Detroit Lakes Opens ‘Of the Earth’ Sculpture Garden

Ziemska’s work isn’t your typical sculpture garden fare. These aren’t statues posed on pedestals. They’re massive, textured, earthbound forms-some reclining, some towering-all designed to feel like they belong in the wild rather than tamed by it. Each sculpture is built from organic material sourced locally when possible.

Ziemska, who is based in Cleveland but works internationally, spent a month in Detroit Lakes creating and placing the pieces in close collaboration with the local community. Volunteers helped collect branches, haul stone, and plant thousands of pollinator-friendly blooms around the site.

So far, three major works have been installed, with a fourth permanent sculpture arriving later this year. All are part of the “Of the Earth” body of work, which Ziemska originally began for an exhibition in Chicago but has continued to evolve for this landscape in Minnesota.

Here’s a look at the pieces:

“Hear: With an Ear to the Ground”: A giant stone mosaic head nestled into a low valley. It looks like it’s listening- inviting viewers to do the same.

“Strata”: A reclining human form that seems to merge with the landscape, composed of stonefilled gabion baskets that echo the layering of geologic time.

“Ona”: A commanding 15-foot-tall female figure with flowing hair made entirely from tree branches. Her presence is magnetic even from a distance—and she’s already become something of a park icon.

The exhibition is called "Of the Earth," which is a nod to my last name—it literally means “of the Earth” in Polish. I’m a firstgeneration Polish-American, born here in the U.S., fluent in both languages, and both cultures are a big part of who I am and what informs my work.

- Olga Ziemska

Art That Belongs to the Land

Ziemska’s pieces challenge the way we define ourselves in relation to nature. As she puts it, “We are nature. There is no separation.”

There’s also a tactile, physical energy to the pieces. Kids can climb them. Visitors are encouraged to walk right up and see the textures. It’s meant to be experienced with the body, not just the eyes.

The project is part of a broader initiative by local nonprofit Project 412, which has been working steadily to infuse the Detroit Lakes area with more public art, trails, and cultural programming.

The sculpture garden joins other features already drawing buzz, including large wooden trolls by Danish artist Thomas Dambo and a nature-themed art trail featuring Charley Harper illustrations.

It’s also just the beginning. The permanent installation arriving later this year will complete the core Ziemska series, and Project 412 has hinted at more residencies and programming to come.

If You Go

Ortenstone Gardens is free and open to the public year-round. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, and don’t forget a camera!

 Visitors can find the gardens just off the route to Detroit Mountain, and plans are underway to connect the sculpture park to the nearby trail systems.

A Q&A with the Artist

Have you spent much time in the Detroit Lakes area?

Olga Ziemska: No, that was actually my first time in Minnesota- first time stopping, anyway. I’ve driven through before but never spent time there.

How long were you there?

Olga Ziemska: About four weeks-an entire month, really. That’s one of the things I love about my work. I get to drop into places for extended periods and really immerse myself. I work closely with communities and get a real sense of place, of people. I travel around the world creating work, so it’s a gift to experience places like that.

And during that time, you were creating the sculptures that are now part of the park?

Olga Ziemska: Yes. I installed three sculptures and began work on a fourth, which will be completed and installed later this year.

Can you talk about the vision behind the pieces- especially the one that’s going to remain there permanently?

Olga Ziemska: The exhibition is called “Of the Earth,” which is a nod to my last name-it literally means “of the Earth” in Polish. I’m a first-generation Polish-American, born here in the U.S., fluent in both languages, and both cultures are a big part of who I am and what informs my work.

The sculptures were originally created for an exhibition at the Morton Arboretum in Chicago. But the themes are consistent with what I’ve been exploring for the past 20 years. At the core of all my work is the belief that we are nature. I don’t think there’s a separation between humans and nature-though, interestingly, the dictionary definition of “nature” explicitly excludes humans. That separation is where we start to get things wrong.

How did you get into sculpture as a career? That’s a pretty rare path.

Olga Ziemska: It is, and especially rare for women. Sculpture- especially at this scale. This work-is very male-dominated. I started out as a kid who loved drawing. At first, I studied political science because my immigrant parents wanted me to have a stable career. Eventually, I found out about a large scholarship I received, and I got to go to art school. That’s where I found sculpture-and my voice.

Do you have rituals that help you get into a creative headspace?

Olga Ziemska: Yes. Space is huge for me. My studio is about 2,000 square feet-very organized, very intentional. If I feel blocked, I rearrange things. That physical movement creates new connections and sparks ideas. I also light incense, play ambient music, and read a lot-especially physical books. I love tactile things-mix tapes, CDs, old magazines. They all help anchor and inspire me.

What materials did you use in the Detroit Lakes sculptures?

Olga Ziemska: Two of the pieces use river rock, with one sculpture held in a metal armature. For “Ona,” I used a sculpting medium instead of concrete to make her movable, and her hair is made from locally reclaimed tree branches. A local resident helped me collect the branches-he provided the majority of the tree material. That kind of community support is incredible. And that salvaging approach is key to my work-honoring the cyclical nature of everything.

How did this project change you?

Olga Ziemska: The people. The community. That’s what stood out most. It made me want to research what makes a healthy, functional community. Detroit Lakes has under 10,000 people, and now I’m curious-are there other towns that size with similarly strong community dynamics? Is there a sweet spot for human-scale governance and interaction? Environment matters. Someone in Florida lives a completely different reality than someone in Minnesota. That shapes perspective, priorities, even biases-but none of them are wrong. That’s why listening, true dialogue, is so important to me and to my work.

Is there anything else you want to say to our readers?

Olga Ziemska: Just that placement of the sculptures was very intentional. I started with “Hear,” the head near the troll area- it’s nestled by a bent tree that looks like it’s listening to the Earth. Then I placed “Strata” on a ridgeline, where I’d originally envisioned it years ago. Kids run up to it, then spot “Ona” in the distance. Her presence draws them further into the park. My goal was to encourage people to explore the landscape more deeply- both physically and emotionally.

Ortenstone Gardens

1646 Randolph Rd
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501