Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Haunted Evening in Lucas - Sat. Oct. 24th

HAUNTED EVENING

Saturday, October 24, 2009 6-9 PM

in LUCAS, KS - Adult $20 Child (6-12 years) $10


Grassroots artists from across the state will come back from the dead or appear in person for this spirited event.

Event check-in time is between 6-6:30 PM at the Flying Pig Studio and Gallery at 123 S. Main Street.

Enjoy appetizers and visit with Bruce McGehee, master pumpkin carver, as he will be demonstrating his special technique. You may come in costume.

Bring a carved or decorated pumpkin/gourd to be voted on for "People's Choice" through October 31st. The money raised will go toward the "Bowl Plaza," Lucas' quirky public restrooms.

Next board the hayrack with S.P. Dinsmoor and grassroots friends for some ghostly stories while viewing the Garden of Eden's night lighting for this eerie evening. Those who haven't visited with Dinsmoor in his Mausoleum may donate to the preservation fund to stay and chat with Mr. Dinsmoor.

Continue the journey and enjoy the progressive main course with a variety of Pastas and Snake (bread) on the menu.

Sneak across the street to the Grassroots Art Center and be prepared for more stories from bewitched spirits and spooktacular desserts.

Mail registration with fee by October 22nd to:

Lucas Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 186, Lucas, KS 67648.
785-525-6288
lucascoc@wtciweb.com

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Mosaic Workshop

Come early to the “Haunted Evening in Lucas and participate in the Mosaic Workshop led by Mri-Pilar. Learn how to create mosaic art work. Prior registration is needed with the Grassroots Art Center for the afternoon workshop, 1:30 pm --4:30 pm at the G-wiz Garage. Class size is limited to 6 participants. Workshop fee is $15 per person. The cost of the workshop is partially funded by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, KS.

Mail registration with fee by October 22nd to: Grassroots Art Center 213 South Main Street,

Lucas, Kansas 67648 785-525-6118 grassroots@wtciweb.com www.grassrootsart.com

Monday, September 28, 2009

Friday, September 25, 2009

Member packets off...

... to Houston TX, Salina KS, and Lincoln KS. Also, renewal thanks to California MO, and a follow-up on gift membership from Houston TX to Somewhere in MO. Slowly catching up on the work pile - I suspect H1N1 to be the secret code.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Kansas Statehood Speakers Bureau

Great news from the Kansas Humanities Council today: 
 
Dear Erika,
The Kansas Humanities Council is delighted to inform you that your topics, Big Ideas and A Look Inside Outsider and Folk Art have been chosen for the Kansas 150 Speakers Bureau (2010-2011 catalog).  
 
Yay!  The first topic addresses the inspiration behind the building of very large sculptures in the public realm, while the second does exactly what it says:  looks inside the world of Outsider (untrained) Art in Kansas. 
 
Glad to be a continuing part of telling the stories of Kansas!
 

Monday, September 14, 2009

Cool Kitsch

Odd attractions that dot our roadsides are true Americana

The end of summer is upon us and with it the prime season for road-tripping. That doesn't mean you have to say goodbye to the best part of some roadside attractions: the kitsch.

Giant statues of French waiters have no problem standing tall as the fall colors appear, and if a 50-foot-long green dinosaur could survive extinction, it probably can weather an Ohio winter. No matter what time of year it is, these pieces of Americana are hard to miss.
 

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Wow!

Ever have one of those months (or two) where the projects are piled up, you put your head down, and just power through?  Stressful, eh?  Well, I just realized that's what July and August has been.  It became evident today when I stopped making a list of things that HAD to be done, and it transitioned to things I WANT to get done.  See the difference?  There's a new breath of inspiration and innovation afoot.  No, it won't be easy, but people have been showing their support for what we do, projects have been re-defining and resolving themselves, and new partnerships and opportunities are ripening.
 
What a beautiful world - almost as beautiful as the above-posted World of Bacon, an actual constructed and photographed environment from artist Carl for an ad for Negroni:
 
 
Thanks for your support, friends, fans, and WLT Members.  Big Little Big things are comin'!

Seeking the World’s Biggest Meatball? Try Mexico.

MEXICO CITY — If Guinness World Records ever creates a category for the country most obsessed with being in the Guinness book of world records, Mexico will surely be in the running.
 
Yes, Mexicans take their records seriously. Days after the "Thriller" event, mariachi musicians gathered in Guadalajara, where their traditional form of music first began, to beat the record for the most mariachi musicians ever gathered in one place. In all, 549 horn blowers, bassists and violinists turned out in suits and sombreros at the International Mariachi Festival, playing the classics "Cielito Lindo" and "Guadalajara."
 
Read the whole story here:
 

Thursday, September 10, 2009

New Member Packets - going out today.

Wow! Whatta response! Sending out Member Packets to NY, Chicago, LA CA, Lucas and Salina and Overland Park KS, and Guthrie Center IA.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

WLT Member at Balsa Man with the WSVoWLCoWSVoWLT


In a wonderful example of Big Ideas Writ Small (this year's theme for the Balsa Man event, held Sept. 5th in California), WLT Members and Fans spotted the World's Smallest Version of the World's Largest Collection of the Worlds Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things Traveling Roadside Attraction and Museum on the Balsa Man Playa.

See more happenings at the Balsa Man site and blog:

http://balsaman.org/blog/

Grant Writin' Time

The receipt of the Black Pebble Arts Foundation Mini Grant rekindled the fires under our collective grant-writing kiesters. Currently researching and prioritizing upcoming grant opportunities, both nationally and within Kansas. Please, forward anything you think may apply to future WLT Inc. Doin's.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Frustration and Longing for a Pre-Computer World

Interwebz taking a Labor Day Holiday? After a 24-hour non-connectivitiy period, finally got the first part of September columns to area newspapers. Oh, how things stack up... Apologies from the slackers at WLT Inc.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

From the Scottish Sun: THE world's biggest bottle of whisky will be unveiled today - and turned miniature

Dru McPherson and Mike Drury made the monster malt to put the village of Tomintoul, Banffshire, on the map.

The giant 1½metre bottle holds 105.3 litres of 14-year-old Tomintoul single malt.

A German glassmaker created the 7mm thick pyrex bottle, and a massive cork was specially made to fit.

Dru will display it in his Clockhouse Restaurant, while whisky shop boss Mike will sell normal-size replicas.

Dru, 47, said: "They will look like miniatures by comparison." He added: "The hardest part was watching the giant cork hammered in - we were dreading the noise of smashing glass."

Local MP Angus Robertson will unveil the record-breaker in the village today.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

From the Email Inbox: W.L. Elevated Tank, San Diego CA

An information request from a WLT Member:
 
I mentioned to you a water tower in my neighborhood of North Park - San Diego, CA and how I had seen a historic photo of it claiming to be the world largest elevated tank. You said you knew someone who might be able to confirm this. Can you help me out here?

I have attached that photo from 1924.  The sign in the photo reads:

"Bottom for largest elevated tank in the world

Diameter 54 feet

Height 128 feet

Capy. 1200000 gals

San Diego, Calif."

Some additional info:  Contractor was the Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company, Tank is supported 50 feet above ground, Height of tank is 52 feet, Height from foundation to the overflow cap is 127.5 feet, When fully loaded the tank held approximately 5000 tons of water, Steel structural plates weighed 400 tons

Source: North Park: A San Diego Urban Village 1896-1946, Donald P. Covington, Hon Consulting Inc. 2007

I have also attached a photo of how it stands today, one of it in the context of the neighborhood and one of me dressed in my water tower costume in last year's Christmas parade.

Thanks again for creating such a wonderful collection!   V.