The Night That Can Never Happen Again
The Holidazzle festival moved to Loring Park in 2017, bringing nightly fireworks to the heart of Minneapolis each December. That first year I tried photographing the fireworks from the park itself. For 2018, I wanted something bigger. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden sits directly across Interstate 94 from Loring Park, and I had one thought: if the fireworks launched from the right position, I might be able to put the Spoonbridge and Cherry, the skyline, and the fireworks together in a single frame.
I had no way to confirm it would work until I was actually there.
I walked the Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge first, trying to scout the launch site, but couldn’t quite pinpoint it. So I went back down into the Sculpture Garden, chose the position that felt right, set up my tripod, and waited. For forty minutes I stood in the cold while festival-goers walked past on their way to Loring Park, wondering out loud what I was even trying to photograph. I didn’t move.
When the first fireworks launched, I made one small adjustment to my framing. The skyline glowed to the left. The Spoonbridge and Cherry anchored the center. Fireworks burst to the right, exactly the way I had imagined it. The wind moved the smoke across the skyline within minutes. I had only a handful of usable frames before the moment was gone.
It was enough.
Three Panels for Three Favorite Things
The composition splits naturally into three acts, which makes this an unusually fitting triptych: the skyline holding its own on one end, the Spoonbridge and Cherry anchoring the center, and the fireworks bursting on the other. As a triptych, each element gets its own panel to breathe, turning three Minneapolis favorites into a genuine architectural statement rather than a single wide frame competing for attention all at once.
Finished in High Gloss Metal
The contrast between the deep night sky, the lit skyline, and the fireworks’ color was built for metal. The finish gives the shadows real depth and makes the lights and bursts glow as if lit from within. Every panel arrives ready to hang, straight out of the box.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the triptych install, and does it need special hardware?
Each metal panel arrives with hanging hardware already attached, so no separate framing or drilling into the print itself is required. Panels hang independently, side by side, with a small reveal between them.
How do I make sure the panels line up?
Panels are labeled in the order they should hang. We recommend using a level and a measuring tape to keep an even reveal, about 1" to 1.25" depending on size, between each panel as you mount them.
What size should I order?
Since this piece spans multiple panels, it helps to map out the total width and height on your wall with painter’s tape before ordering. Use the size chart above to match the footprint to your space.
Can I get a custom size?
Yes. If none of the listed sizes fit your wall, contact me with your dimensions, and I’ll quote a custom-fit triptych.
How long does production and shipping take?
Each triptych is made to order and typically ships within 8 business days.
Is my triptych returnable if I change my mind?
Each triptych is custom-produced and made to order, so all sales are final. If a panel arrives with a printing error or shipping damage, we’ll fix it and reprint at no cost to you.
Why is this composition unique?
The exact framing that made this shot possible no longer exists. Holidazzle’s fireworks no longer launch from this position, so this is the only photograph of its kind that can ever be made.
