Standing over three stories high with an impressive wingspan of 89 feet, all constructed from more than 5,000 hand-cut metal “feathers,” the massive installation of Minnesota’s state bird at the entrance to University Park at United Village is far from a “common” loon. Allianz Field’s newest addition is a beautifully designed testament to the state of Minnesota, its people, their strength, and their legacy. Moreover, the hope is that this piece will serve as a galvanizing symbol for this community and the North Star State for years to come.

This magnificent work of art, titled The Calling, was conceptualized and created by international artist Andy Scott. It was commissioned by the William and Nadine McGuire Family Foundation and funded with the help of the Minnesota State Arts Council and the Snelling Midway Redevelopment. Minnesota United Managing Partner Dr. Bill McGuire’s love for the arts, coupled with his vision for the new United Village development, played a key role in commissioning The Calling as one of the first major projects designed to enhance the area’s aesthetic appeal while also strengthening the connections it holds for the community, its residents, and visitors alike.

“We feel strongly that art can be an important part of communities and should be accessible, have wide appeal, and be an integral part of the area,” McGuire said. “The appropriate site for it was clearly the most prominent and visible location possible, where it could be optimally viewed by and interact with the people in the community, Minnesotans from throughout the state, and visitors from everywhere.”

For Scottish-born artist Andy Scott, whose style combines traditional draftsmanship with contemporary fabrication techniques, large-scale projects do not mean cutting corners. His distinctive welded steel assembly method involves meticulously creating small steel sections and panels by hand, which are then assembled to form the final sculpture. The result is both powerful and awe-inspiring, drawing admiration from those who experience his work in its intended environment.

With The Calling, Scott sought to depict the Minnesota state bird at its most majestic. He chose to represent the loon emerging from the water and spreading its wings as if preparing to take flight, a pose he felt best captured its awe-inspiring beauty. Constructing such a large-scale piece posed its own set of challenges. To ensure stability in this dramatic pose, Scott first began assembling the statue in his Los Angeles studio. Once the design was completed, the transportation of this colossal artwork to Saint Paul required partial deconstruction. Scott documented the logistics on his Instagram page, where you can see all those logistics in action, as the artist was able to capture drone footage of the massive semi-truck and trailer that hauled each section of the statue on its cross-country journey.

The components of The Calling arrived at the corner of Snelling and University Avenues at the end of September and were reassembled piece by piece over the following days. Now, as it stands tall outside of Allianz Field, Scott’s ultimate hope is that his magnificent work of art gives Minnesotans a sense of belonging.

“I hope that they'll own it and feel proud to have it as part of their environment. I'd love to think that it might spin off in some way into the local community, in terms of an emblem and as a symbol. I hope they're proud to have it, and I feel very honored that they are going to have it.”

For Dr. Bill McGuire and his vision for the United Village project moving forward, he sees the installation of The Calling as just the first of many ways he hopes to contribute to the continued advancement of the Midway community over the next 18 months.

“I hope it becomes an integral part of the broader community,” McGuire said. “A place that highlights what makes it a great place to live—the environment, sustainability, like we’re going to see in the office building—a place to visit. It should promote the vitality of the area and draw on the next stage of a pretty dynamic history, one that’s had its ups and downs, and something that continues to spur growth. I think communities need certain things, and one of those is a passion for where we live and what it represents.”