On Saturday we completed our annual pilgrimage to Franconia Sculpture Park, which remains as magical as ever. (In my understated way, I referred to it as the 8th wonder of the world when we first visited in 2011.)

This trip was further enhanced by the presence of our friends Katrina, Jason, and Hendrick who moved to Minnesota at the beginning of the summer. They were part of our birthing group in the bay area, and Hendrick was born just a month before Griff. It’s been fun seeing Griffin and Hendrick play together as full-size kids, when they used to gurgle on a play mat together back in Oakland. We’re grateful that both of our families have landed in the same place again.

Bridget Beck’s fabulous “Playstation.”

Griff aloft

One of the Tuskeegee airmen in Michael Richards’ sculpture, “Are You Down?”

Maggie and Sarah by Bridget Beck’s whimsical “Poetry Studio”

Maggie climbing in Bridget Beck’s “Poetry Studio”

Griffin climbing in Bridget Beck’s “Poetry Studio”

Hendrick, Maggie, and Griffin in the giant tiger lily (by Saya Woolfalk)

Maggie and Sarah with Mike Rathbun’s monumental “Parade” in the background.

A favorite with the kids — a fallen outhouse.

Maggie inside “Playstation.”

Griffin and Hendrick

I tried to mention the artists and the titles of their sculptures in the captions, though I didn’t record the outhouse one and can’t find it online. Most of the artists haves pages linked from a page at the Franconia website.  They all have interesting stories, but I was particularly struck by the story of Michael Richards, the artist behind the “Are You Down?” sculpture featuring three Tuskeegee Airmen in a black sand circle. He created the original sculptures in resin in 2000, and then began a residency at the World Trade Center. He was killed on September 11, 2001. Franconia led a successful kickstarter campaign to have his pieces cast in bronze (his original intent). The fully realized piece was unveiled on September 11, 2012. It is the only permanent installation at the park.