Explore the History of this artwork, Cottontail on the Trail.
In the late 1990s, the city of Minneapolis sought public input for several neighborhood "gateway art projects" to be installed throughout the city through its Art in Public Places program. City councilmember Scott Benson, who was at the time the Hale, Page and Diamond Lake Community Association's president, recalled that members of the community sought art "that would represent the beauty of the neighborhood [and] capture our appreciation for nature." Benson also stated that people desired art that was whimsical.Proposals from artists were solicited. An artwork depicting Native Americans and an outdoor living room were among those considered. Cannon Falls-based sculptor Jeff Barber won the selection process with his proposal for Cottontail on the Trail, for which the city paid $50,000, a combination of public money and donations. Barber worked intermittently on the sculpture for two years before it was installed via crane in September 2002. The piece was dedicated on November 23 of that year.
Minneapolis Scott Benson Native Americans Jeff Barber City councilmember Cannon Falls