Downtown Prior Lake now connects the city’s past with an artistic flair.

The city of Prior Lake’s Arts & Culture Committee is responsible for the new sculpture permanently installed at the intersection of Main and Eagle Creek avenues. The large metal sailboat is adorned with engraved plaques listing important events and dates in the city’s history that extend over nearly four centuries, beginning with the Dakota people who lived on local land in the mid-1600s.

The Arts & Culture Committee was responsible for coming up with the idea, along with overseeing the artistic design. Once that was chosen, members of the group identified dozens of dates and event options to include on the new sculpture, which were eventually narrowed down to the most significant in the city’s past.

The committee discussed options and hired artist Greg Mueller who has won numerous awards and grants in recent decades for his works of art. A native of Minnesota, his studio is headquartered in Lutsen, Minn., on the shores of Lake Superior. Many of his creations are designed specifically for outdoor spaces and can be found throughout the country.

The Arts & Culture Committee was formed as an entity of the Prior Lake Economic Development Authority in 2021 with the intent to develop more public art throughout Prior Lake and serve as a liaison between city government, cultural events and local organizations, according to Casey McCabe, Community Development Director. Other examples of initiatives brought forth by the committee in recent years include the large “Shore Life” mural on the Professional Building, downtown sidewalk etchings and the “Paint the Plow” annual activity sponsored by the public works department.

McCabe said the new sculpture has not yet been named, but a dedication ceremony will be held in the near future.