Demolition Begins of Gallows Sculpture at Minneapolis Museum

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ A Sioux spiritual leader led a prayer ceremony as the
demolition got underway of a gallows-like sculpture at a Minneapolis art museum
that reminded protesters of the mass hanging of 38 Dakota men in 1862.

``Scaffold,'' by Los Angeles artist Sam Durant, was going to be part of the
Walker's renovated sculpture garden until it drew complaints. Now the wood will
be taken away and burned.

Sage was burned and tobacco was passed out during Friday's ceremony, overseen by Chief Arvol Looking Horse, who's regarded as spiritual leader for all three main branches of the Sioux nation, the Dakota, Nakota and Lakota.

Then a crew of Native American construction workers went to work. Chainsaws
began biting into the wood, accompanied by yells and howls.