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Inspired by the prairie

A dedication ceremony of the Avera Plaza was held at the Red Baron Arena and Expo

Photo by Jenny Kirk Project chair Jim Swartz gathers up his things after sharing comments and welcoming Avera President Mary Maertens to speak next during the dedication of Avera Plaza outside the Red Baron Arena & Expo on Monday in Marshall.

MARSHALL — As the wind blows, the symbolic steel poles sway ever so gently — it’s as if the native prairie grasses still sprout from the earth in southwest Minnesota. It’s a reminder of one’s past and how a sense of community matters.

“The sides of the poles are painted a different color, so as a person walks through it, drives past it, drives around it, moves from various sight locations, it changes color,” Jim Swartz said at the Avera Plaza dedication on Monday afternoon. “I like to observe it during the day and night. Observing it at night is quite spiritual, peaceful, almost church-like. It’s a very meditative place to be.”

At the heart of Avera Plaza located just outside the Red Baron Arena & Expo is the “Prairie Roots” sculpture that was brought to life through the creative vision of artist Randy Walker.

“With this piece, the idea was to make an actual space that people could gather and spend a little time — something that was more immersive than an object you can look at but not be in,” Walker said. “With that being the idea, it was really about Marshall. And what is Marshall? It’s a settlement on the Redwood River. That’s what kind of inspired it and the form of the river goes through the center. Then I was also inspired by the fact that it was on the prairie. So there’s a fusion of native prairie grass blades, but also with the reference to hockey sticks (at the top of the poles).”

Avera President and CEO Mary Maertens said she believes a lot of heart went into the entire effort.

“Avera Plaza and the distinctive prairie roots culture is a beacon for our community and a symbol of our home here in the upper Midwest,” Maertens said. “I just love how the 210 colorful steel posts represent the prairie grasses native to our region and how the floor of the gathering area is patterned after the Redwood River.”

Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes gave a welcoming speech to kick off the dedication program. He said that in some ways, Marshall is a small community but that in other ways, it is quite large.

“We are the largest community in southwest Minnesota,” Byrnes said. “We are the proud home to a number of businesses, including Schwan Food Company and Avera Marshall as well as many other great employers within the community. This is a community people come to for education, for healthcare and for employment, so we are a regional community.”

The development of the regional center was propelled by different levels of support.

“This regional center was supported by a number of things, including a local option sales tax, investment from the state of Minnesota and a number of supporters — the largest of which is Avera,” Byrnes said. “And without all of those sources, including the significant sponsors, this center would not be here. So we’re very proud of it.”

Maertens said Avera “is very honored to be part of the collaborations and partnerships that came together to make this vision a reality.”

“Jim talked about the value of sponsorship, but it’s just our opportunity to express how proud we are at Avera and to sponsor this plaza and the walking trails throughout the property thanks to the fund that were earmarked when the local hospital joined the Avera Health system a number of years ago,” she said. “It’s been exciting to watch the development of the ‘Prairie Roots’ sculpture and we ow much credit to the artist, Randy Walker, for his fantastic design and his artistic vision certainly.”

Walker, who has created several public artworks across the country, was pleased with the finished product, including the way the light works with the sculpture.

“It’s one of the pieces I’m most proud of,” he said. “It was a long process and a lot of thought was given to it, not just by me, but also by the committee members. We didn’t skimp on anything. And the whole piece is community centered.”

Swartz, who retired from Southwest Minnesota State University after teaching art for 33 years, served as the chair for the Spirit of the Community Sculpture Committee. Other members included: Abby Ahmann, John Decramer, Austin Demuth, Tim Gerrety, Mike Meier, Pam Neet, Kevin Schroeder, Matt Suby, Cathy Lee, Scott Vandermillen and Harry Weilage.

“We had a mix of arts members, teachers, MAFAC (Marshall Area Fine Arts Council), Community Services people, city officials and community members,” Swartz said. “Our task was to select a final artist from 12 recommended Minnesota artists — to get down to three finalists and pick a final artist to do a proposal for the project.”

Walker edged out finalists James Brenner and Robert Smart.

“We had a lot of public reaction to the project,” Swartz said. “Fortunately, public reaction to the three proposals by the finalist was the same as the committee’s reaction. (Walker) really produced a wonderful, creative sculpture.”

After thanking the committee members, Swartz specifically thanked Walker, MAFAC President Becky Wyffels and coordinator Karen Yant, Parks Superintendent Preston Stensrud, Public Works Director Glenn Olson and his staff, the city council and Bladholm Construction. He also thanked Avera “for their contribution that made the sculpture and plaza possible.”

Swartz said a Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC) Legacy Planning Grant also “helped out immensely.”

“Unfortunately, this project couldn’t have a full-blown legacy component like the Mrs. Whitney statue because we didn’t have the artist selected,” he said. “We got a planning grant to be able to look at artists and get a recommendation for artists to come in. It enabled us to work with Forecast for the Arts in St. Paul. They’re quite a powerhouse and we’re lucky to have them in Minnesota. They do stuff all across the country and internationally as well.”

Lauren Deutz, Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau director, also shared some gratitude.

“On behalf of the CVB, and kind of representing the city a little bit, we just want to thank Avera for giving us this beautiful plaza that we get to enjoy and everybody who visits Marshall gets to enjoy,” Deutz said. “Thank you to the arts committee as well. Without all of you, none of this would’ve been possible.”

LuAnn Trutwin, vice president of mission at Avera Marshall, gave a blessing that capped off the dedication ceremony.

“We gather (Monday), with the sun and the wind, connecting with the earth, which nourishes and supports us, to dedicate Avera Plaza,” Trutwin said. “We dedicate this space to all those in the future. We dedicate it also to the good of the earth from which the trees come, from which we all return. We dedicate it for the creativity. We ask blessings for Avera Plaza, wishing all the good wishes we can for its future, praying that delight and joy will always surround and fulfill it.”

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