 To Albert Lea from Frederikshavn is a wooden exposé about the immigration of the Jensen family to America from Denmark. The exposé is a representation of the United States and a section European countries at the beginning of the 20th century. The state of Arizona is included even though it did not become a state until 1912. One’s first observation will likely and understandably center on the size of Denmark, the state of New York and Minnesota in relationship to the other countries and states. The reason for making these significantly larger is to focus or “turn the spotlight” on the home country and two states where the Jensen’s settled. The ship is a resemblance of the Oskar II on which the Jensens sailed to the U.S. There are 147 pieces of wood in the exposé. Each European country as well as each U.S. state and the ship was individually cut and shaped from 33 different hardwoods. No paints or stains were used. Only a clear gel varnish was applied to the woods to enhance the grains and for protection. This exposé could have been made entirely with hardwoods from local sources. However, considering the significance that the exposé represented, using local woods for Denmark and Minnesota simply would not match that level of meaning and worth. Therefore, from the very start, the goal was set to find and acquire wood from Frederikshavn, Denmark and from Albert Lea, Minnesota. The wood for Denmark came from a “beam” that was part of a barn built between 1890 and 1905 near Frederikshavn, Denmark and demolished in 2003 according to the Certificate of Authenticity issued by the Daugbjerg Building Reclamation Association. The certificate indicates the wood to be 100 to 115 years old. However, the actual age of the “beam” is closer to 200 years old when the rings in the wood are counted and added to the age of the barn. The “Oak from the Courthouse.” For the state of Minnesota, initially the plan was to acquire pieces of Poplar wood that grows in the state. However, Vera (Jensen) Nelson and her husband Ken live in Albert Lea and began to search for wood to use in the exposé. The Freeborn County Courthouse, built in 1888, is located in Albert Lea and was going through a restoration process. Because of Ken’s involvement over many years in community service and restoration projects, he was able to acquire a piece of oak from the 1888 Courthouse. The wood was in very good condition and was used for the state of Minnesota. The finish on the oak was not disturbed and left as is. Only a clear gel varnish was applied to protect the wood. |
