Snake Restoration Project 2025
We’re excited that after 20 years of enduring Minnesota’s weather, our iconic sculpture Snake will soon be restored to its original vibrancy. With support from a Minnesota Historical Society grant and Minnesota Energy Resources, conservators from KCI Conservation will begin cleaning, repairing, and restoring the sculpture’s surface, especially its coppery scales. We’ll keep you updated on the progress—you’ll be amazed at the transformation!
About Snake
Materials: Bronze Powder, Shaped Concrete
Artist: Anthony Caponi
Date: 1982-2004
With the head of a python, the body of an anaconda, and the tail of a rattlesnake, this creature is like no other snake. It also has an unusual appetite having swallowed a figure, pig and alligator, all from the imagination of Caponi’s granddaughter. Snake is made of cement. The head is the only part that was molded and cast in place. The body was made from wet cement and continually shaped until the material hardened. This earthwork is both a monumental piece of art and a functioning retaining wall.
The Creation of Snake
Thank You Project Sponsors
Snake Restoration Process
Before & After
Community Rock Snake
In 2025, we celebrated the restoration of Snake, a beloved sculpture at Caponi Art Park, by inviting the community to add their own decorated rocks to a growing rock snake. Together, we created a vibrant artwork that reflected the creativity and care of our visitors. With this project, we honored the place snakes hold in nature—keeping ecosystems in balance—and in culture, where they are often seen as symbols of transformation, healing, and renewal. The community rock snake remains as a colorful reminder of this celebration and of the many hands that helped bring it to life.
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