Co-sculptor of Walker icon dies

Spoonbridge and Cherry
The Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The sculpture was created by the husband-and-wife artistic team of Claes Oldenberg and Coosje van Bruggen. Coosje van Bruggen passed away on Saturday, January 10, 2009. She was 61 years old.
MPR Photo/Steve Mullis

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the home of one of Minneapolis's best-known international icons. Originally commissioned by the Walker Art Center, Spoonbridge and Cherry has been around for 20 years.

The 51-and-a-half foot sculpture was created by the husband and wife artistic team of Claes Oldenberg and Coosje van Bruggen who are world-famous for whimsical large-scale projects.

This Saturday Coosje van Bruggen died at the age of 66.

To remember van Bruggen and her work, Minnesota Public Radio's "All Things Considered" talked to Martin Friedman, the director of the Walker Art Center when Spoonbridge and Cherry was commissioned.

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