The St. Croix River Valley is home to many species of birds, native landscapes, and a community that values both creativity and conservation. Those values came to life in a new art bench, Give Them Wings, installed at the Carpenter Nature Center’s Wisconsin campus– a project that brought together Hudson artist Lana Sjoberg, fifth grade students from Willow River Elementary, and community volunteers.
The project began with a field trip visit to Carpenter Nature Center, where students spent time learning about birds from CNC naturalists and exploring the nature preserve. The group then gathered for a brainstorming session led by Sjoberg to imagine what the art bench might look like. Working in small teams, students tackled a series of creative prompts like, what shape should the bench be? what colors reflect this place? what patterns and images should be on the bench? The students recorded their team’s responses and sketched their ideas for Sjoberg to use during her design process.
Those ideas took form in a sculptural bench shaped like a bird and embellished with colorful glass mosaic. The design beautifully captures the vibrant ecosystem of the St. Croix River Valley with imagery of birds in flight, the flowing river, and native prairie grasses. Both functional and expressive, the bench offers visitors a serene place to rest and reflect, surrounded by the natural beauty of the landscape that inspired it.
The creation of the bench was a community effort. A team of volunteers assisted Sjoberg throughout the fabrication and installation process, lending their time, skills, and enthusiasm to make the bench happen! Volunteers included Sarah Brackemyer, Nancy Fouks, Gary Fouks, Tyler Fouks, Judy Freund, Jim Freund, Lachlan Freund, Sue Hellmers, Cameron Hoff, Pam Huser, Steve Johnson, Evy Johnson, Melissa Olson, Joe Olson, Roy Sjoberg, and Margaret Welshons.
Fittingly, the bench was dedicated in May 2025 during CNC’s Wings of Spring Migration Festival in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day. Like the celebration itself, the bench honors both the beauty of the natural world and the strength of community connection.
Give Them Wings now waits for birdwatchers, hikers, adults and kids to pause for a moment– offering a place to sit, to observe, and to appreciate the creativity and community that shaped it.