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BURNT MATCHSTICK

This prophetic, 40-foot sculpture of fabricated steel and backlit opalescent glass
by Karl Unnasch has its forever-home at
Art in Motion on the Lake Wobegon Trail in Holdingford, Minnesota
 
- Created 2015 -

Burnt Matchstick





With poignant relevance in today's world, BURNT MATCHSTICK is a prophetic call to reflection on the boundless potential of even the smallest amount of transformative force.

Touching on notions of fragility, ephemerality, transience and beyond, this 40-foot tower of backlit opalescent glass is a vast play on scale that captures a fleeting moment in time: the split-second after which a burning wooden matchstick has been extinguished by a gust of air.  

Impactful and monumental by day, the revolutionary outdoor piece turns into a glowing beacon of richly palpitating color by night. 



Continue your browse below.



Image: BURNT MATCHSTICK during its stay at Civic Center Park in Newport Beach, California 

Burnt Matchstick




BURNT MATCHSTICK's Journey

Prized as the largest – and one of the most well-known – works by Minnesotan sculptor and stained glass artist Karl Unnasch, BURNT MATCHSTICK was initially funded in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. It had debuted in 2015 at the Rochester Art Center as a temporary exhibit; then, in 2017, it was moved to Newport Beach, California, for a lengthy appearance at the Sculpture in Civic Center Park exhibition. While there, the L.A. Times named it a favorite of both the arts panel and the public through an online survey. 

Meanwhile, Minnesota community-builder Greg Konsor heard of BURNT MATCHSTICK’s availability for permanent placement and became interested in securing it for his expanding project, Art in Motion on the Lake Wobegon Trail. The site hosts rotating exhibits in its art gallery, weekly music performances, an open art studio, community events, and a café featuring offerings from local providers. Outdoors, the expansive grounds offer space for walks, exploration, and reflection – and, in October 2022, they also became this iconic sculpture's forever-home.


Images of BURNT MATCHSTICK at the Art in Motion site are expected shortly - stay tuned.



Foreground & background photos: Cat Thisius
Background photo on top block: Cat Thisius



 




Burnt Matchstick



 

 
“Karl Unnasch is a mid-west whisperer and national treasure.” 

— Chris Pennington,
        Twin Cities Public Arts Facilitator



Photo: Cat Thisius




Burnt Matchstick



“A matchstick — an innocuous,
tiny bit of wood. But it is also a starting point for something potentially much, much greater than itself. In its burnt state it begs the staggering question... of what the implications might have been.”

— Karl Unnasch,
       Creator of Burnt Matchstick



Foreground & background photos: Cat Thisius




Burnt Matchstick





“... it will inspire generations to come!”

          — Kokomo Opalescent Glass Co.




“…[The] arts panel’s top choice…”

          — Los Angeles Times   





"... an awe-inspiring piece." 

          — Shannon Fitzgerald, former Executive Director of the Rochester Art Center





Photo: Cat Thisius




Burnt Matchstick

Articles & Press: 

· Into the Abiscuit Art Show, Podcast with Drew Morgan and Doctor DJ Lewis, April 14, 2021

· Spotlight on "Burnt Matchstick" - Civic Center Park Sculpture Exhibition, Miriam Baker, Newport Beach Television, City of Newport Beach YouTube Channel, April 2020

· Artful Additions, Ashley Ryan, Newport Beach Magazine, p. 32-34, Sep/Oct 2018

· Finalists for latest Newport Civic Center sculptures go to City Council, Hillary Davis, LA Times, Sep. 15, 2017

· For Newport's park art, panel's picks echo public preferences, Hillary Davis, LA Times, Aug. 25, 2017

· Online survey picks public's favorites for next round of Newport sculpture garden, Hillary Davis, LA Times, Aug. 11, 2017

· Local artist lights a match outside Rochester Art Center, Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy, Bluff Country Reader, Oct. 15, 2015 



Press Release:

October 2022:
Iconic Unnasch Sculpture Returns to Minnesota

July 2015:
Public Artist Karl Unnasch Installs 40-ft. Sculpture Outside Rochester Art Center 



Foreground & background photos: Cat Thisius

Burnt Matchstick



Special thanks go out to: 

· The Konsor Family and Art in Motion on the Lake Wobegon Trail
· Mary Bruno and Bruno Press
· Newport Beach Sculpture in Civic Center Park Exhibition
· The Newport Beach Arts Commission and The Newport Beach Arts Foundation
· The City of Newport Beach, California
· The City of Rochester, Minnesota
· Minnesota State Arts Board
· Sam Spiczka, Mandy Spiczka, Zoe Spiczka
· Paul Spiczka
· Roberto Visani
· ALL PRO Powder Coating
· Hawk & Son’s Inc.
· Knutson Construction
· Kris Douglas
· Phil Ahnen
· Chris Delisle
· Cat Thisius and CATS Photography
· Kristi Wacker
· Richard Unnasch
· Andy Heimdahl and the Pilot Mound Flipping Crew
· Steve and Deb Erickson
· Joe and Cindy Forrer
· Ron Cooley
· Michael Cimino
· Eric Walton
· Ian Meisner
· Sqvibl and LilBoi 








Foreground photo: Cat Thisius