Jacobson was creator of two of Northfield’s most prominent works of art, the Bridge Square Fountain and the bronze sculpture “Harvest” in the city’s riverfront Sesquicentennial Legacy Plaza. He was 91…
Jacobson had been a vital member of Northfield’s art scene since 1955, when he began his teaching career at Carleton College. In addition to teaching art for more than three decades, he designed and constructed public art structures seen throughout Northfield, as well as Minnesota and beyond.
i’d say not okay on a typical day but I certainly wouldn’t fault anybody for taking a dip today!
I’ve never known it to NOT be okay for anyone to wade in the fountain, kids or adults. I’ve taken more than a few photos of kids wading there, eg, this photo from my Taste of Northfield 2010 album.
But maybe TPTB just look the other way when it happens.
Is there any question on what Ray "Jake" Jacobson would say about folks wading in one of his public fountains?
Paul Krause, Paul Krause Creative, stopped by my corner office at the GBM this morning to inform me that his documentary ‘Harvest’ will air on TPT’s Minnesota Channel (2.2) this weekend.
Harvestsculptor Ray ‘Jake’ Jacobson is recovering at Three Links Transitional Care unit from recent back surgery. Paul expects that Jake will soon be back to work on another exciting project for Northfield that he’s got in the works.
The Arts and Culture Commission wishes to invite everyone in the community to a celebration on Monday, Dec 13, at 7 pm, at the Grand, to honor the first two recipients of its newly created Northfield Living Treasure Award. Mayor Mary Rossing will present the award to Ray Jacobson and Myrna Johnson for their generous, significant and lengthy contributions to art and culture in Northfield.
Ray, an internationally renowned sculptor and former Art Professor at Carleton, notably designed and created the stunning and delightful bronze fountain in Bridge Square, as well as the recent "Harvest" sculpture along the riverwalk near the 5th St Bridge which celebrates Northfield’s sesquicentennial.
Myrna was a founder of the Northfield Arts Guild, now 50 years young, which has given opportunity to generations of local professional and amateur artists and performers to showcase their work and to develop their skills. For many years Myrna served as its director of theatre, as a fundraiser, and still continues to serve as its archivist.
The community is warmly invited to celebrate and honor Myrna’s and Ray’s outstanding achievements and service.
Back in the fall of 2008, I blogged some photos of the whimsical bronze sculptures on the Malecón, the oceanside boardwalk in the center of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
I was amazed at the scupltures’ ability to engage people for play and photos.
Ray Jacobson’s Sheldahl anniversary fountain on Bridge Square brings out the playfulness in people, especially kids. ‘Twould be cool to have more sculptures along Riverwalk that did this.
Ray Jacobson and I will be on hand to answer any questions about the making of the film and the Harvest sculpture. A reception will follow the show. The documentary is an hour in length.
At the Northfield High School last Thursday night, Paul Krause previewed his new documentary of Ray ‘Jake’ Jacobson’s Harvest sculpture.
Among the attendees: Wes Jones, president of Casting Creations of Minnesota, the art foundry in Howard Lake, MN where the bronze casting of Harvest was done. Wes has a future in comedy.
On Thursday, February 25th, I will premiere “Harvest”, my latest documentary. Three years in the making, the hour-long film follows sculptor Ray Jacobson as he creates the sculpture. The film reveals the complex process of lost-wax casting, the astounding creativity of the artist and the marvelous relationships that were formed among members of our remarkable community.
The screening will take place in the Northfield High School Auditorium at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. Free and open to the public. A reception will follow.
A week or so ago, local filmmaker Paul Krause, Dancing Sun Multimedia, previewed his new documentary, Harvest, for local media, including freelancer Alyssa Ford who’s doing a story on it for the Star Tribune this week. I weaseled my way into Paul’s studio in downtown Northfield for a photo and a sneak preview.
“Harvest” chronicles the creation of Ray Jacobson’s sculpture of the same title. From the initial drawings to the final installation on the riverfront, the film reveals every step required to craft the three thousand pound, bronze sculpture.
I attended yesterday’s dedication ceremony for the ‘Harvest’ sculpture. Included are 3 photos of the fountain on Bridge Square because A) it, too, was created by sculptor Ray ‘Jake’ Jacobson; and B) the crowd for the dedication was visible from it.
Ray “Jake” Jacobson was on hand to watch his ‘Harvest’ sculpture get installed in front of the Malt-O-Meal plant on Hwy 19 yesterday. It’s due to ultimately be installed at the new 5th St. and Water parking lot/pedestrian promenade when that’s completed sometime next year, part of the Streetscape plan. For more details, see my Aug. 12 blog post and slideshow when Jake spoke to the NDDC forum. (Click photos to enlarge. Two on the right, courtesy of Sue Hvistendahl.)
86 year-old Ray “Jake” Jacobson presented his ‘Harvest’ sculpture at last Tuesday’s NDDC forum. It’s due to be installed when the new 5th St. and Water parking lot/pedestrian promenade is completed. See the album or this slideshow:
The design is based off the main essentials of a wheat stem. The repetitious quality of wheat in nature is reflected in the piece providing a degree of predictability while the complex and abstract form creates an element of surprise. Open to the potential of accidents, Jacobson cultivated the piece until he arrived at its current design which is also reminiscent of a wheat shock. The sculpture is embellished with relief carvings of wheat heads and mill stones countered with medallions emphasizing Northfield’s history and its agrarian roots, including a piece devoted to the sesquicentennial as well as Jacobson’s imagery of the Ames Mill and the Cannon River.
Peter Seebach (Seebs): John, someone forwarded me a thing which helps explain why I do not believe the current situation provides adequate legal protections: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =ah4ke16g1DI Watch that, and then tell me with a straight...
Peter Seebach (Seebs): California in general has very high rates of “drug use”. And frankly, there is no place in the US that can be meaningfully called “very accepting” to gays. More accepting than others, sure. Why, I...
David Henson: Peter, you have the Internet you do the research. Use San Francisco as a baseline (an accepting place) – gays there have very high rates of depression and drug use.
Peter Seebach (Seebs): Those are fascinating beliefs, but conveniently for us, the research has already been done, and they’re wrong. Legalizing gay marriage has no effect on the observed incidence of homosexuality, and the concept of...
David Henson: John, I understand sexuality to be a continuum and not a hard and discrete fact. I earnestly believe that if gay marriage is approved many more people will experiment with gay sex and some numbers will get AIDS (and depression and...
Griff Wigley: Good turnout last night for the Cannon Valley Mountain Bike Team meeting at the high school. I’ve blogged a summary with the ppt presentations.
Griff Wigley: Jordan Osterman, the new Sports Editor for the Northfield News, scooped me on Saturday. I’m glad! Northfield high school mountain bike team forming As a club sport, mountain biking would have no official affiliation with either...
Griff Wigley: Good suggestion, Curt. I’ll do that for next week’s blurb. I have been verbally emphasizing the importance of having girls on the team, especially since their points on race days count more than boys’ points. Other...
Curt Benson: Hey Griff, I wonder if you shouldn’t put a bit more emphasis on the idea that you’re recruiting both boys and girls for this team. And that the scores for both the boys and girls make up a team score. I think that in the...
Griff Wigley: It should be noted that this team does not yet exist! So this meeting is for those student-athletes (and their parents) who might be interested in joining this new team.
Griff Wigley: Suzy Rook has a sidebar to today’s Nfld News update on last night’s Council meeting. Excerpt: The city administrator and finance director say they have asked for the information on several occasions, including last month...
john george: Living where we do, it is only a few blocks walk to North Street and a grand view of the sunsets. Also, with our neighbors’ mature white pines & spruce, our covered deck affords outdoor enjoyment with a fair amount of...
Griff Wigley: Props to the newspaper and Suzy Rook for mentioning LoGro twice in the story: Fire Department officials, including Fire Chief Gerry Franek, did not respond to several requests from the News for association financial records or...
Griff Wigley: Posted to Northfield News at 1pm: Ethical questions arise over Northfield Fire Relief Association expenses Donations made to Northfield Fire Relief Association aren’t public dollars, but that hasn’t extinguished city...
Griff Wigley: Curt/Robert, There’s a summary of the Rescue Squad on Page 21 of the 2009 NFD report to the City. It doesn’t mention that there’s a Rescue Squad Association. The last paragraph states: The Northfield Rescue Squad is...
Robert Palmquist: If Hvistendahl’s motivation was to keep the financials from getting known, his submitting a memo like that just really backfired. I agree, why would these financials be such a secret??? And why did the NRSA hire a lawyer to...
Curt Benson: So Hvistendahl has found another place to wet his beak. You ask a good question, “Why is it important that the City not know the Northfield Rescue Squad Association financials?”
Jim Haas: Happens to me a lot. So much that my lovely wife had to coin a term for it: she says I have datelexia.
norman butler: Since coming to my adopted country 16 years ago I have observed, amongst other things, that not putting the day with the date is both common and peculiar to Northfield (MN? USA?).
John Thomas: Just a reminder, advance tickets for Girls Night Out 2012 can be purchased on The Grand’s website at http://www.thegrandnorthfield. com/public-events. Your tickets will then be available at a special “Will Call” at...
Liz Reppe: This is a great place to buy plants! Jeni is very knowledgeable and they are both really helpful. You get great service and plant expertise, but the prices are not higher than other places in town.
bill metz: While most of how Jake is being remembered revolves around, and rightly so, his great and wonderful talent as an artist and teacher and the works of sculpture he has left for our and the next generations enjoyment, I have had the...
Ross Currier: It was an honor for me and the NDDC to work with Jake. His pieces of sculpture in our community send a powerful visual message that Northfield is an Art Town. I still marvel at his clever and creative approach to building social and...
paul krause: The memorial service will be held at 11am. Doors to the Chapel will open at 10am for a chance to visit with family members and friends to share memories of our dear friend. Anyone who would like to view the documentary Harvest (which...
kiffi summa: Come on, Griff… you say you’re “more than a little clueless about about investments” but you “just happened to notice”… and from what you said, were reading analytically, etc etc… Once...
Griff Wigley: I’m more than a little clueless about investments but I noticed on page 14 in the April 24 Council packet that the Fire Relief Association has 85% of its pension portfolio in stocks. Isn’t that a bit risky/aggressive for...
Griff Wigley: Has there been any media reporting on the intergovernmental meeting in Bridgewater Township that was held on April 25 re: the Rural Fire Protection District and the City of Northfield?
Jim Mangan: I noticed this morning that a few of the newly planted trees along South Highway 3 have a pronounced lean. Could it be storm damage?
Ross Currier: It’s great that someone is enhancing the connection between downtown and uptown. I know they coordinated their work with MNDoT, City staff, and the Streetscape Task Force. Uh, raise your trowels in a toast to the Northfield...
Vicki Serreno: I wish I’d known – this is my neighborhood since I left Northfield in 2010. I’d have shown up to support them.
Kathie Galotti: My neighbor and sometimes babysitter Maggie Kennedy appears in this video as well! Go Maggie, and Cliff and Sophie and Parker and everyone else! Well done, guys!
Peter Seebach (Seebs): Heh, we had those when I was in college. Guess we’re making progress, they’re starting years earlier now!
Sandy Vesledahl: Thanks for blogging our garage sale Griff! We are at 2018 Jefferson Rd, Suite 1, thanks to the Jasnoch Family for allowing us to use the space. We will be there until 5:00 today and again from 8-2 on Saturday. We’ve had a...
Bright Spencer: I have an 8 year old dog that has not been neutered, has not reproduced and never been out unleashed except in our yard. It costs nothing to care for your pet properly.
Bright Spencer: To see this makes me so happy! Best of luck to you!
Peter Seebach (Seebs): For what it’s worth, I’m pretty happy with the whole process so far, although we found exciting new things out about the land development code, such as “the rules for calculating how tall a building is for...
Peter Seebach (Seebs): Not a hot tub, a swimming pool. One of those backyard pools you can get at k-mart, and the greenhouse is so we can use it a couple months earlier in spring and later in fall.
Arlen Malecha: I wish more establishments had outdoor seating & dining. Now that our offices (Coldwell Banker South Metro www.CBSouthMetro.com are downtown, I love to see people sitting and dining outside. It is fun to walk up and down...
Sean Hayford O'Leary: I would say the current configuration of Division Street makes me grateful not everyone is doing it. Sidewalk dining brings a lot of livelihood to the street — but I’ll admit that I’ve been occasionally...
Griff Wigley: Rebecca, there are several Northfield eating and drinking establishments that have outdoor dining with tables and chairs, serving alcohol, but not SIDEWALK dining. Downtown ones that come to mind: The Tavern, Chapati, The Cow, Froggy...
Rebecca Bliss: Timely post, Griff -I didn’t realize this. I was just commenting to my husband about how nice it would be to dine al fresco now that the weather is getting warmer. Guess this is another discovery for the new...
Patty Gallivan: MOST Northfield volunteers are waiting for someone who DARES boost a program with evidence of effectiveness to come forward with leadership to actually make a difference with students in our Northfield schools. Make sure to let us...
Sculptor Ray ‘Jake’ Jacobson died earlier this week. 
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