Holdingford Mill Art Project Dedication – August 26, 2012

The City of Holdingford is proud to announce the completion of the Holdingford Mill Art Project. On Sunday, August 26th at 11:30 a.m. the Mayor of Holdingford will host a dedication for its new art installation along the Lake Wobegon Trail one block west of City Hall. This marks the end of a two year long project oversaw by the Holdingford In Partnership Committee (H.I.P.). Keith Raivo, Brook Park, Minnesota is the featured artist. He was selected by ballot collected from the community based on his conceptual design which specialized in sculpted metal.
Project Background: In 2010, the Holdingford In Partnership (HIP) Committee (funded in part by the Initiative Foundation) requested planning funds for an art installation along the Wobegon Trail from Forecast Public Art, St. Paul, MN. Once awarded the HIP Committee sent out a call to area arts to submit their qualifications along with a letter of interest to participate a community art project. From this process, five artists were selected to submit a conceptual design based on the site requirements, the vibrant history of Holdingford residents and abundant recreational opportunities within the community. In 2011, each of the five conceptual designs were presented at numerous community events and meetings. In addition, they were placed on continuous display at key locations throughout the City. By doing so, the HIP Committee was able to market this exciting project, collect feedback from area residents, and showcase the power art has in distinguishing public spaces. The Holdingford area residents, along with the HIP Committee, believed that Keith Raivo’s design commanded the best use of the existing space, creatively incorporating important logistical considerations, while still showcasing the heritage of our community. Finally, in 2012, the Central MN Arts Board (CMAB) had agreed to fund the final phase (installation) of the Holdingford Mill Art Project; allowing us a seamless transition from planning to implementation of this public art piece.
The mission of the HIP Committee is to identify valuable resources to enhance and promote our community. We believe that our recreational resources and our heritage play crucial roles in the continued development and revitalization of Holdingford. Accordingly, we acknowledge that the arts are a vital component to being successful in these efforts.