25 years of Seeking Grassroots Art 1995-2020

By Rosslyn Schultz, Executive Director

What a wild and fun adventure the last 25 years have been exploring Kansas and the Midwest discovering self-taught, intuitive, visionary artists! The relationships with these people, their art and stories, photos and videos of their environments will remain a cherished possession throughout my lifetime.

The diversity and differences of each artist is evident in this exhibit “Flying Free.” Yet they are all bound together in the fact that, “It’s in their DNA to create!” It has been an honor to document 122 Kansas and 43 Midwest sites. New self-taught artists and art environment will continue to shine in the coming years. As always, we need your help to identify new sites, so join the Grassroots Art Center scout team.

Artist Directory

Ron Alexander - Gypsum, Kansas - 1946-

Wood Carvings

A self-taught archeologist, botanist, and recycled artist, Ron Alexander, Gypsum, uses all things in nature for his art pieces - bone, stone or driftwood, and even roadside trash.

Anchor A

Anchor B

Dan Beck - Wichita, Kansas - 1949-2020

Limestone Yard Environment

Dan Beck was a laid-back individual and better known as "Local Diety" in Wichita. He brought in thousands of pounds of limestone from area quarries and used his artistic skills to cut, carve, and saw his yard environment into place. His love of vibrant colors can also be seen on the outside and inside of his home. Beck saw totem poles in other yards and wanted to make his different. So he started with a telephone pole, added horns and poker chips to represent wins in debating tournaments, window blinds, and a few miscellaneous items, and his totem was very unique. From his love of rocks, he began to cut, saw, and carve limestone, often adding splashes of color through landscape plantings. He loved to carve in jade and was a prolific painter. Beck was a college champion debater and loved working with school kids.