Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies is Minnesota's largest wholesale and retail supplier of landscape hardgoods, masonry products, water garden supplies and custom stone fabrication.

Public Art Saint Paul and Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies Announce Minnesota Rocks! the International Stone Carving Symposium

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Dec.15, 2005) — Stone. Its permanence and beauty have made it an essential element of buildings, fortresses, and monuments throughout history. Its use in structures like the Great Pyramids, Ancient Temples, Medieval Cathedrals, the Great Wall of China and even the Minnesota State Capitol has had a lasting impact on cultures throughout the world. Now, Public Art Saint Paul (PASP), a nonprofit organization, and Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies are bringing together fourteen master stone carvers from around the world and Minnesota for a unique event that celebrates creativity in its most basic form – an artist and a block of stone. The International Stone Carving Symposium will be known as Minnesota Rocks!

The mission of the Symposium is to promote international understanding through stone carving while educating the public," says Christine Podas-Larson, president of Public Art Saint Paul. The public will see artists at work, while learning about the creative uses of stone in art, in city building, and in homes."

From mid-May through June 2006, Minnesota Rocks! will shine a public spotlight on the ancient art of stone carving. Artists from Japan , Germany , China , Mexico , Zimbabwe , Finland , Egypt , Italy and Minnesota will work in an open-air studio on the lawn of Saint Paul College . The site, at the highly visible intersection of Kellogg Boulevard and Summit Avenue , will give the public a rare glimpse at the creativity and discipline required to work with this elemental material. Using stone from Minnesota quarries, the artists will create sculptures that will be permanently installed in public settings in Saint Anthony, Vadnais Heights and throughout Saint Paul.

Minnesota holds some of the earth's oldest, most desirable and valuable stone," says Steve Hedberg, who as CEO and founder of Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies, has worked around Minnesota stone all his life. Minnesota stone can be found in buildings and monuments all over the world, including The National Museum of the American Indian and at other sites on the Mall in Washington DC."

Given Hedberg's expertise when it comes to Minnesota stone, it's natural that Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies has signed on as the presenting sponsor of Minnesota Rocks! We're excited to support Public Art Saint Paul and this event in sharing the rich history of Minnesota stone and its presence not only in our state but throughout the world," says Hedberg.

In conjunction with the symposium, Public Art Saint Paul has entered into a partnership with the St. Paul Public Schools to develop a symposium-related rich curriculum aligned with Minnesota and National Arts and Science Standards. The curriculum, for third through fifth graders, will be introduced into classrooms beginning in January. About 3,000 students will take part in activities integrating science, arts and social studies. Options include architecture and geology tours and field trips to the stone carving site in May.

About Public Art Saint Paul

Established in 1987, the nonprofit Public Art Saint Paul is the compelling voice and prime mover in creating and caring for art in St. Paul's civic realm. Information about Minnesota Rocks! and Public Art Saint Paul programs can be found on www.publicartstpaul.org .

About Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies

Founded in 1987, Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies is Minnesota's largest wholesale and retail supplier of landscape hardgoods and masonry products including natural stone, manufactured stone, water garden supplies and custom stone fabrication. In addition to the Minnesota Rocks! International Stone Carving Symposium, Hedberg is proud to sponsor this year's Parade of Landscapes, the Luxury Home Tour and the Twin Cities Parade of Ponds, an event that benefits the Children's Cancer Research Fund. For more information, call 763-545-4400 or visit www.hedberglandscapeandmasonry.com .

Supporters of Minnesota Rocks! International Stone Carving Symposium

Organizations supporting Minnesota Rocks! currently include: Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies, The Minnesota Ceramic Tile Contractor's Association, The Ceramic Tile and Allied Crafts Union, the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, the McKnight Foundation, The St. Paul Travelers Foundation Arts and Diversity Fund, Carmichael Lynch Spong, Bolger Publications, Mhiripiri Gallery, Saint Paul Neighborhood STAR, the St. Anthony Sister City Association and the Vadnais Heights Foundation.

Contact:

Tina Plant
Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies
(763) 392-5909
tplant@hedbergaggregates.com

Crystal Farstad
Carmichael Lynch Spong
(612) 375-8505
cfarstad@clynch.com

Christine Podas-Larson
Public Art St. Paul
(651) 290-0921
cpl@publicartstpaul.org

Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies provides landscape and masonry materials to retail homeowners and contractors in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin including Afton, Albertville, Andover, Anoka, Apple Valley, Arden Hills, Bayport, Big Lake, Blaine, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Buffalo, Burnsville, Cambridge, Champlin, Chanhassen, Chaska, Circle Pines, Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids, Corcoran, Cottage Grove, Crystal, Deephaven, Delano, Eagan, East Bethel, Eden Prairie, Edina, Elk River, Elko New Market, Empire, Excelsior, Falcon Heights, Farmington, Forest Lake, Fridley, Golden Valley, Grant, Ham Lake, Hastings, Hopkins, Hudson, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, Isanti, Lakeville, Jordan, Lino Lakes, Little Canada, Mahtomedi, Mankato, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Maplewood, Mendota Heights, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Mound, Mounds View, New Brighton, New Hope, New Richmond, North Oaks, Northfield, Oakdale, Orono, Osceola, Otsego, Plymouth, Prescott, Prior Lake, Ramsey, Red Wing, Richfield, Richmond, River Falls, Robbinsdale, Rogers, Rosemount, Savage, Shakopee, Shoreview, Shorewood, South St. Paul, Spring Lake Park, St. Anthony, St. Cloud, St. Francis, St. Louis Park, St. Michael, St. Paul, Stillwater, Taylor Falls, Vadnais Heights, Victoria, Waconia, Wayzata, West St. Paul, White Bear Lake, Woodbury, Wyoming. Products and services provided include sand, gravel, black dirt (soil), fill material, dumping, recycled concrete, base material, compost, decorative rock, rip rap, glacial boulders, fieldstone, mulch, wood chips, woodchips, landscape poly, fabric, geogrid (Mirafi, SRW), geotextile (SRW), erosion control blanket, silt fencing, adhesives and sealers (Pave Tech, SRW, TK, Techniseal), polymeric sand, edging, edgers, concrete pavers (Holland, tumbled, permeable, Anchor, Belgard, Interlock, Silver Creek), clay pavers (Belden, Endicott, Pine Hall Pavers, Yankee Hill, Purington used recycled, Missouri used recycled), retaining wall block (Anchor, Interlock, Rockwood, Belgard), slabs, clay pots, outdoor fireplaces (Stone Age, , fire pits, fire rings, fire tables, brick ovens, outdoor kitchens, grills, grill islands (Necessories, Harmony, Belgard), stone benches, stone tables, curbing, manufactured boulders, drain tile, sump baskets, PVC, NDS, pop up emitters, water gardening supplies, water treatments, pond kits, waterfalls, fountains, aerators, bogs and golf putting greens. Landscape natural stone options for patios and walls including flagstone and steppers irregular (Aqua blue, carnelian granite, charcoal granite, Rockville granite, Chilton limestone, Fond du Lac limestone, hickory gray limestone, Minnesota Dolomite, Kasota stone, bay-de-noc, desert bronze, plum creek, Virginia slate, Minnesota Iron Range stone, Rocky Mountain Quartzite gold silver and charcoal, New York Bluestone, Pennsylvania Lilac, highland brown, sandy creek, Tennessee Crab, Black Hills rustic, caramel cream, carmel cream, chico buff, Colorado buff, Colorado red, Cortez, Minnesota gold, and mahogany), flagstone cut and patterned (Chilton, Fond du Lac, Indiana Limestone, New York bluestone, Carmel Creek, Sandy Creek, Tumbled marble, Rainforest Quartzite, Tropical porphyry, wallstone, retaining wall stone (granite, Blue River, Chilton, Desert Bronze, Fond du Lac, Hickory Gray, Minnesota Dolomite, Kasota Stone, Waukesha White, Virginia Slate, Bluestone, chestnut, glacier bay, highland brown, mission springs, sandy creek, aqua grantique), steps (Carnelian and charcoal granite, sawn fieldstone boulders, Blue River limestone, Cedar Ridge, Chilton, Desert bronze, Fond du Lac, Minnesota Dolomite, Kasota stone, Minnesota Iron Range Virginia slate, Bluestone, Chestnut, highland brown, Sandy Creek), boulders and decorative outcroppings, stone paver paving stones (granite, used and recycled granite, Lannon Templeton, Glacier Bay), stone border edging, pebbles (Jade and Mexican Beach), benches, basalt columns and bird baths, masonry full veneer and natural thin veneer, mortar, bagged cement, Buechel Stone, Halquist Stone, manufactured stone, Eldorado Stone, Cascade Stone, Landmark Stone, cobble, Glen Gery brick, cast stone, cultured stone, slabs, cutstone, stone cutting, stone fabrication, hearths and mantles, stucco supplies, angle iron, lath, rebar, moisture control, clay brick, concrete block, chimney flues, fireplace, fire brick, stone sealers and cleaners, stone delivery.