August 1, 2025:
On the way to a Celebration of Life for her brother Wayne, we stopped at Wilson and Lucas, Kansas to see some Public Art.
WILSON, KANSAS:
The World’s Largest Czech Egg:
Towering 20 feet into the air, Wilson’s egg is painted in the fashion of Central-Eastern Europe’s famous eggs. The pattern on this egg is a traditional Czech design.
Information Stand
Description of the World’s Largest Czech Egg
Czech Egg Enclosure
The World’s Largest Czech Egg
Other Public Art in Wilson:
Czech It Out – Selfie Mural by Melissa Shaw
Small Czech Eggs
Angelica by Joe and Terry Malesky
Abstract Piece by Unknown Artist
Wilson Wall Mural
Balancing Act by Jodie Bliss
Free Ride by Terry and Joe Malesky
Bruce the Bull Metal Sculpture
Welcome to Wilson Mural
LUCAS, KANSAS:
Lucas is a small Kansas town (as of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 332) with a lot of folk art.
Lucas Sign
World’s Largest Souvenir Travel Plate
Lucas Yard Art
M.T. Liggett Sculptures
S.P. Dinsmoor’s Garden of Eden:
We toured the S.P. Dinsmoor self-built house, mausoleum (no photos), and the sculpture garden.
Upstairs Bedroom
Phonograph
Upstairs Bedroom
Upstairs Lounge Area
S.P. Dinsmoor’s Children
Upstairs Bedroom
Basement Storage Area
Basement Kitchen
Basement Stove
Basement Dining Room
S.P. Dinsmoor Self-Built House
Stone Log Cabin Mausoleum
Angel on Top of the Mausoleum
Cement Wash-House and Tools
Garden of Eden
Adam and Eve
Tree of Life – Angel Guarding the Apples
Devil in the Garden of Eden
Girl On a Swing and Another Catching a Bird
Cain Offering the Lord a Pumpkin (left) and Abel A Little Buck Merino (right)
Abel’s Wife and Shepherd Dog Discovering Abel Dead
Scared Cain and His Wife Going to the Land of Nod
Snake and Bird
Soldier with Gun Shooting Indian on the Next Tree with Girl After Him
Indian with Bow and Arrow Shooting at Dog on the Next Tree
American Flag that Protects Capital
Deer
Fallen American Flag
Goddess of Liberty with Spear through Head of Trusts – Man and Woman with Crosscut Saw Cutting off Trust Limb
Labor with the Grafter Leaders – Lawyer, Doctor, Preacher and Banker
Sculpture Garden
Miller’s Park:
Roy and Clara Miller traveled to 37 states, picking up interesting rocks, minerals, shells and artifacts. They incorporated their geological trove into a series of cone-shaped towers, many labeled with the state of origin. Thus Miller’s Park was born.
Roy and Clara Miller’s Park
Informational Sign
Rock Buildings
Cone-Shaped Rock Towers
Florence Deeble House and Rock Garden:
Beginning in 1935 and using postcards and drawings, Florence Deeble created miniature scenes of places in her concrete, rock and stone garden that she had visited or read about.
Florence died in 1999 and her family donated her house and yard to the Grassroots Art Center, which gives tours of her work. The Kansas Grassroots Art Center now uses her house for artists-in-residence. Since 2002, the first floor of Florence’s home has been turned into the Garden of Isis.
We toured some Public Art outside in front of the Florence Deeble House and then visited her Rock Garden in the backyard.
Florence Deeble House
Mechanical Woman
Abstract Art Pieces
Moon and Woman
Abstract Art Piece
Decorated Toddler
Women Dancing with Hats
Decorated Head
Kansas Mount Rushmore
Class of 1894
Lucas Band
Deeble Rock Garden
Mount Rushmore
Oak Creek Canyon Arizona
Capitol Reef National Park Utah
Indian Pueblo
Grassroots Art Center:
Unique art museum that features creative works of self-taught local and regional artists.
Grassroots Art Center
Polar Bear Out Front
Window Display
There were several art galleries. We started with the one on the left of the gift shop on the first floor.
Car and Motorcycle made from Soda Can Tabs
Closeup of Car Made from Soda Can Tabs
Motorcycle Made from Soda Can Tabs
Umbrella, Clothes and Shoes Made from Soda Can Tabs
Ed Root Sculptures
Barbed Wire Bird
Mule Skinner Bill and My Darling Clementine
Beware of Dog
New Game: Who’s Blue, Think Pink
Collection of Creatures
Roller Derby Queen
The second floor gallery had a great collection of painted wood carvings by Kathy Ruth Neal
Kathy Ruth Neal Wood Carvings Exhibit
Next we viewed the art gallery to the right of the gift shop on the first floor.
Makin Gin
Fancy Quilt
Wooden Heads
Model Farm
The Last Supper
Wagon Mules & People – Chilseled from Solid Stone
Model ‘T’ Ford – Chilseled from Solid Rock
Bottle Whimsy by Bob Fredericks
Sculptress Inez Marshall
Even the bathrooms had art.
Carved Man
We thought this lizard wrench was interesting in the gift shop.
Lizard Wrench
In the back of the Grassroots Art Center, there is the Post Rock Courtyard with more art.
Playing and Dancing Figures
Crucified Rabbit
Rolling Clock
Bald Eagle
Mosaic Windows
Strange Bird
Snakes and Silos
Creature and Old Fire Truck
Pole Art:
The poles along South Main Street outside of the Grassroots Art Center were decorated by various artists.
Flamingo and Man
Fish and Legs
Snakes and Mosaics
Dragon
Gears
Turtles
Tiger
World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things:
Located across the street from the Grassroots Art Center, this museum features artist-built mini-monuments devoted to roadside attractions.
World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things
Midwestern Marvels
Titanic Texas and California World’s Largest Things
Texas World’s Largest Things
Kansas World’s Largest Things
Switchgrass Art Gallery:
A couple doors from The World’s Largest Things was Switchgrass, a nonprofit, volunteer-run artist cooperative gallery. The gallery currently has 28 artist members and over 2,500 pieces of original art available to purchase.
Switchgrass Art Coop
Switchgrass Interior
Amelia’s Attic Piece
Art of Peter Max Lawrence
Lucas Library Mural:
The Lucas Library has a mural by A&A Sign Painting.
Lucas Library Mural
Sierer Family Mini Park:
Just north of the Lucas Library/Lucas Community Center is Sierer Family Mini Park. The park features a mural by Erika Nelson depicting the Czech migration.
Sierer Family Mini Park
Sierer Family Mini Park Sign
Mural by Erika Nelson depicting the Czech migration
Bowl Plaza:
Just north of Sierer Family Mini Park, Bowl Plaza features a public restroom shaped like a toilet bowl, complete with toilet paper.
Bowl Plaza
Toilet Paper
Grassroots Art Wall
Toilet Bowl Side
Toilet Bowl Lide (Entrance to Public Restrooms)
Inside Toilet Bowl
Flying Man in a Barrel next to Bowl Plaza
Fork Art:
Right next to Bowl Plaza there is a collection of fork art.
Collection of Fork Art
Lucas Sign
Spoon Art
South Main Street Buildings:
Here is a sampling of some of the buildings near Bowl Plaza along South Main Street.
Lucas Community Center
DADA Muse’um, Old Blue Studio and Proving Grounds with Kinetic Sculptures
Doorway with Mosaic
Mosaic Stairway
Seen Better Days
Ecletic House
Standing Dog Studio & Gallery:
LeAnne Doljac uses a variety of mediums and materials with salvaged and recycled items. While she often starts with a plan, she favors the intuitive process over holding to the original plan. Her use of strong colors and exploration of conflicting themes often results in edgy, whimsical pieces.
Standing Dog Studio & Gallery
Dickerman Open Range Zoo:
Lucas contains a few of the roadside creations of Jim Dickerman and his son Trent Dickerman.
Scoop Dig It Sculpture in Bowl Plaza
Wow Flower
Bison
Fence Post Art by Fred Whitman:
Along K-232 between Wilson and Lucas there are four fence posts that feature fence post art by Fred Whitman (we found three). These fence posts are made from chalky limestone rock that is soft when freshly quarried, but which hardens and becomes weather-resistant after exposure to air.
Airplane Mechanic
Man with Cowboy Hat
Woman with Sunflower
There is also a Fred Whitman carved fence post in the Post Rock Courtyard behind the Grassroots Art Center.
Little Boy Looking Up
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