Official Opening
Saturday, June 27, 2026
About Dancing for Joy
by The Myth Makers
What It Depicts
A celebration of Detroit Lakes and the Great Egret
Artists
The Myth Makers: Donna Dodson & Andy Moerlein
Media
Bamboo, paint, wire ties, reflectors, mixed media 2026
Story & History
Everyone in Minnesota knows the excitement of the ever-changing seasons. Residents and visitors to Detroit Lakes relish in the rich variety of recreation opportunities available throughout the year. Located where three biomes converge along the Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail, Ortenstone Gardens and Detroit Lakes create a unique landscape. Tall grass prairie, deciduous forests, and conifer forests all merge, along with wetlands and prairie potholes. This ecology captivates hearts and awakens joy in everyone.
The Great Egret plumes were highly prized in the fashion industry, particularly for hats. They were driven to near extinction by plume-hunters in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was established to prohibit the killing of birds for their feathers, but the Great Egrets were slow to return to abundance. In 1939 DDT was introduced as an effective and common insecticide. Slowly we discovered DDT accumulated in fish and realized it was a disruptor to eggshell strength. The Great Egret’s diet is primarily fish and as DDT accumulated in their populations, their breeding success reached nearly zero. Their populations continued to tumble and in the 1950s there were no breeding pairs in the region.
After Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring became an international best seller, the Conservation Movement awakened worldwide. In 1972 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of the pesticide DDT in order to protect human health, birds and the environment. Since this time many American birds made a dramatic recovery. The Great Egret is again nesting in the Detroit Lakes region. In 1985 there were only a reported 22 active Great Egret colonies in the state. Today, that total is over 1,000 nesting pairs statewide, with many in this region.
This sculpture celebrates this important environmental story of resilience and recovery. The lesson here has us optimistic and DANCING FOR JOY!
Thank you to Project 412 Wave Makers for bringing this exhibition to Detroit Lakes.
Special Words
"Dancing for Joy celebrates an important environmental success story. It reminds us that positive change is possible when communities come together to protect the natural world."
The Myth Makers
About the Artists
The Myth Makers
Donna Dodson
Andy Moerlein
The collaboration between Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein is born from a mutual love of the wild. Dodson takes inspiration from the mysterious nature of birds that spark her imagination. Moerlein takes inspiration from events in the natural world that leave visual marks and strike a narrative chord in the artist.
Although monumental in scale, their ephemeral works are temporary in nature. Made from natural materials, they are site specific and respond to their local audience. Meaning to only last 3-5 years, they appear, fade, and disappear, adding a chapter to the life stories in their communities.
The Myth Makers have completed over 50 projects in the past 16 years. They have worked in 19 states, plus Switzerland, Vietnam and Taiwan. Their work has won national awards and state recognition(s).
