Sketchbook Project ON VIEW in Atlanta Georgia

This Friday and Saturday (January 29 - 10, 2010), the first showing of the Sketchbook Project goes on view at ARTHOUSE GALLERY in Atlanta Georgia - 309 Peters. Our hand-drawn book "And Suddenly - There it WAS! A WLCoWSVoWLT Road Trip" can be checked out and perused during this first of many showings around the country.

If you're not in the area, you can also check out the posted scans on our page of the Art House Co-Op site:

http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject/submissions/12572-and-suddenly-there-it-was-wlcowsvowlt-road-trip

See ya' on the road, and in the galleries!

-Erika

February 2010 - Thing-A-Day - Writing the story before it goes away

Just signed up for an exciting project in February, committing to create a Thing-A-Day.  It'll all be posted online, on a NEW special blog (as if we needed another one - sheesh!):  Worlds Largest Things on Posterous

I'm devoting my Thing-A-Day to telling the story behind the World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things Traveling Roadside Attraction and Museum. I believe I'm in that crucial time, where memories are starting to fade (but can be revived), but haven't yet deteriorated into a glossy nostalgia. Distance of time has that double edge to it, making you varnish over some of the rough spots, yet enabling you to distance yourself enough to see some things that weren't so obvious up close and "in the time".

I've tried to capture or map out part of the story out a few times. I have a composition book with a breakdown of how to structure a book proposal, did a set of large panel paintings that reflected on my time in the desert and on the road in a non-linear, image-based way, and most recently completed a hand-drawn book that combined the words and images.

Now, I think it's time to really focus on the words and feelings that the images bring back, before they're gone forever. I have the previous 'maps' here for guidance, and a folder of images taken along the way that are sorted by date taken. Funny, how a tool so necessary while DOING the 'thing' ends up being a roadmap itself, a chronology that contains its own set of sparks. I'm hoping not to rely too heavily on the narrative that has become the 'tour' of those times - the sound bites and repeated story that I tell when someone asks about that time period.

Anyone who has ever been a tour guide at any historic structure knows exactly what I mean - the 'tour' becomes an automatic response, repeated so often that it becomes meaningless, a song you hum to yourself, even if the subject matter is of great importance to you. The period from 1999 - 2009 is in danger of becoming that sort of sing-song synopsis, and I'd like it to be real again.

A sincere Thank-You

I am overwealmed and humbled by WLT Friends, Fans, and Members, their generosity and encouragement.  Thank you, everyone, for your support, in word and deed, during difficult times.

 

-Erika

Small Town USA Documentary - webisode with Erika

Architectural Sculpting Class, Feb. 22-26

From the wilds of Minnesota, a GREAT opportunity to hone your skills, or produce your own World's Largest Thing...  Call now to reserve a spot!  Josh, the instructor, has vast experience in creating and preserving WLTs, including the Talking Paul Bunyan in Brainerd, restoration paint job on the Big Fish Supper Club in Bena MN, and creating new icons for Chambers of Commerce and promotional endeavors. 

Now we're communicating!

I think we've done it... Members may not notice a difference, but I believe we've gotten Weekly What's Large Where bugs worked out, and automated to send out each week.

Also, a record NINE Member Packets (both new and renewal) went out today, making a great start to Aught Ten.

So, here we go!

-E

Hendersonville NC start World's Largest Puzzle Attempt

Volunteers begin assembling 'World's Largest Puzzle' By Jessica Goodman, Times-News Staff Writer.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

MILLS RIVER -- The temperature was in the teens, with a severe wind chill, on Friday outside the church on Presbyterian Church Road. By 7 p.m., people bundled up were scurrying to the side door of the fellowship hall.

Inside, the conversation, the food and the fellowship warmed up the 40 or so people who braved the cold to participate in assembling part of the "the World's Largest Puzzle" at Mills River Presbyterian Church.

"It's a warm place in every sense of the word," said the Rev. Randall Boggs, pastor of the church.

Larry Sunday, a member of the church, donated the puzzle as a way to create community outreach for the church. He supervised the scene on Friday and held on to a timer, which records the group's progress. He watched as people move and mingle from group to group.

...

On the puzzle's Web site, at worldslargestpuzzle.com, a Hall of Fame showed all the groups who have completed the puzzle. Sunday said the Hall of Fame made no reference to any group in North Carolina completing the puzzle, nor any churches. Sunday predicted the puzzle will be completed some time on Monday.

...

Read the entire story here:

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20100109/news/1091032

...

Volunteers can still sign up to participate in the puzzle piecing process by calling 891-7101. Sunday hopes construction continues around the clock. The church is located at 10 Presbyterian Church Road in Mills River.

1964 World's Fair - Unisphere slide scan

1964 World's Fair - Unisphere slide scan, originally uploaded by worldslargestthings.

Testing to see if all of these various things will network - Just uploaded this from the Ephemera Archives to Twitter and Flickr at the same time, but will they share with the corporate blog?!? Let's find out...

From the WLT Christmas Stocking: New Batch of Ephemera!

It's always a good haul for WLT, with folks sending in their historic postcards from roadside attractions, past and present. This one features the Pineapple that used to lord over Honolulu, before it was removed. Sadly, the decapitated top still rusts in a parking lot, while a painting of the former shadow commemorates the former fruitty fantastic watertower.

World's Tallest Structure opens, with World's Tallest Dancing Fountains, to boot!

From Travel Agent Central:

As much as debt concerns plagued Dubai's publicity in the end of 2009 opened, the nascent luxury destination is kicking off 2010 with an epic first to turn the tide as the world's tallest structure, the Burj Dubai, opens.

Although the property's official height remains a secret, it is known to be at least 2,625 feet and exceed the next highest structure (the Taipei 101) by 1,000 feet. The opening has been delayed twice since construction began in 2004.

Worth $1.5-billion, the building will reach 200 stories and will include an observation deck on the 124th floor where visibility can reach 50 miles.

The building also includes the world's largest performing fountain as design firm WET created the 50-story-high Dubai Fountain, a 32-acre lake that is the largest choreographed fountain in the world. Using synchronized lights, music and water that leaps over a record-setting 140 meters into the air, the Fountain also uses projected light to paint with light on its darting water forms

.

Happy New Year! And, to getcha in the mood for Spring...

 

 

NEW World's Largest Pysanka, in Ukraine!  See the whole review here:

 

http://armchairtravelogue.blogspot.com/2010/01/worlds-largest-easter-egg_02.html

From the Email Inbox: New York chess set

Hello,

 

I was looking at your site and saw "The largest Chessboard".

 

You may want to check this out....this chessboard is 3 stories high and placed on a blank wall of the adjacent apartment building. Each chess piece is a disc, 2-1/2 feet in diameter. The chessboard features the end of a famous historical chess match between world champions. At high noon each Wednesday, a workman goes aloft in a "cherry picker" to advance the game. A flag flies throughout the week indicating which color is to play next. 767 Third Avenue is recognized as one of Manhattans signature buildings.!!!

 

http://www.sagerealty.com/Buildings/767/767buildinfo.htm

http://www.sagerealty.com/Buildings/767/767photos.htm

 

 

Re: Largest chessboard

Ooooh - thank you, Eddie - that certainly does beat the Morro Bay board, as well as the MeaChess installations. They both tout themselves as 'playable', but I suppose this one is, too, just a little less access to the public.  Thanks for the info, and what will happen when the game is completed?  Will they reinact any other famous matches, or possibly use it for mirroring games at major events, real-time?

 

-Erika Nelson, Director

World's Largest Things, Inc.

----- Original Message -----

From: Eddie

To: info@WorldsLargestThings.com

Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 7:04 AM

Subject: Largest chessboard

Hello,

 

I was looking at your site and saw "The largest Chessboard".

 

You may want to check this out....this chessboard is 3 stories high and placed on a blank wall of the adjacent apartment building. Each chess piece is a disc, 2-1/2 feet in diameter. The chessboard features the end of a famous historical chess match between world champions. At high noon each Wednesday, a workman goes aloft in a "cherry picker" to advance the game. A flag flies throughout the week indicating which color is to play next. 767 Third Avenue is recognized as one of Manhattans signature buildings.!!!

 

http://www.sagerealty.com/Buildings/767/767buildinfo.htm

http://www.sagerealty.com/Buildings/767/767photos.htm

 

 

 

Eddie Kilkenny

eddieliftco@verizon.net

 

 

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.716 / Virus Database: 270.14.113/2572 - Release Date: 12/17/09 19:02:00

Albert the Bull Meta Photo

World's Smallest Version of the World's Largest Bull visits the World's Largest Bull, Audubon Iowa.

Louisville Slugger, and associated WSV

The World's Largest Baseball Bat, and its corresponding World's Smallest Version of the World's Largest Baseball Bat, Louisville KY

Meta-photos: WSV of the WLCoWSVoWLT, visiting the WLCoWSVoWLT

 

WLCoWSVoWLT Road Trip Hand-Drawn Book

Here's a link to uploaded images of the Hand-Drawn Book we're working on, telling some of the story of the Mobile Museum.  It's about 1/2 completed, and will become part of the permanent Art House Co-Op's library, then travel around to venues throughout the US.  You can check it out when it comes to a Metro area near YOU! (if you live in New York, Chicago, L.A., or St. Louis, that is...)

 

http://www.arthousecoop.com/users/Erika-Nelson

 

 

Tines they Are a Changin'

Student Alecia Ballin walks past the towering fork, which she had first seen featured on television. "It's whimsical and fun," said a city Planning and Development official.

From the LA Times article about Pasadena California's new Giant Fork statue... Erected Halloween 2009, it may just stay...

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pasadena-fork7-2009nov07,0,1914605,full.story

Finished Restoration, Big Fish Supper Club, Bena MN

Wow - lookit that pop! This image is from the realtor who has the site for sale, and the paint job was done by Josh Porter of Avalon Studios... small world, as this project hit the Society for Commercial Archeology newsletters just as Josh called up to say he'd be working on it.

(side note - Josh is Erika's first cousin, so the World's Largest Things gene must run on the Swedish side of the line...)

Buy the Big Fish: http://www.mnresortsales.com/resorts/1960141.html

Hire Josh to make your next World's Largest Thing: http://www.avalonsculpture.com/portfolio.htm

Bena Minnesota Big Fish: Restored, and for sale!

www.mnresortsales.com/resorts/1960141.html

Just found the listing after the agent left a message on one of the blog posts... Perfect opportunity! Now, where did I leave that large stash of cash, so I can live in Minnesota, run a resort, and care for a BIG FISH?

Did I mention the year-round fish cleaning house?

As the ad says: JUST MINUTES TO LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH

Rose Hill NC Chamber of Commerce

Gotta love a logo with happy smiling pig and chicken, advertising cooked pig and chicken!  You go, Rose Hill.

 

http://www.rosehillchamber.com/chamber.htm

Rose Hill North Carolina World's Largest Pan - still being used!

That's how things work here - a brief mention in an article, and Viola!  You find another WLT, hiding in plain sight.  As mentioned in the previous post, there are more than a few that USED to be used, but this one has been in service (and still cookin'!) since 1965. 

 

From the July 15, 1982 issue of the Wilmington Morning Star:   ROSE HILL ADPOTS FRYING PAN

 

The town of Rose Hill became owner of what is called "the world's largest frying pan" Tuesday night.

 

The huge pan, actually in eight sections joined together, has been the centerpiece of poultry promotions and jubilees since 1963.

 

Promised removal of the centerpiece to Kenansville for the first Duplain County agricultural fair in 60 years, prompted the action.

 

Dennis Ramsey explained,"  I'm displeased with its leaving town.  It's only left town once and that was to White Lake for a blueberry festival.  At that time we were promoting our own Rose Hill Jubilee and poultry products. 

 

For several years the pan has rested under a gazebo on a lot adjacent to the Rose Manor shopping center south of Rose Hill.  Previously, it was located on the town park, the former Rose Hill school campus.

 

Tuesday night, Ramsey offered the pan to the town if it would provide a suitable location.  The board of commissioners accepted the pan during its regular July meeting.  The board plans to provide a permanent site for the pan in the town park beside U.X. 117.

 

The pan, 15 feet across, is made of 1/4-inch steel.  It can fry 265 chickens at one time.  The pan requires 140 gallons of cooking oil and eight sets of tobacco burners for heating.

 

From the PR Newswire: World's Largest Frying Pan Heats Up

ROSE HILL, N.C. -  Nov. 30, 2009

The world's largest frying pan, measuring fifteen feet in diameter and clocking in at an astounding two tons, is about to be fired up.

On Saturday, December 5th, a portion of the frying pan's forty gas burners will be put to good use in celebration of the Rose Hill Christmas Parade. Constructed in 1963, the world's largest frying pan can fry up to 365 chickens and uses nearly 200 gallons of cooking oil at capacity.

Whole Harvest, maker of the nation's first naturally produced zero Trans-fat, hexane free cooking oil, will be providing all the cooking oil for the event. House of Raeford Farms, Inc., headquartered in Rose Hill, will supply the chicken. Sales proceeds will support the Rose Hill Volunteer Fire Department.

Whole Harvest is proud to support the Rose Hill Volunteer Fire Department. It seems only fitting for the world's largest frying pan to use the nation's first all natural, no Trans-fat, hexane free oil.

SOURCE Whole Harvest

*from WLT Director Erika Nelson:  This sounds like the DelMarVa pan, but North Carolina?!?  Maybe there's yet another World's Largest Pan!  DelMarVa pan is housed in Wilmington Delaware, used to be used in the Delaware/Maryland/Virginia peninsula for chicken frys.  Also, Long Beach Washington has a retired (and now replicated) pan, formerly used for clam frys, and there's one in Brandon, Iowa, too...*

When Worlds Combine - great Back Yard Visitor story from Thanksgiving Weekend

Family show up in back yard, mother says "didn't we see you at the Orange Show in Houston?" Yay, Texas!

The son pipes up and says: "Yeah, and she was on ArtLand, too..." Yay, Film crews that come through Lucas!

Mom says, "Can I get your picture together with my son?" I say sure, she clicks, and says to son: "Now you have one with the Big Little Big lady, AND Bill Nye!" Yay, being as cool as Bill Nye the Science Guy!

I say to son: "Good combination, Art and Science. They go together really well..." and little guy says: "Well, Leonardo was good at both, I don't see why I can't be..." Yay, 12-year-old liking and undersanding DaVinci!!!

So, we talk about more big and little stuff, I give them all Wooden Nickles, and I make a pact with the son to learn to say the complete longest-named town name, and it'll be our greeting next time we meet... Yay, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch!

Connecting the dots for about 10 years...

Just had a nice reminder of why I'm sitting alone on a Sunday night, typing up stories about World's Largest Things...

Reminder #1: While doing next month's columns, I ran across a blog that mentioned the WL Replica Cheese (now gone), which also uses my commentary and meta-photo:

http://landingaday.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/denmark-wisconsin/

Reminder #2: The very next topic I searched, in looking for the World's Largest Current Cheese record, had another tie-in - a WLT Member took the photo on the first explanation page I came to:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2007/05/the-worlds-largest-cheese-whee.html

Reminder #3: And, just now, in googling "worlds largest cheese" and "ranjit", the above result was the second listing. The first was this, taken during a residency in Delaware, back in Aught Four or Aught Five:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranjit/10618101/

Reminder #4: The same residency that let to my appearance in Zippy the Pinhead:

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=zippy+meta-truckin&aq=f&aqi=&oq=&fp=5b7cf21b103219ea

NEW Sideshow Poster now available for purchase

11" x 17" full color glossy mini-poster features paintings of some of the smallest WSVs from the WLCoWSVoWLT collection, as seen on the first of three new Sideshow Banners for the traveling exhibit, premiering May 2010.

 

Get yours now!  We've set up PayPal buttons on a special Sneak Preview page.  Prices include S&H - $7.00 for one, $25.00 for five.  Get a whole slew, stuff 'em in stockings for a Wonderfully Wee Christmas!

 

http://www.worldslargestthings.com/sideshowposter.htm

New error message for WLT site

Seemed like a good creative thing for Art-A-Day Month... Now accessable for any missing file, page not found, etc. at the World's Largest Thing site.

 

See it in action here - www.WorldsLargestThings.com/wtf

Seattle's Hat-N-Boots - Restored!

What great news from Seattle Parks and Recreation:

 

PROJECT STATUS - October 2009
Restoration of the hat is complete!
The Georgetown Community Council and Seattle Parks and Recreation are happy to announce the completion of the restoration on the Hat 'n' Boots. Scaffolding came down from around the hat on October 15, 2009. The painting of the hat was completed soon after and Parks is working on finishing the final details.

The Hat 'n' Boots were moved from thier former location at the "Premium Tex" Texaco gas station on E Marginal Way to Oxbow Park in December 2003. The boots were restored in 2005.

Thank you, Seattle! This Pro Parks project is complete, and the park is open to public. On Saturday, August 13, 2005, the community gathered to dedicate the new park.

Park construction started in November 2003 but it took on real meaning with the move of the Hat 'n' Boot structures to the park on December 13, 2003. The move was accomplished in two stages starting on December 12. (See photos.)

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Kelly Davidson
800 Maynard Ave. S., 3rd Floor
Seattle, WA 98134-1336
206-684-0998
kelly.davidson@seattle.gov

From the Email Inbox: WL Rubber Chicken pics

This is why I love my job.  Just got pics in from Mike Wild, who makes large wonderful things.  This is the giant rubber chicken he built for a toystore, located just 5 miles south of the World's Largest Bottle of Catsup, Collinsvill IL.  They only got a 10 day varience from the city, so the chicken was only outside for a few weeks, but it's inside now, and they hope for a more permanent outside let at some point...

 

Thanks, for keeping the American Roadside AWESOME!

 

 

Rhode Island Milk Can for sale

Found it on a real estate blog, with some not-too-bad info in the listing...

 

A  way of attracting motorists, while they are travelling the highways, to a diner, coffee shop, or roadside attraction was to build the building in an unusual shape, especially the shape of the things sold there. "Mimic" Mimetic architecture became a trend, in the 1930's but in RHODE ISLAND we had ours built in 1807. Many roadside coffee shops were built in the shape of giant coffee pots; hot dog stands were built in the shape of giant hot dogs; and fruit stands were built in the shape of oranges or other fruit or a large milkcan as was the structure built in 1807 at the junction of 146 and 295. This Milk Can was originally located down the road on Louisquisett Pike (Rt 146) in Lincoln, RI, located not far from my home in Lincoln, RI in a neighboring community located at 920 Eddie Dowling Highway, North Smithfield,
RI.

This vacant Milk Can Structure Building that was originally an ice cream stand, built in the shape of a dairyman's cream can 32 1/2 feet high and 16 feet in diameter represented the earliest
period of snack food merchandising located on a major highway, Route 146.

It was moved for highway construction Rt 99 in the late eighties early nineties. It was only moved one mile down the same road from its previous location to a new location.

This container building was a unique expression of architecture, built by the Original owner, Charles Plante that would demand the motorist's notice. In 1950 a canopy and Kitchen was a major addition, as well as a patio area in 1960.

This vacant milk can  is listed in the National Register status 1979

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1073309/huge-milk-can-for-sale