For those traveling the winding curves of Minnesota’s Highway 61, the North Shore of Lake Superior often appears as a rugged, static monolith—a landscape of ancient volcanic rock and towering white pines. But for Diver Van Avery, a Minneapolis-based writer and public artist, this landscape is a living, breathing archive of human history and ecological resilience. As Sugarloaf Cove, a cherished nature preserve near Schroeder, Minnesota, prepares for a grand re-opening on July 11, 2026, Van Avery is inviting visitors to engage with this environment not just through their eyes, but through a curated auditory lens.
A Sanctuary Reclaimed: The History of Sugarloaf Cove
The transformation of Sugarloaf Cove is nothing short of miraculous. Decades ago, the site served as an industrial log storage facility, a remnant of the era when Minnesota’s timber industry stripped the landscape bare. Today, the area is a testament to the restorative power of nature.
“You learn right away when you’re there that it used to be clear-cut,” says Van Avery, who developed a deep, formative connection to the preserve during their teenage years. “It has—really in our lifetimes—come to be this forested place that feels wild. My little ecological-minded soul always felt touched by it.”
The preserve sits on a protected bay, shielded by geological wonders that predate human civilization by billions of years. Visitors walking the trails are surrounded by volcanic rock formations 1.1 billion years old, with scattered pebbles dating back 2.7 billion years. The land itself carries a complex heritage; the U.S. government acquired the site from the Ojibwe people via the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe. Today, the stewardship of this land is a collaborative effort: the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintains the protected beachfront, while the nonprofit Sugarloaf: The North Shore Stewardship Association manages the surrounding acreage and the nature center.
The Evolution of an Artistic Vision
Diver Van Avery’s work often bridges the gap between the unconventional and the communal. As a licensed therapist and artist, their practice is grounded in the belief that art can facilitate healing and deeper connection. From the "Poetry and Pie" events in Minneapolis’ Powderhorn Park—which emphasize the intersection of literature, community, and sustenance—to the "Poetry Mobile," a golf cart transformed into a writing studio, Van Avery has spent decades exploring how art can live in unexpected places.
When Van Avery first approached the team at Sugarloaf, the vision was grand and potentially ephemeral: a multimedia live performance. However, they soon pivoted to audio. The choice was deliberate.
“People listening to things through headphones have a unique, solitary experience that is also quite intimate,” Van Avery explains. “That felt really compelling to me.”
The partnership was solidified in 2024 with the debut of The Seeker, an audio project that explored climate anxiety and personal grief. The success of that initial collaboration paved the way for the ambitious dual projects premiering at the 2026 re-opening: The Successors and The Beholder.
Chronology of the 2026 Re-opening and Artistic Debut
The path to the July 11 re-opening has been a multi-year project involving significant facility upgrades and artistic coordination.
- 2021: The preserve hosts a major artistic installation by Sean Connaughty, featuring giant woven nests that highlight the "art of reciprocity." These structures remain on-site today, serving as physical anchors for the site’s artistic mission.
- 2024: Van Avery launches The Seeker, a meditative audio experience exploring climate change and personal loss, establishing a collaborative bond between the artist and the stewardship association.
- Early 2026: Split Rock Studios begins final renovations on the interior of the Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center, focusing on creating a more immersive educational space.
- June 21, 2026: Van Avery hosts their annual "Poetry and Pie" event in Minneapolis, building momentum for the upcoming North Shore premiere.
- July 11, 2026: The Grand Re-opening. The event, scheduled from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., marks the debut of the new nature center exhibits and the premiere of the new audio soundscapes.
The Soundscapes: A Deep Dive into The Successors and The Beholder
The new audio works are designed to be immersive, meditative experiences that visitors can stream while walking the preserve’s trails.
The Successors is a narrative-driven piece that explores the history and future of the site. Sound designer and composer Peter Morrow has crafted an atmospheric score that reflects on the transition of the land from industrial site to protected wilderness. He is joined by vocalists Theo Langason and Christian Bardin, whose contributions add a human dimension to the geological timeline of the cove.
The Beholder, by contrast, focuses on the present moment. Musicians Margot Bassett Silver and Crystal Myslajek composed a score intended to guide listeners into a state of deep mindfulness. The goal is to strip away the distractions of modern life, allowing the listener to truly "behold" the natural beauty of the North Shore.
Institutional Perspectives: The Role of Stewardship
For Molly Thompson, the executive director of Sugarloaf: The North Shore Stewardship Association, these artistic partnerships are vital for the preserve’s long-term health.
“It just opens up a whole new audience for us,” Thompson says. “It gets people to enjoy the site and experience nature in a different way than they normally would.”
By moving beyond traditional nature education, the association is positioning Sugarloaf as a cultural hub. The involvement of Split Rock Studios—a firm renowned for their work on the Bell Museum of Natural History and the Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center—further underscores the site’s evolution into a premier regional destination. The renovation of the nature center aims to provide a more sophisticated base of operations, helping visitors understand the deep history of the region before they step out onto the trails to listen to the audio installations.
Implications for Nature-Based Art
The collaboration at Sugarloaf Cove suggests a broader shift in how environmental conservation is communicated to the public. By pairing physical restoration with artistic interpretation, the Sugarloaf association is tackling the challenge of "nature deficit" in an increasingly digital world.
The use of audio—specifically through headphones—is a strategic choice. In a noisy world, the quiet, solitary act of listening to a curated soundscape while moving through a forest forces a slowing of the heart rate and a sharpening of the senses. It creates a space for reflection that a standard interpretive sign simply cannot provide.
Furthermore, the logistical nature of the event—encouraging visitors to download tracks in advance due to limited internet connectivity—adds a layer of intentionality to the visit. It transforms the trip into a pilgrimage, where the visitor must prepare to enter the space.
Practical Information for Visitors
The grand re-opening on July 11 offers a full itinerary for those wishing to experience the new installations:
- Location: Sugarloaf Cove, 9096 Hwy. 61, Schroeder, Minnesota.
- Timing: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Featured Activities:
- Touring the newly renovated nature center.
- Participating in a nature craft station.
- Engaging with the "personalized poem" station.
- A live musical performance by Bardin, Langason, and Morrow at 3:00 p.m.
- Accessibility: The audio works are available via QR codes or by borrowing pre-loaded iPods at the center. However, due to limited bandwidth in the region, organizers strongly recommend downloading the files to personal devices prior to arrival.
As the North Shore continues to attract travelers seeking a respite from urban life, projects like those at Sugarloaf Cove offer a compelling roadmap for the future. By weaving together the threads of geology, history, and modern sound art, the preserve is proving that nature is not merely a place to visit, but a dynamic experience to be continuously rediscovered.
Whether one is there to learn about the volcanic rock of the Precambrian era or to listen to the meditative compositions of Van Avery’s team, the message remains the same: the North Shore is a place of profound transformation, and it is waiting to be heard.
