RUSSELL COUNTY TOUR OF THE ARTS
"From Fine Arts to Quirky Art"
Lincoln Sculpture Park
Bricker Park
Deines Cultural Center
Grassroots Arts Center
Garden of Eden
The Flying Pig Studio
Lucas' Huge Plate
This can be a drive-by and a photo opportunity. Depart I-70 at exit 184 onto Hwy 281 North. Drive one mile to the first stop light. Turn left on Hwy 40 driving 5 blocks to Lincoln street and then turn right 2 blocks arriving at Lincoln Sculpture park. (Note the limestone gateways).
Lincoln Sculpture Park introduces you to the many forms of art that you will encounter across the county. The treeless plains of the 1800's lead to quarrying limestone from the ground to not only construct business buildings and homes, but tombstones, fence posts, bridges, art and more!
The center piece of the park is the Seventh Trumpet; commonly known as Angel In The Park. It was constructed in 1988 with a grant from the Kansas Cultural Arts Commission and the Russell Arts Council Funds, to symbolize a turn-around of the local economy and a new beginning. The artists idea was to portray that when the angel blows the 7th trumpet, better times and new beginnings were ahead. Oil field and farm steel materials were used to construct the angel, symbolic of the oil and farm related livelihood of the area. The structure is 12 feet tall and rests on a five foot base in the former gold fish pond. Six hundred feet of quart inch malleable steel creates the figures hair. Trudy Furney, National Art Educator in Secondary Education in 1987, a recognized Kansas artist and retired Russell High School art instructor designed the symbol. Former students helped with the construction. Note the detail of the sandal at the hem line.
A you enter the park your eyes will be immediately drawn to the limestone shelter house with its stone couches. Constructed by President Roosevelt's Works Projects Administration (WPA funds) it makes a strong statement of the ingenuity and determination of men during the Great Depression.
The abstract sculpture Roughnecks was created by Richard Bergen of Salina, Kansas. It is his interpretation of two oil field hands working the floor of an oil field rotary rig. He sees them as working opposite of each other over a set of tongs that are used to tighten together a section of drill pipe going back into the hole. He used steel as a medium depicting the oil field industry of iron and steel. The sculpture was dedicated in 1987 to the City of Russell and was a gift from the Russell Arts Council. It makes a strong statement of the ingenuity and determination of men. In addition the Roughnecks in the park, the larger-than-life bronze Bronco displayed at the Russell High School was created by Bergen. He also created the Kansa Indian that sits atop the Kansas State Capital dome in Topeka.
The minature Statue of Liberty is made of stamped copper and stands 8 feet tall. It was placed there by Boy Scouts in 1950 at a cost of $300. The initial idea came from Jack Whitaker of Kansas City to construct small statues across the nation to "Strengthen the Arm of Liberty". However, the National Sculpture Society said they were too cheap and would not last.
The bronze Brundage Memorial by F.R. "Rags" Wentworth of Russell is only one of his creations. He also created the carved relief sculpture mural of Indians and ponies above the entrance of the Ruppenthal Middle School. The original cast is on display at the Fossil Station Museum.
Depart the park to Fourth Street; turn right 2 blocks to Main Street. Note the limestone court house. Turn left, travel to Sixth and Main, turn left one block to the Post Office for a view inside of the 1939 painting "Harvest". It is a WPA project and is on the National Historic Registry as well as the building.
Return to Main Steet and head left to Bricker Park to view limestone sculptures by Sculptor Gary Christie. You can also see Christie's sculptures at the Oil Patch Museum, at businesses and at his home in Luray. Note the black vintage lamp posts along Main Street. Each post is labeled and dedicated. Ask for a walking brochure.
Deines Cultural across the street from Bricker Park houses a permanent collection of the world famous engraver of wood block prints and carving tools of Hubert Deines. In addition other artist fine art shows open every 5-6 weeks with a reception. The center also hosts an acoustic jam session every 3rd Sunday.
Depart Russell on Hwy 281 North 15 miles to K-18 East to Luray. Your drive through of this quaint town will lead you by other Christie limestone carvings. Note the old lime stone methodist Church.
Depart on K-18 East for 8 miles to Lucas the "grassroots Art Center of Kansas". Allow at least 45 minutes to visit the Grassroots Art Center featuring art made by self-taught artists working outside the academic structure of fine art and beyond the cultural traditions of folk art. In addition, Lucas houses the work of 17 untrained artists of the region and post rock limestone courtyard that is a tribute to early stonemasons.
Allow another 45 minutes to tour and hear about the Garden of Eden, a wonder in concrete forms of people, birds, animals and a serpent experience other quirky wonderful things Lucas has to offer. Lucas was named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Art by the Kansas Sampler, a grassroots organization.
Allow 20 minutes to view wonderful glazed creations at The Flying Pig Studio. Return to K-18 East for a photo opportunity of huge Plate Design before turning south on the Post Rock Scenic Byway that will carry you across the beautiful Wilson Lake Dam. When you reach I-70 turn west and travel to downtown Bunker Hill and enjoy a delicious dinner in historic Bunker Hill Cafe or travel 9 miles to Russell for a wide selection of menu items!