This giant metal grasshopper sculpture can be seen at the Centennial Walkway in Kaleva. Photo by Mark Videan.
By Pat Stinson
KALEVA – A bakeless bake sale? Thanks to the pandemic, the 2021 St. Urho’s Day Bake Sale at Kaleva Art Gallery is happening without its signature sale of tasty treats, like Finnish nissua, grasshopper cookies and other goodies.
“We will forgo that baking and ask folks to donate money in lieu of (buying) goodies,” said art gallery spokesperson Cindy Asiala.
She said the public is invited to visit the gallery at 14449 Wuoski Avenue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 13, to make a donation. Then she suggested hopping over to Kaleva’s Centennial Walkway on Walta Street to see the giant grasshopper. The metal sculpture is 18 feet long and weighs 500 pounds.
Asiala explained that St. Urho’s Day, traditionally observed on March 16, celebrates driving the grasshoppers out of Finland, to keep them from destroying the grape crop.
It’s a cheeky myth thought up by a Finnish community member in Minnesota that appears to poke fun at that other March saint’s celebration. Neither Finland nor Minnesota is known as wine country.
The metal sculpture was crafted in 2000 by students in the Brethren Service Learning Class. The grasshopper is made of metal parts, such as shovels and Weber grill covers, welded together. Artist Andy Priest, of Silverline Welding in Wellston, worked with juniors and seniors at Kaleva Norman Dickson Schools in Brethren.
“They called (the sculpture) Farmer’s Nightmare, the one that got away!” she said, adding, “But crops are safe because the grasshopper is grounded.”
Asiala shared this recipe for those longing for a taste of the usual St. Urho’s Day celebration.
Grasshopper Cookies
Recipe by Brian Smith. Baked by Mary A. Grossnickle and Cindy Asiala, her daughter, for Kaleva Art Gallery St. Urho’s Day Bake Sale.
2 eggs
3 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1-2 T. grated orange peel
1 T. vanilla
1/2 cup roasted grasshoppers (use pecans, if desired)
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 cups flour
1 cup miniature chocolate chips
Beat butter, cream cheese and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs, orange rind, pecans and vanilla. Beat well. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
