Edina’s own Nicholas Legeros took first place in Public Art Edina’s 10th annual People’s Choice Awards. The University of Minnesota alumnus, whose sculptures have been commissioned by many businesses and institutions across the Upper Midwest, received the $1,000 prize for his enormously popular Leaping Hare. The statue was created at Legeros’ studio and foundry in northeast Minneapolis and is poised mid-bound at Grandview Square.
3 Dancing Sand Hill Cranes by Wisconsonite Jim Dehne took second place and $750. Third place and $500 went to Iowa artist James Bearden for Argonaut. The second- and third-place sculptures can be found at West 50th Street and Grandview Square, respectively.
The 2014 competition marked the first time for a mobile voting app, in addition to traditional voting stations with paper ballots. Public Art Edina chair Barbara La Valleur noted that while Legeros’ sculpture leapt to a resounding win, a very close race among the remaining competitors indicates not only the quality and diversity of submissions, but also public engagement and appreciation for the exhibit.
