(R to L) MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura, Artist and Lead Snow Sculptor Heather Friedli, Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene. The three worked together to take off the “First Cut” from a new snow sculpture next to the Stone Arch Bridge in Mill Ruins Park.
This winter the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) hosts Carved in Snow: Stories of Land & Legacy, a public art installation featuring four large-scale snow sculptures created by Indigenous artist Heather Friedli. Installed across four Downtown Minneapolis parks, the project highlights Indigenous history, seasonal storytelling, and youth mentorship while activating park spaces during the winter months.
The installation includes four monumental snow sculptures, each representing one of the four seasons and reflecting the cultural significance of the land across time. Friedli, an Indigenous artist with Odawa, Mexican, and American heritage, is known for her contemporary impressionist oil paintings and large-scale snow sculptures and is a member of Team Kwe, North America’s only all-female Indigenous snow carving team.
Friedli will lead the design and creation of each sculpture, supported by a team of 2-4 skilled artists. Each sculpture will also include a digital storytelling component, allowing visitors to access additional context through QR codes and learn more about the land, the season represented, and the stories behind each piece.
Youth engagement is a central part of the project. Friedli is working in collaboration with the MPRB Indigenous Liaison, who will connect with local Indigenous youth to participate in the design, build, and installation of the sculptures. Youth participants will gain hands-on experience in snow sculpting, creative collaboration, and cultural storytelling.
Carved in Snow: Stories of Land & Legacy is designed as a temporary winter gallery that brings people together in public park spaces to reflect on shared history, culture, and connection to the land.
This project is made possible by funding from the Hennepin County Youth Arts & Music Grant.
Snow Sculpture Build Schedule and Locations
January 6–9: Mill Ruins Park
January 12–16: Father Hennepin Park
January 26–30: Nicollet Island Park
February 2–6: Graco Park
The sculptures will be free and open to the public to experience throughout the winter, weather permitting.