Art in Ramsey County Parks

Ramsey County works with a diverse group of professional artists to enliven parks with works of art. See current and archived works of art, learn about the artist, and visit new pieces of art.  

Artist Organizer

Artists in Residence

Dakota artists Marlena Myles and Tara Perron sitting together on blue chairs smiling towards the camera.

Marlena Myles, left and Tara Perron (Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ), right, are Dakota creatives from Saint Paul, Minnesota, dedicated to preserving and sharing their cultural heritage through their work. The artists are part of the Minnesota Parks Artist-in-Residence program funded through Legacy Amendment Parks & Trails funds. The team plans to hold classes and workshops, events and produce works of art in the park.  

Artists Statement

As Dakota people, we honor our Grandmother Earth and strive to inspire others to share this reverence for the natural world. Before the arrival of Europeans, our ancestors did not have a written language, instead we embedded our worldview in our relationship with the land. The geography of Minnesota still holds layers of Dakota language within our place names, plant knowledge, animal knowledge, and spiritual connections with the land. 

“Signs of Belonging” Sign Kiosk Art 

In 2021, Ramsey County and the Metropolitan Council teamed up with five local artists -- Andrés Guzmán, CRICE, Marlena Myles, Xee Reiter and Witt Siasoco -- to develop five unique designs to welcome all to county and regional parks. 

A goal of the Ramsey County 21st Century Parks Vision, new park and trail signage was developed to give artists of color a prominent voice in the parks. Each artist brought their unique perspective and identity to their design based on the prompt: “what would make you feel welcome and a sense of belonging in the park?” 

Newly designed park-use kiosks featuring new maps and artwork are featured at all parks in the system. Each sign brings a unique and vibrant lens to the traditional park sign.  

This project was awarded an Innovation in Equity Award by the National Recreation & Parks Association.  

“Signs of Belonging” Artists

Mural, Rose & Picnic Shelter at McCarrons 

Artist: Shakun Maheshwari
Location: McCarrons County Park 

Three art pieces in McCarrons County Park – the rose sculpture, mosaic and picnic shelter pillars – are designed by Shakun Maheshwara and created with community. These pieces were installed with collaboration from Arts Roseville and the Rice & Larpenteur Alliance. 

Artist Shakun Maheshwari smiling next to her yellow, orange, and red colored rose sculpture at the park.Artist Shakun Maheshwari smiling next to her colorful mosaic artwork at the picnic shelter pillars at McCarrons County Park.

 

Underpass Mural at Keller Regional Park

Mural painted on green bricks. Art depicts a black woman encased in a yellow and red sun. She is surrounded by brightly colored flowers and words. Words read "as we excel we create; freeing our minds." artist Aleya Berry Layla Nerayo

Artist’s Statement

Aleya Berry & Layla Nerayo use their art as a way to give voice to communities that are silenced. As Black Women experiencing the disparities our communities go through, we see how time and time again we fight, yet we are silenced. Our art is a way of activism, and making space for our community and other communities we are not a part of.

We find that hearing people’s stories and experiences are important. So we put their stories in our works. To create welcoming spaces for these communities, a voice for these communities and start the uncomfortable conversations that need to be had for us to progress as a society.

The piece tackles the relationship between nature and creativity along with black representation. The main message of the piece is to free yourself through creation. As mother nature freed her soul by creating us, our ancestors freed themselves and soon excelled. So many times, we get stuck because of discrimination and unfair generational traumas passed down to us. But through this we can tap into our creativity to free ourselves from the struggles dealt with daily; internally and externally from society. From this we can find the idea of getting lost with nature and reconnecting with our soul. The colorful people in the beginning represent the path we must follow to find the spark inside of us. The brown wiggles and straight lines represent curly hair and the history of relaxers; representing the black hair movement and confidence within our afros. The red colors represent redlining and the vines taking over representing our nonstop growth and rebellion against the systems put in place to bring us down. The woman at the bottom connects to the statement, “black hair grows towards the sun.” It also represents the need for community and how one free mind can free the rest (“the rest” being that of the garden beneath the girl.)

Archived Projects