Minneapolis Artist Represented in Edina's Art Scene

Renowned Minneapolis artist Perci Chester has shown her work in galleries and museums all over the world. But it's completely unecessary to travel the world to catch a glimpse of her powerful sculptures—look no further than the in Edina for an idea of what Chester is capable of.

"As a sculptor, what interests me is the transformative energy that changes inanimate objects into images of lingering contemplation," Chester said. "Some become anthropomorphic forms playfully expressing human dynamics, while others become abstract and explore light and movement as metaphor for existence."

It was while living in San Francisco that Chester was truly able to explore her love of public art.

"Even though I studied painting in art school, I started making more sculpture," she said. "I loved the idea of public art after I made [a sculpture] in a school yard in Chinatown."

After moving back to Minneapolis in 1982, Chester taught at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and was an artist in residence at Macalister College in St. Paul.

Chester's stainless steel sculpture "Gyr Family Cycle," located in the Edina Promenade, seemingly does both. The sculpture is comprised of three separate figures and illustrates the "industrialization of animals and just how we think of beings in a very abstract way, almost architectural," according to Chester.

"I like the idea of generations and if you put them all in a row they're in perspective because one actually continues from to the next to the next," she said. "That's the way they were sized, scaled. I like that they are abstract."

Edina residents agreed. Out of 600 votes from visitors to the Edina Promenade, "Gyr Family Cycle" was voted People's Choice winner when the Promenade opened in 2009.

Chester "is a very talented, creative artist," according to Lois Ring, chairwoman of the Edina Public Arts Committee. Ring was among those responsible for curating the sculptures in the Promenade.

"It is very interesting to hear her description of her inspiration for her extensive designs and the thoughts and ideas behind them," Ring said. "She is well respected in the art community."

Another Chester sculpture, "Ella Racing the Wind" can be seen in the west atrium of the . Commissioned by Shae & Associates, it is a granite parallelogram with smoothed, polished front and back sides, with rough edges. Water bubbles up anf flows from an elliptical hole in the center of the piece and flows into a pool at the base.

As for the future, Chester is always working on new projects.

"I'm always drawing. It's just another aspect of what keeps me inspired, and energized. In fact that's kind of down time," Chester said.

Additional information on Perci Chester and her work can be found here.