MAKING IT: When you plan for snow in a brown winter

By Scott Stulen

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Last winter a record snowfall created the ideal setting for an array of wintery constructions and activities upon the slope of Open Field. During this exceptionally snowy winter we partnered with local artist Sean Connaughty to build a beautiful Bigloo behind the Walker. This year we planned to celebrate the Minnesota winter with a day filled with snow inspired activities, including sled modification, creative snowman construction and Bigloo concerts. While there are a great many things to consider whenever planning outdoor events in Minnesota, snow at the beginning of February is assumed. Not this winter. Minnesota has been blessed or cheated of our winter leaving many event programmers scrambling to find solutions and substitutes.

: Skyline Room, 2005. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2005. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2006. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2006. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2006. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2006. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Walker Art Center, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, 2019. Photo: Studio 220 Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Garden Terrace, 2019. Photo: Studio 220 Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Garden Terrace, 2019. Photo: Studio 220 Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Garden Terrace, 2019. Photo: Studio 220 Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Photo: Studio 220 Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Garden Terrace, 2019. Photo: Studio 220 Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Garden Terrace, 2019. Photo: Studio 220 Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, 2019. Photo: Studio 220 Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: McGuire Theater, 2005. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: McGuire Theater, 2006. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: McGuire Theater, 2006. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: McGuire Theater, 2006. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: McGuire Theater, 2006. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: McGuire Theater, 2006. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: McGuire Theater, 2005. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Walker Cinema, 2012. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Walker Cinema, 2012. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Walker Cinema, 2013. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Walker Cinema, 2013. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Burnet Gallery, 2005. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2006. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Walker Gallery, 2009. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Walker Gallery, 2010. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Walker Gallery, 2010. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Medtronic Gallery, 2014. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Bazinet Lobby, 2016. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Installation view Stanley Whitney: How High the Moon, 2025. Photo by Kameron Herndon. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Garden Terrace, 2008. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Garden Terrace, 2008. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Garden Terrace, 2008. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Garden Terrace, 2008. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Garden Terrace, 2008. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Garden Terrace, 2008. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Terrace Thursdays: Last Chance Dance, 2017. Photo: Anna Gulbrandsen. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Terrace Thursdays: Last Chance Dance, 2017. Photo: Anna Gulbrandsen. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Terrace Thursdays: Last Chance Dance, 2017. Photo: Anna Gulbrandsen. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Terrace Thursdays, 2019. Photo: Awa Mally. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Terrace Thursdays, 2019. Photo: Awa Mally. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Terrace Thursdays, 2019. Photo: Awa Mally. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Terrace Thursdays, 2019. Photo: Awa Mally. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Terrace Thursdays, 2019. Photo: Awa Mally. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Terrace Thursdays, 2019. Photo: Awa Mally. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Garden Terrace, 2017. Photo: Alice Gebura. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Medtronic Gallery, 207. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Medtronic Gallery, 2014. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Medtronic Gallery, 2014. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2025. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2006. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2006. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2006. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2006. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Cargill Lounge, 2010. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2015. Photo: Drew Johnson. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2015. Photo: Drew Johnson. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Performance in Cargill Lounge, 2016. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Poetry Reading in Cityview Room, 2019. Photo: Pierre Ware. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Poetry Reading in Cityview Room, 2019. Photo: Pierre Ware. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Poetry Reading in Cityview Room, 2019. Photo: Pierre Ware. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Pop up Photo Gallery in Cargill Lounge, 2019. Photo: Galen Fletcher. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Pop up Photo Gallery in Cargill Lounge, 2019. Photo: Galen Fletcher. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Hennepin Lobby, 2008. Photo: Gene Pittman. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Cargill Lounge, 2013. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Skyline Room, 2019. Photo: Lauren B. Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Crosby Conference Room, 2009. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Crosby Conference Room, 2009. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Crosby Conference Room, 2009. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Crosby Conference Room, 2009. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Crosby Conference Room, 2009. Photo: Cameron Wittig. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Party In/The Garden, 2021. Photo: Carina Lofgren. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Party In/The Garden, 2021. Photo: Carina Lofgren. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Party In/The Garden, 2021. Photo: Carina Lofgren. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Party In/The Garden, 2021. Photo: Carina Lofgren. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Party In/The Garden, 2021. Photo: Carina Lofgren. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Teen Takeover, 2018. Photo: Carina Lofgren. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: International Pop Preview Party, 2015. Photo: Angela Jimenez. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: International Pop Preview Party, 2015. Photo: Angela Jimenez. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: International Pop Preview Party, 2015. Photo: Angela Jimenez. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: After Hours, 2022. Photo: Carina Lofgren. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: After Hours, 2022. Photo: Carina Lofgren. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: After Hours, 2024. Photo: Carina Lofgren. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Cardamom, 2021. Photo: Anne Victoria Photography. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Nellie Kluz, The Dells, 2024. Courtesy the artist.

: Samira Makhmalbaf, The Apple, 1997. Courtesy the artist.

: Nellie Kluz, The Dells, 2024. Courtesy the artist.

: Jessi Reaves, Big vanity with modesty flap, 2025. Photo: GC Photography Courtesy the artist and Bridget Donahue, New York.

: Sound for Silents 2021: Film + Music on the Walker Hillside, 2021. Photo by Pierre Ware. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Installation views Jessi Reaves: process invented the mirror, 2025. Photo: Eric Mueller. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Installation views Jessi Reaves: process invented the mirror, 2025. Photo: Eric Mueller. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Installation views Jessi Reaves: process invented the mirror, 2025. Photo: Eric Mueller. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

: Jessi Reaves, Bachelors stool with fake flowers (after kuramata), 2025. Courtesy the artist and Bridget Donahue, New York; photo: GC Photography

: Jessi Reaves, Rebuilding vanity, 2025. Courtesy the artist and Bridget Donahue, New York; photo: GC Photography

: Jessi Reaves, Street Lamp, 2025. Courtesy the artist and Bridget Donahue, New York; photo: GC Photography

: Jessi Reaves, Your room is the same as when you left, 2025. Courtesy the artist and Bridget Donahue, New York; photo: GC Photography

: Shahzad Ismaily. Photo: Mary Rozzi. Courtesy the artist.

: Cowles Pavilion and Regis Promenade

Thomas Schütte
Artwork
Bronze Woman IV Bronze Woman IV
Date

1998/2000

: Aaron Spangler
Bog Walker, 2017

: Angela Two Stars
Okciyapi, 2021

: James Turrell, Sky Pesher, 2005

: Franz West, Sitzwuste, 2000

: Thomas Schütte,
Bronze Woman IV Bronze Woman IV, 1998/2000

: Jene Highstein, Untitled, 1987–1988

: Danh Vo 2011.51
Sculpture
Title: Tombstone for Phùng Vo from All your deeds shall in water be writ, but this in marble
Date: 2010
Medium: black absolute granite, gold

: Sol LeWitt, 1988/2016

: Jim Hodges, Untitled, 2011

: Alexander Calder, Octopus, 1964

: Tony Cragg, Level Head, 2007

: Kcho, La soledad, 1999/2005

: Katharina Fritsch, Hahn/Cock, 2013/2017

: Kinji Akagawa, Garden Seating, Reading, Thinking, 1987/2017

: Ellsworth Kelly, Double Curve, 1988

: Theaster Gates, Black Vessel for a Saint,
2017

: Mark Manders, September Room, 2017

: Matthew Monahan, Hephaestus, 2013

: Eva Rothschild, Empire, 2011

: Tony Smith, Amaryllis, 1965/1968

: Jenny Holzer, Selections from The Living Series, 1989

: Mark di Suvero, Arikidea, 1977–1982

: Kris Martin, For Whom …, 2012

: Aaron Spangler, Bog Walker, 2017

: Liz Larner, X, 2013

: Liz Larner, X, 2013

: Nairy Baghramian, Privileged Points, 2011/2017

: Monika Sosnowska, Untitled (gate), 2014

: Scott Burton, Seat-Leg Table, 1986/1991.

: Deborah Butterfield, Woodrow, 1988.

: Martin Puryear, Gog & Magog (Ampersand), 1987–1988

Franz West
Artwork
Sitzwuste
Date

2000

: Isamu Noguchi, Shodo Shima Stone Study, 1978

: Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen,
Spoonbridge and Cherry
1985–1988

: Cowles Pavilion and Regis Promenade

: Artists
Ta-coumba T. Aiken, Rosemary Soyini Vinelle Guyton, and Seitu Jones
Artwork
Siah Armajani from the series Shadows at the Crossroads

: Artists
Ta-coumba T. Aiken, Rosemary Soyini Vinelle Guyton, and Seitu Jones
Artwork
Siah Armajani from the series Shadows at the Crossroads

: Artists
Ta-coumba T. Aiken, Rosemary Soyini Vinelle Guyton, and Seitu Jones
Artwork
Siah Armajani from the series Shadows at the Crossroads

: Artists
Ta-coumba T. Aiken, Rosemary Soyini Vinelle Guyton, and Seitu Jones
Artwork
Siah Armajani from the series Shadows at the Crossroads

: Artists
Ta-coumba T. Aiken, Rosemary Soyini Vinelle Guyton, and Seitu Jones
Artwork
Siah Armajani from the series Shadows at the Crossroads

: Artists
Ta-coumba T. Aiken, Rosemary Soyini Vinelle Guyton, and Seitu Jones
Artwork
Siah Armajani from the series Shadows at the Crossroads

: Artists
Ta-coumba T. Aiken, Rosemary Soyini Vinelle Guyton, and Seitu Jones
Artwork
Siah Armajani from the series Shadows at the Crossroads

: Alexander Calder, The Spinner, 1966

: Artists
Ta-coumba T. Aiken, Rosemary Soyini Vinelle Guyton, and Seitu Jones
Artwork
Siah Armajani from the series Shadows at the Crossroads

: Artists
Ta-coumba T. Aiken, Rosemary Soyini Vinelle Guyton, and Seitu Jones
Artwork
Siah Armajani from the series Shadows at the Crossroads

: Artists
Ta-coumba T. Aiken, Rosemary Soyini Vinelle Guyton, and Seitu Jones
Artwork
Siah Armajani from the series Shadows at the Crossroads

: Ta-coumba T. Aiken, Rosemary Soyini Vinelle Guyton, and Seitu Jones
Artwork
Siah Armajani from the series Shadows at the Crossroads

: Simone Fattal, Adam and Eve, 2021

: Shahzad Ismaily. Photo: Mary Rozzi. Courtesy the artist.

: Shahzad Ismaily. Photo: Mary Rozzi. Courtesy the artist.

: Shahzad Ismaily. Photo: Mary Rozzi. Courtesy the artist.

: Shahzad Ismaily. Photo: Mary Rozzi. Courtesy the artist.

: August Strindberg, Celestograph XIII, c.1894. Courtesy of the National Library of Sweden, Collection of Manuscripts.

: Fluidic photograph obtained by applying fingers to a photographic plate, Louis Darget, c.1899.

: Effluvia from a Hand Resting on a Photographic Plate, Adrien Majewski, 1898–99. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gilman Collection, Purchase, The Howard Gilman Foundation Gift, 2001.

: Jakob Ottonowitsch von Narkiewitsch-Jodko, Fluidic photograph, Discharge of a Positive Current, 1883. Collection of Tony Oursler. Courtesy Tony Oursler.

: Jakob Ottonowitsch von Narkiewitsch-Jodko, Fluidic photograph, 1883. Collection of Tony Oursler. Courtesy Tony Oursler.

: Louis Darget, Thought photograph, The Bird Head (The bird head with his white beak is remarkable),
c.1896. Collection of Tony Oursler. Courtesy Tony Oursler.

: Ada Emma
Deane, Cloud of ectoplasm with faces of the dead, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, c.1930. Collection of Tony Oursler. Courtesy Tony Oursler.

: Barbara McKenzie, Stanley de Brath, Miss Scratcherd, and the spirit extra of Gustave Geley. William Hope, 1924. British Library, London, UK / British Library Board / Bridgeman Images.

: Untitled Spirit Photo, c. 1930. Collection of Tony Oursler. Courtesy Tony Oursler.

: Julia Margaret Cameron, The Madonna Penserosa, 1864. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1941.

: Julia Margaret Cameron, Vivien and Merlin, 1874. Metropolitan Museum of Art, David Hunter McAlpin Fund, 1952.

: Mary Todd Lincoln with ghosts of Abraham Lincoln and their son, William Mumler, c. 1870-75. Collection of Tony Oursler. Courtesy Tony Oursler.

: Album of Spirit Photographs, Frederick Hudson, 1872. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gilman Collection, Gift of The Howard Gilman Foundation, 2005.

: Photographs of abstract manifestations, John Beattie, 1872. Collection of Tony Oursler.

: The medium Stanisława P: emission and resorption of an ectoplasmic substance through the mouth. Albert von Schrenck-Notzing, 1913. Courtesy of the Photographic Collections of the Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene, Freiburg im Breisgau.

: The medium Stanisława P: emission and resorption of an ectoplasmic substance through the mouth (under netting). Albert von Schrenck-Notzing, 1913. Courtesy of the Photographic Collections of the Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene, Freiburg im Breisgau.

: The medium Eva C. with an ectoplasmic veil, Albert Von Schrenck-Notzing, 1911. Courtesy of the Photographic Collections of the Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene,
Freiburg im Breisgau.

: Albert Von Schrenck-Notzing, The medium Eva C. with the materialization of a woman’s face, 1911. Courtesy of the Photographic Collections of the Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene, Freiburg im Breisgau.

: Medium Eva C. excreting an ectoplasmic finger. Albert Von Schrenck-Notzing, c.1911. Collection of Tony Oursler. Courtesy Tony Ousler.

: Medium Eusapia Palladino in a séance with Albert von Schrenck-Notzing (left), showing levitation of a small table with an accordion placed on it. Anonymous, Munich, Germany, 1903. Courtesy of the Photographic Collections of the Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene, Freiburg im Breisgau.

: Passionate Attitudes, Ecstasy, 1878. From Iconographie photographique de la Salpêtrière. Courtesy Medical Historical Library, Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library, Yale University.

: Hystero-epilepsy, Contracture, Iconographie photographique de la Salpêtrière. Courtesy Medical Historical Library, Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library, Yale University.

: Iconography obtained without light, electricity or photographic apparatus, is due to the
right hand of Dr. M. Adam. In the researches which he kindly undertook for me relating to these so troubling questions, he was taken by a great movement of mental sadness at the moment when this vortex was produced. Hippoltye Baraduc, 1896. Collection of Tony Oursler.

: Hippolyte Baraduc, Heavy Heart (Constellation of droplets attracted to the cave by an invocation of force: the plaque worn on the heart), 1909. Collection of Tony Oursler. Courtesy of Tony Oursler.

Ada Emma
Deane, Cloud of ectoplasm with faces of the dead, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, c.1930. Collection of Tony Oursler. Courtesy Tony Oursler.

Untitled Spirit Photo, c. 1930. Collection of Tony Oursler. Courtesy Tony Oursler.

Jules Courtier, Séance with the Medium Eusapia Palladino, 1907-8. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gilman Collection, Purchase, The Howard Gilman Foundation Gift, 2001. Courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Eva Mohn, 2025. Photo: Kameron Herndon. Courtesy Walker Art Center.

Art-making in the Cargill Lounge at  Free First Saturday, 2023. Photo: Kameron  Herndon for  the Walker Art Center. 

Child and adult making art at Free First Saturday: Keith Haring Fest 2024, June 1, 2024. Photo: Carina Lofgren for Walker Art Center. 

Our solution to last Saturday’s Snow Field Free First Saturday….cardboard snowmen. Embracing the balmy brown winter we called upon the arts programmer’s secret weapon, cardboard and tape. We employed local artist Andy Ducett, who along side Walker Staff, guided families in the creation of various cardboard constructions. The instructions were to make objects that referenced the wintery sculptures we had hoped to make, but as with most activities, the participants make it their own and thus lead you on unexpected (and often much better) paths. Saturday was no exception. Before long our cardboard snowmen were joined by boats, cars, tall buildings, a couple of shanty town igloos and a rather impressive rocket. Sometimes the best thing to do as a programmer is set the stage and just get out of the way.

Making It lifts the curtain on art-making around the state with posts that go inside the process of making and showing work. You’ll find these visually-oriented little pieces on both the Education and Community Programs’ blog and here, on the mnartists.org blog, and they’ll include a broad-mash up across disciplines, with everything from staff dispatches from Arty Pants and Open Field to rehearsal notes and studio visits, maybe even a few DIY tutorials by and with Minnesota artists.