A View of the Peace Garden

 

As I mentioned in my previous post, my dad's camera has been following me on many of my recent excursions and adventures. On Tuesday Don and I had planned on visiting the Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis to have a picnic and listen to music. We packed up our food (forgetting the fork for the fruit salad as well as something to drink) and made the short drive to the lake. Fortunately (and unfortunately) it was a beautiful day, and we therefore couldn't find a parking place within a reasonable walking distance.

I let my spontaneous spirit lead the way, and as soon as I saw the Peace Garden I told Don to stop. We first explored a walking trail in the forest that looked like a scene from a fairy tale. I could have spent an entire day hiking if time had allowed.

The Peace Garden came next with its stunning flowers, fountain and typical park atmosphere.

What really caught my attention was the sculpture with origami cranes draped over it. Along the walking path you can find paper as well as a description of the folding process to make your own crane. This is how the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board site explains it:

"The sculpture represents the international tradition honoring Sadako Saski, a girl who developed cancer as a result of radiation released by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Told of a Japanese legend that people who fold a thousand paper cranes will be granted a wish, she folded over one thousand cranes before her death at age 12."

The story behind this sculpture really inspired me, and its use of color stood out even among the thousands of flowers. Allowing the viewer to actively participate in the origami as Sadako did helps us feel like we are part of the story and its ultimate sadness. It was emotionally powerful.

On our way home the sun was beginning to set, so we camped out on the beach and watched the sailboats and ducks. We were even able to hear the end of the concert we missed at the bandshell.

It is so easy to get wrapped up in the world's noise. When I feel stifled creatively, separating myself from my everyday routine is a breath of fresh air. Sometimes it seems counterproductive to step away from the never ending lists of things to do, but it is exhilarating and makes the daunting tasks seem easier.

Below are a few of the photos I took that night.