Mississippi Guardian Birds
Upper Landing Park, St. Paul, Minnesota
Mississippi Guardian Birds
Location
Upper Landing Park, St. Paul, Minnesota
Materials
Bronze sculpture and fountain elements
Overview
Mississippi Guardian Birds features four monumental bronze bird sculptures paired with four dynamic fountains in Upper Landing Park along the Mississippi River.
Story of the Commission
The project was commissioned as part of the redevelopment of the Mississippi riverfront in St. Paul.
Concept
The birds serve as symbolic guardians of the Mississippi River, representing both migration and navigation along the historic waterway.
Design Process
Freeman studied bird forms and river ecology before developing sculptural models. The birds were positioned to interact with the fountains and the surrounding landscape.
Installation and Public Life Today
The sculptures anchor Upper Landing Park and contribute to the revitalization of the riverfront as a destination for visitors and residents.
Small Works from the Studio
Bronze
10½” H × 8” W
Limited Edition
This bronze maquette represents one of the Mississippi Guardian Birds, a series of sculptures created as part of Doug Freeman’s public work along the Mississippi River. The birds serve as symbolic guardians of the river landscape, reflecting its movement, vitality, and enduring presence.
Measuring 10½ inches tall and 8 inches across, the maquette captures the gesture and character of the figure while allowing Freeman to study the form in preparation for the larger sculptures. Cast as a limited edition in bronze, it stands as both a sculptural study and a finished work of art, embodying the spirit of the original installation.
The process for the Mississippi Guardian Birds began with small clay studies, sketches, and research, which led to the development of this maquette. From there, a full-scale enlargement was created in foam, allowing Freeman to refine the form at a larger size. A mold was then made to produce a wax version for the bronze casting process. A similar approach was used for the pieces at the Decorah Fish Hatchery, while other works in Freeman’s practice were developed full scale in clay over a steel armature.