Press Release
(Detroit Lakes, MN – June 17, 2026) — A new large-scale sculpture inspired by the resilience of nature and the joy of conservation success is coming to Ortenstone Gardens & Sculpture Park in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Created by acclaimed collaborative artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein, known collectively as The Myth Makers, Dancing for Joy is a monumental bamboo sculpture celebrating the return of the Great Egret.
Standing as both a work of art and a tribute to environmental stewardship, the sculpture tells the story of the Great Egret, a bird once driven to the brink of extinction by plume hunting and later by the effects of DDT. By the 1950s, breeding Great Egrets had virtually disappeared from the region. Following the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and the ban of DDT in 1972, populations began to recover. Today, the Great Egret has returned to Minnesota in significant numbers, with more than 1,000 nesting pairs documented statewide.
Constructed from bamboo, paint, wire ties, reflectors, and mixed media elements, the sculpture embodies The Myth Makers’ signature approach of creating monumental yet temporary artworks from natural materials. Their installations are designed to interact with their surroundings and gradually weather over time, becoming part of the landscape before eventually fading away.
The collaboration between Dodson and Moerlein is rooted in a shared fascination with the natural world. Together, they create site-specific works that connect art, ecology, and community. “Dancing for Joy celebrates an important environmental success story,” said the artists. “It reminds us that positive change is possible when communities come together to protect the natural world.” Over the past 16 years, The Myth Makers have completed more than 50 projects across 19 states as well as Switzerland, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Their work has received national awards and state recognition for its innovative approach to public art and environmental storytelling.
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Experience Dancing for Joy at the exhibit opening
Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 10 am
at Ortenstone Gardens & Sculpture Park
(1646 Randolph Road, Detroit Lakes, MN).
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Thank you to Project 412 Wave Maker supporters for bringing this exhibition to Detroit Lakes.
Learn more at Ortenstone Gardens • Myth Makers • Dancing for Joy and TheMythMakers.org
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Media Contacts
Carmen McCullough – Project 412 Marketing
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 218-850-1413
