Rocko the Painted Rock Snake at Wentworth Library

July 28, 2023
Kevin D. Hendricks

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A painted rock snake at Wentworth Library is delighting visitors and inviting creativity.

What is it: Painted rock snakes are a popular craft shared online. Rebecca Quick, a resident of Mendota Heights, started the snake at the library with a head painted to look like a snake, a half dozen rocks, and a sign inviting others to add their own rocks and “grow” the snake.

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The Growth of Rocko the Painted Rock Snake

It started last Saturday with just a few rocks:

The start of Rocko the rock snake at Wentworth Library in West St. Paul.

Full view of Rocko, the rocks, and the sign.

And it grew from there:

Overview of Rocko and a few dozen rocks that have been added.

By Wednesday, the snake had migrated off the sidewalk, thanks to Dakota County Library staff:

Rocko next to the bench sculpture at Wentworth Library. — *Rocko moved off the sidewalk (and yes, his head seems to have gone missing).*

Rocko and his new sign (with a missing head). — *Rocko moved off the sidewalk (and yes, his head seems to have gone missing).*

“I invited Rocko to move off the walkway and into a nearby flowerbed, as we wanted to make sure our entrance was clear for all library visitors,” said Wentworth children’s librarian Jess Gould on Facebook. “Rocko is now happily residing near the lilies, just to the right of the walking path. They are safe and sound with lots of room to grow. Welcome to the library, Rocko!”

A lot of rocks: One project in Atascadero, Calif., started during the pandemic and wrapped around a lake, totaling more than 3,500 rocks.

July 29, 2023 Update: Head Restored

Rocko now has a new head:

Aug. 2, 2023 Update: Rocko Continues to Grow

Rocko's head and the entrance to Wentworth Library.

Side view of Rocko the painted rock snake.

Aug. 7, 2023 Update: Rocko on TV

Fox 9 did a story on Rocko, highlighting the project’s originator Rebecca Quick, librarian Jess Gould, some local kids painting rocks in front of the library, and the West St. Paul Reader.

Rebecca Quick: “I had just come home from the funeral and my daughter sent the link to Rocko being the newspaper. That made my heart happy because it was a pretty sad day.”
Jess Gould: “I’m a big fan of art and community and collaborative contribution. I think it’s a neat thing a library patron initiated this.”
Kevin D. Hendricks: “One of the fun things about neighborhood news that we do is the stories keep evolving. People interact with it and live here and you can kind of see it grow.”