Summer of Sparky

Dock & Paddle Como Park

ARTIST: Nickyworks Studio
LOCATION: Dock & Paddle Como Park
SPONSOR: Logix Transportation, a subsidiary of Berger Moving & Storage

ARTIST MESSAGE: For some years I have created paintings of endangered and at-risk marine animals. Atlantic puffin populations are in decline because of declining herring populations. This is caused by factors such as overfishing and warming waters. Ideally, adult puffins feed herring to their chicks. But as a result of diminishing populations of these fish, a significant number of chicks are starving. There are no other fish that fit in puffin chick’s beaks and mouths as well as herring. I’d like very much for the public to be more aware of this issue and question the need for trawler fishing and for the over-reliance on lifestyles that lead to the warming of our planet.

CHS Field

ARTIST: SIG
LOCATION: CHS Field
SPONSOR: KSTP

ARTIST MESSAGE: Being from the Midwest, I feel it is easy for us to forget about our deep-water friends in the Pacific Ring of Fire, and off the coast of South Africa. This painting, through Sparky, brings awareness and familiarity to the deep.

Como Visitor Center

ARTIST: Christopher Straub
LOCATION: Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Visitor Center
SPONSOR: McGough Construction

ARTIST MESSAGE: This ribbon and floral motif is made to show that the land and sea are interconnected and we need to work to conserve both.

Cleveland Court at Como

ARTIST: Ashley Hay
LOCATION: Cleveland Court at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
SPONSOR: SPIRE

ARTIST MESSAGE: My concept was to have both local and ocean sea life displayed to show that local conservation efforts can tie in to make an impact on ocean conservation efforts.

Minnesota Children’s Museum

ARTIST: Geno Okok
LOCATION: Minnesota Children’s Museum

ARTIST MESSAGE: Even though whaling is outlawed in most countries, it is still a large issue around the world. Whales are an incredibly important part of the oceans ecosystem as they help to keep smaller animal populations in check.

City House

ARTIST: Joan Porter-Einsman
LOCATION: City House

ARTIST MESSAGE: I have developed my visual language over several years. My inspirations include nature and life itself. My design is a colorful Sparky with her companions, foods, environment needed for survival and a good life.

Minnehaha Falls

ARTIST: Charles Caldwell
LOCATION: Minnehaha Falls

ARTIST MESSAGE: Nothing is more beautiful and peaceful than stopping to watch a sunset. My goal with this piece was to remind people how wonderful sunsets over the ocean are and how important it is to keep our oceans clean to preserve that scene.

RBC Gateway

ARTIST: Josh Eller and Emma Gottschalk
LOCATION: RBC Gateway in Minneapolis

ARTIST MESSAGE: The design depicts sea life and harmony in the underwater ecosystem in contrast with the plants and animals slowly breaking down and disappearing. As the design wraps around the statue, the sea life gradually dissolves into abstract forms. We wanted to depict the beauty of the ocean alongside the consequences of not protecting it.

Science Museum of Minnesota

ARTIST: Emilee Lund
LOCATION: Science Museum of Minnesota

ARTIST MESSAGE: “This design showcases the different animals along the coast where sea lions migrate, while displaying the bright colors of the tide pools and reef below.”

Wellstone Center

ARTIST: Kat Chelstrom
LOCATION: Wellstone Center

ARTIST MESSAGE: Since ocean conservation, is rooted in the protection and preservation of ecosystems this design tries to capture some of those systems. The bright colors, side by side, represent the florescent colors making up the rainbow of the ocean floor. And since coral reefs play such a large part in the survival of the entire ecosystem, it was important to showcase. The swirling of the lines tracing the curves of the sea lion’s body are representative of the movement of the waters and the intricacies needed in its preservation.

Arlington Hills Community Center

ARTIST: Emily Klesel
LOCATION: Arlington Hills Community Center

ARTIST MESSAGE: My design idea consists of covering the Sparky statue with different species of marine invertebrates to show off the sheer biodiversity of an often overlooked but ecologically important kind of marine animal. I specifically wanted to include marine invertebrates that are of conservation concern or are facing some sort of anthropogenic threat (such as coral bleaching or starfish wasting syndrome). Each invertebrate is placed based on what depth they reside in.

Como Harbor at Como Zoo

ARTIST: Bryana Fleming
LOCATION: Como Harbor at Como Zoo

This statue is on loan from the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco and in called “In Our Hands”.

Como Park Playground

ARTIST: Alexandra Motz
LOCATION: Como Park Playground in the West Picnic Grounds

ARTIST MESSAGE: An abstract piece depicting the bright vivid colors of reefs and the ocean’s wildlife.

Como Regional Park Pool

ARTIST: Jennifer Gravrok, PhD
LOCATION: Como Regional Park Pool

ARTIST MESSAGE: Anthrozoology teaches us that humans and animals are intimately connected. This design contains a single continuous squiggle that intricately wraps around the body of the sea lion, never overlaps and always comes full circle, just like life. The childlike simplicity of the design and bright colors play tribute to the naïve nature of the natural world.

Gateway Park

ARTIST: Pamela Kirton
LOCATION: Gateway Park

ARTIST MESSAGE: My concept was to paint Sparky to look like fine blue and white China. The delicate look denotes how precious our environment is.