture Park
Up to 125 artists each year are supported through fellowship, internship and workshop programs by this non-profit organization. Sculptures are scattered over a 43-acre site. We especially enjoyed the whimsical ones.
We found one piece particularly moving. “Are You Down?” was created by Michael Richards the last week of August and first week of September 2001. In it, human figures represent Tuskegee airmen. Richards wanted to call attention to the airmen’s impact on World War II. The artist was killed September 11, 2001 while working as an artist in residence in a program at the World Trade Center.
1 Comment
Susan · October 4, 2017 at 5:01 pm
If I were traveling with you I would delay your trip by at least 2 times due to my interest in taking photographs, especially at the different water locations. The sculpture Are You Down, made me think of Dad; meaning are you down…depressed which those figures looked like as well. And then hearing he lost his life on 9-11 made me get shivers. This is a very interesting bog.