They say that life is a bowl of cherries, and, when you catch a glimpse of this whimsical cherry, you just might agree. Meet one of Minnesota’s most famous roadside attractions: the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture in Minneapolis.
Spoonbridge and Cherry is a giant pop art sculpture that depicts a big cherry resting on a big spoon. Let me spoon feed you some facts:
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- the statue is made of stainless steel and aluminum
- it is painted in polyurethane enamel
- the sculpture is 29 feet 6 inches tall by 51 feet 6 inches long by 13 feet 6 inches wide
- the spoon weighs 5,000 pounds, the cherry weighs 1,200 pounds
The cherry on top of this Minneapolis roadside attraction is that the cherry stem is actually a fountain, that, in warmer months, sprays water into the spoon’s bowl and onto the pond below
The giant spoon and cherry was created by artist Claes Oldenburg and his wife, Coosje van Bruggen. It was commissioned in 1985 and installed and inaugurated in 1988.
Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen are well known for their pop art creations (Pop Art was a movement from the 1950s and 1960s that embraced popular culture) and have constructed more than 40 public sculptures that turn the ordinary object into an extraordinary creation. I’ve seen several of their works myself, including the Batcolumn in Chicago (1977), Plantoir Garden Trowel in Des Moines (2011), Free Stamp in Cleveland (1991), Shuttlecocks in Kansas City (1994), and Houseball in Berlin (1996).
The spoon and cherry was the first piece commissioned for the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, the largest urban sculpture park in the world. It’s still there today and you don’t have to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth to enjoy it: admission to the park is free. (Also look for the big blue rooster while you’re there!)
The Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture has served as a symbol and source of local pride ever since it was unveiled in 1988. I mean, who wouldn’t love this giant spoon and cherry sculpture?
This roadside attraction is a must see so, next time you’re on a Minnesota road trip, take a bite at the cherry and come see this giant cherry.
Spoonbridge and Cherry Sculpture
Sculpture Address: 14357 Loring Greenway, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Address: 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Hours: 6 am to 12 midnight, 365 Days a Year
Cost: Free to See
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