A striking new public art installation has taken center stage outside the Allianz Field stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota. The towering steel sculpture, named The Calling, depicts a majestic loon, Minnesota’s state bird, frozen mid-call with its wings fully outstretched. Designed by renowned Scottish artist Andy Scott, who is best known for his iconic Kelpies sculptures in Scotland, this new piece is both a homage to the region’s natural beauty and a bold statement for the local community.
The Artist Behind the Sculpture
Andy Scott’s name is perhaps most synonymous with the Kelpies—two 30-meter-high horse-head sculptures located in Falkirk, Scotland. These colossal works, modeled on Clydesdale horses, became a symbol of both Scottish culture and industrial heritage. Now, a decade after the Kelpies were completed, Scott has brought his artistry to the United States, unveiling a new monumental work—this time in Minnesota.
Scott’s long-time collaboration with his university friend Chris Dyson, a thermal engineer turned fabricator, has been instrumental in the realization of both the Kelpies and The Calling. Dyson and his wife, Emily Womack, run a fabrication company, Dyson and Womack, which handled the construction of the new loon sculpture in Minneapolis.
From Scotland to Minnesota: The Journey of The Calling
While the Kelpies were rooted in the Scottish landscape, The Calling pays tribute to Minnesota’s unique identity. The state bird, the loon, is a black-and-white waterfowl with a hauntingly beautiful call that is instantly recognizable. The Calling, standing 36 feet tall with a wingspan of 98 feet, was commissioned by Bill McGuire, the owner of Minnesota United Football Club, to sit proudly outside the club’s new stadium, Allianz Field, in St. Paul.
Andy Scott admits that before he was offered the commission, he didn’t know much about the loon aside from hearing its call sampled in dance tracks during his early days in Glasgow’s Sub Club in the 1990s. But after diving into research about the bird and its symbolism to Minnesotans, Scott created a design that resonates deeply with the area’s natural and cultural identity.
“I sometimes feel like I’m the last dinosaur in town,” said Scott, reflecting on his traditional methods of sculpting by hand. “But it’s pleasing to see clients still appreciate that bespoke, handcrafted element.”
The steel construction was completed using the same shipbuilding techniques that helped bring the Kelpies to life, ensuring the same level of precision and durability. The sculpture’s design uses 65 steel pieces, which were assembled on-site in Minneapolis over the course of 10 days, with the community watching the work take shape.
The Calling: A Statement of Strength and Fluidity
At its core, The Calling serves as a bold symbol of strength and agility. The outstretched wings and head thrown back suggest both a defensive posture and an almost ethereal quality, as though the bird is both grounded in reality and soaring through space. Scott hopes the design reflects the spirit of Minnesota United, symbolizing the power and grace of the team. “It’s indicative of the strength of the team,” Scott says, “and the way the air flows through the metal is provocative—it shows speed, lightness, and agility.”
But beyond its aesthetic impact, The Calling has become a symbol of hope for the surrounding Midway neighborhood, which has undergone a tumultuous few years marked by the aftermath of the George Floyd protests and the COVID-19 pandemic. The installation has been described as a catalyst for renewal in a community that is slowly recovering from social and economic challenges.
Dan Wade, a local resident and fan of both the football club and its growing collection of public art, notes the transitional nature of the neighborhood. “It’s an area which falls between so many different sections of Minneapolis St. Paul,” he said. “The development of the stadium is one step towards revitalizing the area, and the sculpture feels like it’s part of that change.”
Controversy and Criticism: Not Everyone Is Impressed
While the reception to The Calling has been largely positive, not all reactions have been enthusiastic. Local artist Fox Willis, who lives in the neighborhood, voiced her discontent with the piece. From her perspective, the sculpture, while powerful, fails to provide the kind of connection to the community that it could have. “From an art perspective, the piece is honestly underwhelming,” Willis wrote. “It’s been done. Yawn.”
Willis also expressed frustration that the commission didn’t go to a local artist. “If this sculpture was really to better the community, the commissioner would have found a local Midway artist to design it,” she argued, highlighting a common critique of large-scale public art projects that bring outside artists into a community without providing opportunities for local talent.
Scott is well aware of such criticisms but maintains that public art is not always meant to address every local issue directly. “With public art, you’re never going to please all the people all the time,” he said. “But as an artist, I try. I aim for wide-ranging appeal.”
A Monument for the Future
Regardless of the criticism, the overall response to The Calling has been overwhelmingly positive. The people of St. Paul have embraced the sculpture, which has become a permanent and bold fixture outside Allianz Field. Some see it as a symbol of the resilience of both the football team and the community as a whole.
“There’s an element of trust about translating ideas to the scale you see now,” said Chris Dyson, who worked alongside Scott on the project. “It has to be done by hand, and that’s something special.”
As for Scott, he’s proud of the impact his work has had, saying, “It looks like it’s always been there, and always will be.”
