Jackson Square Park Innovations

Phase II of the Holland Gateway project is taking shape this summer. Sculptor James Brenner, who previously created In Flux for the southeast corner of the park, has turned the Edison High School auto shop into an artist’s studio. From this convenient location he will be fabricating and installing Innovation Backstop in the park itself, Double Flux across the street at the Basin, and a brand new Edison sign on the northwest corner of the Edison campus.

This ambitious project represents a collaboration between a number of stakeholders, including Holland Neighborhood Improvement Association, NRP, the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and the Firefighters Hall & Museum. The backstop itself celebrates both the high school’s namesake, Thomas Alva Edison, and Firefighter Louis Rober, who is credited with bringing the sport of softball to Minneapolis. It promises to be the most unique softball backstop in the state, perhaps in the world. Go to www.chicagosculptureworks.com to check out the artist’s renderings of the various pieces or just stop over at Jackson Square Park to watch the progress.