Local artist Tom Christiansen has been selected from a large pool of artists by the Grand Marais Library Board to create a piece of public artwork for the library. Christiansen, who is best known for working with metal in his sculptures, will be awarded a $10,000 grant from the Arrowhead Library System which used Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage money from the sales tax approved by Minnesota voters several years ago.
The announcement came at the November 3 meeting where the board ratified the Public Art Committee’s decision to select Christiansen.
Other local artists who were finalists for the project were Sharon Frykman, Nancy Seaton and Ann Klefstad of Duluth.
In the coming weeks Christiansen, who owns the Last Chance Fabricating Studio in Lutsen, will discuss further with the board the final design for his project.
The goal of this public artwork is to create art that honors the community and reinforces the perception of the library as a place to experience arts, culture and history through a variety of art formats. The competition was open to artists 18 and older who live in one of the seven counties located within the Arrowhead Regional Library system.
It is hoped that the project will be completed by June 30, 2015.
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