Setup

Here are some photos from today's setup at Harriet Island. Hope to see you all tomorrow!

Volunteer Training

The weather was GORGEOUS for today's volunteer training on Harriet Island! Thanks to everyone who came! We're still in need of volunteers on both Saturday and Sunday next weekend, so if you're looking for a fun way to honor Earth Day, support local art, and meet some amazing people, you can click here to sign up!

Wishes for the Sky Fundraiser

Today was our annual Wishes for the Sky fundraiser.  Once again the Griffins graciously hosted our fundraiser at their beautiful home across the river from Harriet Island.  Below are some photos from this event. 

Please consider making a donation if you value Wishes for the Sky as an annual tradition for the Twin Cities.  Even a small donation of $5 will go a long way!  You can donate by clicking here.

Two new poetry scrolls by Shen Pei

Marcus translates one of the new poetry scrolls.

Marcus unveils Peter's new design for the House to Touch the Wind.

Marcus rings the gong that will be a part of the Flying of the First Wishes this year.

Wishes Ensemble 3-22-10

Lynn graciously opened her house last night for our Ensemble meeting. Unfortunately several members couldn't join us, so we kept the meeting brief.

Marcus introduced ideas he has been discussing with percussionist Marc Anderson for this year's more extensive and more participatory closing ceremony. More details on this to come.

We also briefly discussed volunteer recruitment and training, but we are saving the bulk of this conversation for our next meeting. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Kathleen at wishes@graceminnesota.org or simply click here to sign up.

A Wish From Our Eldest Minnesotan

We are pleased to announce that our oldest living Minnesotan, Ruth Anderson, 110, of Marshall, Minnesota, will be offering us a wish at our Earth Day event this year. She is also the oldest living twin in the world. We are so grateful for her participation.

Our ritual is to invite the first two wishes that fly during Wishes for the Sky's opening ceremony from the family of the firstborn in Saint Paul that morning and the eldest living person in Minnesota. Here is a short news segment about Mrs. Anderson:

The Flood Plan

We're being told that there is a chance that Harriet Island will be flooded on April 25th.  But never fear--we have an alternate location lined up should that happen!  Keep an eye on our website, blog, Facebook, or Twitter for updates.  You may also wish to join our mailing list.

Production Meeting, 3-11-10

For Thursday evening's production meeting we met with Parks staff at Harriet Island to discuss all things bamboo-related.

We chose a new location for the House to Touch the Wind (the bamboo wind-chime sculpture.)  It will now be closer to the other activities, vendors, and the Wishmaking Pavilion.  We're hoping that this will not only bring more people into the sculpture, but that money and energy will be saved by not having to use a generator to mic the wind chimes.

Amy from Public Art Saint Paul is using some of the left-over bamboo to design a new entrance for the Wishmaking Pavilion.  She discussed some of her preliminary ideas at the meeting.  Aki and Marcus also discussed how to use a few pieces of thin bamboo to create a new display for past years' wish-kites.

The tree to the left will be the new home for the House to Touch the Wind.

Bamboo Inspection

On the afternoon of Tuesday, March 2, Lynn and I headed out to the farm in Chisago County to inspect and measure the bamboo for the House to Touch the Wind. We arrived to find the bamboo buried under a mound of beautiful white snow.  After an hour-long recovery effort we decided to recruit more bodies and return over the weekend.

Unfortunately Lynn and I couldn't coordinate our schedules, so Lynn and Andy returned on Friday, March 5, to finish digging out the bamboo, and Scott and I returned on Saturday, March 6, to do the bamboo inventory and condition report.  After showing Peter our report, we're happy to say that we have more than enough bamboo!  Thanks to everyone that helped!

The House to Touch the Wind: The Next Generation

The bamboo design team met in the pavilion at Harriet Island on this snowy winter evening to discuss plans for this year's event. Claiming that the construction of the bamboo house we have used for the last three years has become "too easy" for us, Peter unveiled his radical new design ideas for the House to Touch the Wind. He proposed that this year we build a yurt-inspired structure. Wind chimes will still hang in the house, but the new house will also include fabric design by Angie and possibly a new, interactive component.

It's hard to believe that this sky will be full of kites in less than three months!

A model of Peter's new House to Touch the Wind design.

The structure will be built on the ground in a sunburst pattern, then folded up.

Here's what the House to Touch the Wind looked like in 2008.

We Need Your Help!

It's hard to believe, but the fourth annual Wishes for the Sky is just around the corner--just 3 and a half months away!  The ensemble is gearing up for another wonderful event, but we need your help. If you believe in this annual day of wishing, please consider a donation of any amount. 100% of your gift will support the event. You can give by following the "Give MN" link below or in the sidebar.-->

Thank you!