I wonder how many people know that there is a sculpture park in Montrose, SD just south of I-90. Well, according to the guest book, at least a dozen people a day know about the Porter Sculpture Park. There are more than fifty sculptures in the park, all made of scrap metal. Some are low (three or four feet tall), but most are at least ten feet tall. Interspersed with the definitely kitschy sculptures are poems composed by the artist-in-residence, who apparently spends his day sitting in a toolshed on the property while pondering new sculptures and poems. The entire metal array is arranged in a field (watch out for dried cow pies and jumping grasshoppers). The poems are actually pretty good and provide philosophical insights about the individual sculptures.
Yellow stick man greeted us as we entered the park.
A blue snake. With a wing?
Sledding girl going down an apparently very steep hill.
Dancers looking carefree as they dance around an odd animal (a giant seated grasshopper?) in the field.
Plants that bloom fish instead of flowers.
A hammer pulling a nail (see the nail in the claw).
A fly holding a fly swatter.
Titled “Magic Dragon.” (Puff?) The artist told us people like to get engaged under the dragon. Why?
Oversized flowers in an oversized pot standing on the SD prairie.
“The Scream”? This one must be the birds’ favorite. Check out the white streaks.
Little Miss Muffet and the spider that frightened her.
This bull is over 60 feet tall and is the signature piece. It’s the single piece that can be seen from I-90 to tempt visitors.
This was my favorite, but the sharp object (a thorn?) stabbing the palm of the hand is a little off-putting.