Aberdeen to have art connection to new Vikings stadium [Argus Leader]

ABERDEEN – Aberdeen will have an art connection to the Minnesota Vikings’ new home when it opens later this year.

The American News reports Ben Victor, former artist-in-residence at Northern State University, will have a sculpture depicting a Viking on ship as part of artwork in the new U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Victor says the 42-inch sculpture will be inside the stadium.

“As soon as we saw the piece, we fell in love with it and wanted to make sure we found a home for it,” said Tanya Dreesen, vice president of partnership activation and special projects for the Minnesota Vikings. “The ship scene for us is a very strong, iconic piece for our brand.”

Victor, who currently resides in Boise, Idaho, said he has been a fan of the team since moving to the Aberdeen area about 15 years ago.

“You pretty much have to be a Vikings fan if you’re gonna live in Aberdeen, South Dakota,” he said. “I learned to love them.”

Dreesen said Victor’s piece is part of a push to support the arts and artists with ties to the team. There are more than 500 original pieces, including paintings and photography, from area artists. Dreesen said former Vikings players Jim Marshall, Matt Blair and Carl Eller have pieces in the collection.

A call for art in January 2015 drew more than 1,100 entries, Dressen said. The goal is a museum-quality art gallery for everyone’s enjoyment.

“I think they’re going to feel like they either learned a lot about the community that maybe they hadn’t before, or they may develop a new appreciation of art just from the atmosphere that it will create,” Dreesen said.

http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2016/04/03/aberdeen-art-connection-new-vikings-stadium/82586582/

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