Member packets off today

We welcome five new members and one renewing member, with packets in the mail today. All new and renewing members include a Genuine WLCoWSVoWLT Wooden Nickel, along with the normal premiuums. Your support helps us tell the story of World's Largest Things across the US.

Become a Member, get neat stuff, and help preserve Roadside Vernacular Architecture.

World's Largest Pencil now at City Museum, St. Louis MO

City Museum is now the proud owner of the World's Largest Pencil. This mother-of-all writing utensil stretches 76 feet long and weighs 21,500 lbs. It writes--and erases. It's a No. 2, so it's accepted for standardized testing.

From the City Museum website, via WLT fan email:

When World's Largest Pencil creator, Ashrita Furman, needed a place to keep his Giant Pencil, he had one choice: City Museum. As current holder of the World's Largest Underwear, the World's Largest Pencil fit right in. City Museum and many St. Louis citizens welcomed the arrival of the World's Largest Pencil on January 18, 2007.

Though the pencil arrived at City Museum in two pieces, City Museum plans to re-assemble this 76-foot, 21,500-pound bad boy. And, when City Museum is finished weatherproofing, sharpening, and writing with the World's Largest Pencil, we plan to add it to City Museum's outdoor MonstroCity. Where, exactly, hasn't been decided quite yet.

http://www.citymuseum.org/pencil.html

Wally's Eccentric Creations, Mt. Horeb Wisconsin

Wallace Keller from Mt. Horeb Wisconsin (home of the Mustard Museum) phoned this morning, to make sure we'd gotten his images of the amazing things dotting his property along Hwy. 78.  Giant clothespins, pirates, slinking beasts, and an amazingly put together hand drill are just the tip of the iceburg. 

 

He's had a colorful life, dabbling in antiquing and real estate along the way, and when he retired he just couldn't help but start something new.  He started making sculptures.  Lots and lots of sculptures.  He'd grown up on a farm, where, by necessity, he learned to weld and fix and tinker until things worked, and was a machinist in the Navy.  That, combined with his fabricating shop past (yes, another carrer path - when you're curious, they add up!) informed his current creations.

 

They're mostly old metal, combining bits and pieces to make what looks 'right', and there are more than a few Big Things hidden in the menagerie.  He said that the clothespin is one of the few 'new metal' pieces, but the hand drill is an amazing amalgamation of pre-used parts.  He's not sure what part of his brain generated the Big Stuff, he just likes 'em, and makes things that will stand out.

 

His work can be seen along Highway 78, only an hour from the Wisconsin Dells, and an hour from House on the Rock.  In the realm of metal sculpture, he's also well aquainted with Dr. Evermore (Tom Avery) and his giant Forevertron - they met in the 70s, and the friendship has been a source of inspiration (and scrap metal!) for Wally ever since.

 

You can also see his work in numerous books, including "Weird Wisconsin", and "Miracles of the Spirit".  Stop on by - he'd be glad to show you around!

They have ARRIVED! WLCoWSVoWLT Wooden Nickels

We put off fufilling new and renewing Membership Packets, in hopes that these lil' beauties would arrive for inclusion, and they just did!  A whole big(ish) box of Americana, going out to WLT Fans.  These are exclusive items, for New and Renewing Members or through the Belger Art Center Rare Visions show, coming up in March, Kansas City MO.

 

Whoop!

Kansas Arts Commission, We Love You.

And hope you feel the same about our newest grant proposal/request, in the mail today.

KIND Radio Friday Morning Show

Just recorded an interview with KIND Radio, Independence KS, about the upcoming Kansas Humanities Council lecture on World's Laregest Things and Roadside Attractions.  Event will be in Coffeyville, at the Coffeyville Center for the Arts, with dinner and a presentation.  Dinner starts at 6:30, lecture 7:30, contact the Center for details.

 

http://www.coffeyville.com/Culture.htm

 

You can listen to the interview online, which should air Friday morning:

 

https://radiotime.com/station/s_33169/KIND-FM_1029.aspx

 

We'll also post audio on our Blog, Facebook, MySpace, and Press section of the WLT online network.

 

Thanks for Living Large, in Kansas: As Big As You Think.

Wooden Nickels, Whats Large Where, and Members

All coming in, going out, and in the mail!  Member packets for the newest three will be slightly delayed, as our San Antonio Shipment of Wonderfullness just left Friday, and we wouldn't want to make a packet without the Newest Super-Special Limited Edition Premium!

 

Thanks for your patience, and welcome to 2009!

Writers Block, Unblocked.

...amazing what a deadline can do.

World's Largest Things is now caught up to the submission deadlines for the upcoming Think Big! articles for American Road magazine.

The first column should come out in the Spring 09 issue of the quarterly publication from Mock Turtle Press. One WLT Member has already subscribed (with some of the loot from his Christmas stocking), bringing stories of the American Road in glossy form to his mailbox.

American Road Magazine, now with World's Largest Things.

Driven by Vision - coming in March

...if you're in Canada...

 

Great series looking at sites and environments driven by vision - check out images and excerpts from their first season:  http://www.shrines.tv/index.html

 

In the second season, they came to Lucas and visited many many sites, including the Garden of Eden.  Ask your northern relatives to keep an eye out for Kansas Quirky!  Season II begins on Wednesday March 11, 2009 at 10:00pm EST

 

Vision TV (Eastern Time) Wednesdays - 10:00pm, Thursdays - 7:00am and 3:00pm

 

http://visiontv.com/

 

 

Big Idea Vol 2 #2

...now on its way to your eager lil' mailboxes!  The Winter Edition includes some regional Kansas highlights, details about the Fall SCA Conference, and upcoming lectures and events.  Enjoy!

 

-EN

From the Email Inbox: WL Pistachio, Alamogardo NM

as seen on Flickr, a new giant found at McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch, 7320 US Hwy. 54/70 North, Alamogordo NM

 

http://flickr.com/photos/thehorror/3183989987/in/photostream/

Exploring Winchester

Spent another great three days at the Retreat for Rural Leaders, put on by the Kansas Sampler Foundation.  This year's hands-on day included team exploration of an assigned town, and presentation of our research.  The Divine Team, which also Crossed the Delaware, went to Winchester, with a resulting Flickr and Blog that we will gift to the community.  Check 'em out:

 

http://winchesterkansas.blogspot.com/

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34586369@N05/

Welcome President Obama!

I was honored and thrilled to be able to watch the inauguration while on the road... After the Monday WLT Kansas Humanities lecture, I overnighted in Topeka KS.  The Brown vs. Board of Education site hosted an inauguration viewing in their main presentation room, so that's where we gathered. 

 

This photo is from the Topeka Capitol-Journal, of some of the crowd gathered. 

Presses are rolling!

... the Winter Newsletter is due out soon!  We've had to change publichers, so there's been a bit of a delay, but things are finally rolling.

 

Thank you for your patience...

Grant Wrapups

... just finalized the FY09 Kansas Arts Commission Final Report.  Thanks, KAC, for funding projects that help World's Largest Things, Inc., expand and enhance programming!

 

-EN

-RW

Belger Art Center Show March 6 - May 1, Kansas City MO

KANSAS CITY, MO – On March 6, 2009, the Belger Arts Center will launch "Rare Visions – Detour Art," a tribute to outsider art curated by two Kansas Citians with extensive knowledge in the field. Curators Mike Murphy and Kelly Ludwig will bring more than 150 pieces of art to the ground floor and third floor galleries of the Belger building. The exhibit will run through May 1, 2009.

Ms. Ludwig is the author ofDetour Art: Outsider, Folk Art,and Visionary Environments Coast to Coast. This 160-page hardback book was recently published by Kansas City Star Books. Ms. Ludwig says her obsession with outsider art has roots in her family: "I grew up with an outsider artist of sorts, my mother. Like so many of these artists who are products of the Depression-era, mom was thrifty and resourceful, and resourcefulness inevitably spawns creativity – using common objects in uncommon ways." Ms. Ludwig is a graphic designer and holds a BFA from the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

Mr. Murphy is co-host of "Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations," a PBS television show that can be seen on stations across the United States. The show is produced by KCPT of Kansas City. Mr. Murphy, with his co-host Randy Mason and "Don the Camera Guy," has traveled to more than 40 states over the last twelve years and filmed hundreds of artists in their homes, studios, and workshops (sometimes all at once). Mr. Murphy once said he knew the show was taking a special place in the field of folk art when he found out her appearance on RVRR was mentioned in the obituary of one of his interviewees.

Ms. Ludwig and Mr. Murphy plan to exhibit work from their personal collections, plus borrow works from artists and organizations such as The World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things. The Grassroots Arts Council of Lucas, KS, also will lend some of their collection for this exhibit.

The Belger Arts Center is located at 2100 Walnut Street, one block east of Main Street, in the Belger Cartage Service building. The gallery is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 am – 4 pm, Saturday from noon – 4 pm, non-holiday First Fridays from 10 am – 9 pm, and by appointment. The office for the Belger Arts Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 am – 4:30 pm. For more information please visitwww.belgerartscenter.orgor contact Gallery Assistant Mo Dickens at 816-474-3250, email:mdickens@belgerartscenter.org.Since March of 2000 the Belger Arts Center has hosted more than 35 exhibitions featuring a variety of media including fiber, ceramics, painting, sculpture, digital projections, and innovative design. More than 50,000 visitors have attended exhibits and other events at the Belger Arts Center.

Originally posted on the Detour Art blog

Bid Idea Volume 2 Issue 1: Summer 2008

Get your own - Open publication

Big Idea Volume 1 Issue 2: Winter 2007

Get your own - Open publication

Big Idea Volume 1 Issue 1: Summer 2007

2008 Governors Tourism Award: Community of Lucas

 

Writing writing writing

... but things are getting marked off the list!

 

We got the first batch of Weekly Whats Large Where posted, added a little to an article on Five Favorite Kansas Quirky, located a missing Illustrator file for an American Road column, and can now get back to the next Big Idea. 

 

Oh, and some draft reviews of another Kansas Humanities Council lecture proposal...

 

For fun, we've ordered wooden nickels from the site of the World's Largest Wooden Nickel - they'll debut at the Belger Art Center show in Kansas City Missouri in March.

World's Largest Things Small World Story

The WLT Cub Reporter just sent me a Flickr mail, saying "you oughtta see this!"... which just happened to by my cousin Josh Porter's Flickr page!  Small world, and I told the cub reporter all about it...

 

"Yes, he's done quite a few monuments. I had no idea he was producing his own until I went to the talking Paul Bunyan's new home, outside of Brainerd, and was chatting with the clerk about the nice restoration. I asked who did it, and when I heard his name I was floored.

It was Father's Day, and I said something about what a small world, and she said "well, he's here today, too - right over there in the snack bar!" I hadn't seen him in 10 - 12 years, and he and his whole family (and me and my whole family) just happened to be there at the same time - weird!

So, he showed us around what he did, we almost had the park to ourselves (family-wise), and an attendant followed us around to the various rides strapping us in and turning them on.

Wonderfully weird small world-li-ness!!!"

 

See Josh's photo stream online:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31338368@N03/

!!!They're one and the same!!!!

I thought I'd look up a WLT Member, who is ALSO working on an Art Car book, only to find out that the images I just sent are for her project - Great wonderful wee world!

 

Upcoming from Fulcrum Publishers, from their Speck Press imprint:

 

http://www.fulcrum-books.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=6020

Speck Press, a Fulcrum Publishing imprint: Road Art: Art Cars and the Museum of the Streets

Just sent a slew of Art Car images to the editors, for a new book.  We'll see what they use...

 

Yay, Publishers!  Yay, Art Cars!  Yay, Art in Unexpected Places by Real People!

Speck Press's site

Tuesdays - the Most Productive Day of the Workweek

... according to some studies, of which I don't have the real reference, so it's a Factoid. (Factoid: an unproven fact - guarenteed to make something seem important!!)

But, yesterday was purty darn productive too!

Received the FedEx Flickr prints for hi-res scanning, starting to figure out FTP uploading with a new interface, and sent off the first of the American Road articles.

And, talked to the Superintendant of Public Works for Tipton, Missouri, about the 8-Ball watertower. It's one of my top favorites, as it was one of the first impressions of the middle of Missouri when the family moved there in 1977 or 78...

Today, just re-calibrated the scanner and working on Fulcrum Books images, still writing a years worth of columns, and new Humanities Council proposals for talks. And, working through a months worth of leftovers...

Dole Pineapple Remembered

http://archives.starbulletin.com/2001/07/29/features/story3.html

First Monday of the New Year

... and things are a-changin'. The Kansas Arts Commission and Kansas Humanities Council have re-addressed needs in the current economic climate, with some changes in funding and programming. Luckily, WLT Inc. is still on the KHC Speakers Bureau, as well as the KAC Arts on tour Roster - they're great ways to bring us in to your community, with affordable programming.

KAC Arts on Tour

KHC Speakers Bureau

Book a project or a lecture, and keep the Arts and Humanities in our communities! They build better people through cultural enrichment, and it's up to you to make sure they're preserved...

Thanks for the opportunity!
-Erika Nelson, Director
WLT Inc.

WLT Online for another year...

In wrapping up yearly business, we've renewed our SCA Membership, as well as our Hosting and Domain registrations.  Here's to making lists, checking twice, and marking those suckers off!

Art Car Books a-plenty

Working on permissions and hi-res files for a Fulcrum Books project... this is a detail from Jan Elftmann's Cork Truck.

Snapfish Archiving - Done!

From the beginning of WLT Inc, we've been using an online photo printer, with a convenient system for mailing in film.  One of the super-special added bonuses was that they would also post a digital version, which you could simply right-click and download. 

 

Two years ago, we realized how many images were only (digitally) stored on Snapfish, so we started archiving.  Mid-way through, other projects got in the mix, and the archiving process was put on a back burner.  Today, when checking on accounts, we discovered that the download feature had been altered to a pay only download.  For our own images...

 

SO, our sneaky clever computer department figured out a work-around, and finished the archive download of all hosted images.  It's been a long final 10 hour stretch, but it's done!  And, a good reminder that anything online, especially services, should be backed up immediately upon realization, as technology and information presentation changes rapidly.  Save it while you're able!

 

Thanks, Rachel, for the emergency download day...

-EN, Dir. WLT