Exploring Jens Jensen's Council Rings

Many of famous Danish landscape architect Jens Jensen’s landscape designs included stone seating circles that he called council rings – or, when installed in a children’s garden, “story rings.” To Jensen, the council ring symbolized both ancient traditions and American democracy. The seating circle invites people to share ideas, stories, and songs, while also sharing an experience in nature. Jensen intended that this space evokes Scandinavian traditions of village elders gathering in a circle, which gave rise to the Scandinavian “tings” or parliaments, as well as Native American council fires. By seating everyone on an equal footing within the circle, the council ring also promotes democratic ideals. The council ring at The Danish Immigrant Museum’s Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park in Elk Horn, Iowa is given in loving memory of Vesta Newlin Hansen of West Branch, Iowa, by her husband, Walter. Their Quaker upbringing and faith celebrates the values of equality and inclusiveness symbolized by this council ring. In Jens Jensen’s Siftings, published in 1939, he wrote, “In this friendly circle, around the fire, man becomes himself. Here there is no social caste. All are on the same level, looking each other in the face. A ring speaks of strength and friendship and is one of the great symbols of mankind. The fire in the center portrays the beginning of civilization, and it was around the fire our forefathers gathered when they first placed foot on this continent.” To learn more, visit www.danishmuseum.org.