Spirit of the Sandbagger Papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS 3132
Scope and Contents
This collection contains records pertaining to the Spirit of the Sandbaggers public art project, which is installed at the corner of 2nd Street and 1st Avenue in Fargo, North Dakota. This collection includes records from the request for proposals in 2020 up to the press releases upon the installment of the art in May, 2022. This collection was created by Mike Benson who is a member of the Fargo Lions Club. The final artistic team was Benson, Karen Bakke, and Brock Davis. Specific items included in this collection are items that include the original call for art, various artists proposals for the project, artist profiles, references, lighting, insurance documents, press releases, meeting minutes, donations/fundraising records, sculpture mock-ups, models, dedication information, and ribbon-cutting ceremony materials.
Dates
- 2019-2021
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyrights to this collection is held by The North Dakota State University Archives.
Biographical / Historical
Mike Benson (Creator of the Records and Contributing Artist)
Mike has served as a Lion since 1974. He has taken a special interest in working with other Lions on fundraising and projects to help those with vision impairments. Around 2017-2018, Mike had the idea of eventually creating some sort of public art piece to recognize the efforts of sandbaggers in our area. With the help of the Lions, and many community donors, The Spirit of the Sandbaggers artwork is now installed along the banks of the Red River near downtown Fargo!
Mike does not consider himself a professional artist but enjoys using his creative nature to express himself through photography, painting, and woodworking.
Karen Bakke (Contributing Artist) Karen has been working as a professional artist since 1976. She began focusing exclusively on fine art in 1995 doing large murals and commissioned canvas paintings. Karen has produced works for an impressive number of both commercial and residential locations including cathedrals, hospitals, schools, museums, government buildings as well as private homes. She describes her style as realism with a touch of impressionism. Karen plays a vital role in the FM arts community and has become known as one of the area’s most respected artists.
Brock Davis (Contributing Artist) Originally from Dickinson, ND, Brock had spent most of his career welding in the oil fields until moving to Fargo in 2015. While he began working a welding job in the area, he was longing to focus his metalworking skills in a more creative and artistic way. Brock started his full-time company, Davis Designs, in 2017 and has since created everything from light fixtures to this amazing public art sculpture. All biographies found at: Spirit of the Sandbaggers. “Artists,” n.d. https://spiritofthesandbagger.com/artists/.
Karen Bakke (Contributing Artist) Karen has been working as a professional artist since 1976. She began focusing exclusively on fine art in 1995 doing large murals and commissioned canvas paintings. Karen has produced works for an impressive number of both commercial and residential locations including cathedrals, hospitals, schools, museums, government buildings as well as private homes. She describes her style as realism with a touch of impressionism. Karen plays a vital role in the FM arts community and has become known as one of the area’s most respected artists.
Brock Davis (Contributing Artist) Originally from Dickinson, ND, Brock had spent most of his career welding in the oil fields until moving to Fargo in 2015. While he began working a welding job in the area, he was longing to focus his metalworking skills in a more creative and artistic way. Brock started his full-time company, Davis Designs, in 2017 and has since created everything from light fixtures to this amazing public art sculpture. All biographies found at: Spirit of the Sandbaggers. “Artists,” n.d. https://spiritofthesandbagger.com/artists/.
Extent
2 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Overview
This collection contains records pertaining to the Spirit of the Sandbaggers public art project, which is installed at the corner of 2nd Street and 1st Avenue in Fargo, North Dakota. This collection includes records from the request for proposals in 2020 up to the press releases upon the installment of the art in May, 2022. This collection was created by Mike Benson who is a member of the Fargo Lions Club. The final artistic team was Benson, Karen Bakke, and Brock Davis. Specific items included in this collection are items that include the original call for art, various artists proposals for the project, artist profiles, references, lighting, insurance documents, press releases, meeting minutes, donations/fundraising records, sculpture mock-ups, models, dedication information, and ribbon-cutting ceremony materials.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Mike Benson (2022-002irs#).
Legal Status
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Spirit of the Sandbagger Papers
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu