Joe Kauffman - Zimmerdale, Kansas - 1931-1999

Metal Sculpture

Joe I. Kauffman, self-proclaimed mayor of Zimmerdale, died at 68, a former mechanic and operator of an auto repair shop in Zimmerdale for many years. Joe's nickname was "Mr. Goodpliers." He made metal sculptures that surrounded his shop. He was of the adventurous sort as he made his own boat and navigated rivers. Zimmerdale was never an official town and only consisted of some ten buildings, a grain elevator and salvage yard. After Kauffman's death, the county commissioners placed the "town" of Zimmerdale on the auction block.

Ronald Keith - Penokee, Kansas - 1938-2018

Wooden Toys

Ronald Keith started whittling toys as a kid.  "They weren't fancy and were played with" so they no longer remain. His later work was "winter projects", mostly things they had on the farm when he was a kid. 

Ida Kingsbury - Pasadena, Texas

Recycled Yard Art

Ida Kingsbury was a life long Texan. When Ida's husband died she spent the next 17 years ornamenting the yard surrounding their home.  Tom and Moria LaFaver and the Friends of Ida Kingsbury provided the opportunity for the art center to receive this yard environment from Pasadena, Texas. throughout these latter years, the yard became an outdoor exhibition, 'jam-packed' with Ida's art work. She painted on every imaginable surface including teapots, metal anchors, plastic animals, two litter pop bottles, tire inner tubes, milk buckets, washboards, birdhouses and whatever appeared on her doorstep. Important dates in her life such as living at Schulenburg, TX, or when her dog 'Big Boy' died were enumerated in text.

John Korzinowski - Kansas City, Missouri - 1924-2013

Wrench motif, Indian head chief, yard assemblages

John Korzinowski turned metal wrneches into gates and yard art.   He just wanted something to do with his tools and time.  His yard was an attraction in the Kansas City area.

"Castle Island" Yard Environment

Don Kracht - Junction City, Kansas

HIdden in the trees in the middle of Kansas is Don Kracht's "Castle Island."  It is a scene that he has been building since the early 1990's straight from the days of knights and ladies-in-waiting.  When he moved some dirt  to build a pond, he realized he had created an island.  He said "I had an island with a moat around it, and I figured if you have an island and a moat, you've got to have a castle." His environment is complete with castle gatehouse, wooden drawbridge, pool of Venus and Queen's Garden, dungeon, round table, stained glass, verandas, and turret's.  Don is king of  his castle.

Wood Carving

Anna Larkin - McPherson, Kansas - 1855-1939

Anna Larkin began carving in Sweden when she was 7.  Her uncle was a famous Swedish carver.  At 10 she sold a carved horse for $10 to a sea captain.  She settled in McPherson, KS and carved all her life  She used primarily white pine and occasionally California sugar pine.  An average carving took 2 days.  She would cut and saw out the rough shape and the next day carve the details with a paring knife. Fro finishing, she would rub the work with a piece of glass, followed by two grades of sandpaper.  She rarely painted her carvings.  She said that painting meant covering up something you were ashamed of, and she was not asheamed of her work. She espcieally loved to carve oxen and covered wagons.  Anna sent a carving to President Franklin Roosevelt. A collection of her carvings can be found at the McPherson Museum & Arts Foundation.

Self Portrait Artist

Elizabeth 'Grandma" Layton - Wellsville, Kansas - 1909-1993

Elizabeth Layton started drawing in 1977 in a class which taught the technique of blind drawing whereby one looks at the paper while drawing, and not the subject. Elizabeth began looking in the mirror and, using the technique, began drawing herself. After she had been drawing for 12 hours a day for 6 months, she had cured her 20 year manic depression.Her works have been exhibited across the country.  She did not sell her pieces, but gave them away or donated to charity auctions benefiting the arts, mental health, women's causes and civil liberties.

Christian Leiker - Hays, Kansas - 1921-2001

Metal Environment

Christian Leiker made metal sculptures from old water heaters and mufflers. He created the Wizard of Oz characters which reside at the kansas originals market in Wilson, KS. He used parts and supplies from appliance shops in the Hays area.

Metal Environment

Curly Leiker - Hays, Kansas

Starting in the 1960's, Curly Leiker has made metal art from scrap iron parts.  He started out making small "nut people" out of nuts and bolts.  He was encouraged to go bigger, and he made a large-scale figure on a mailbox. There are now more than 300 scattered over the US.  "My goal is to make it look as natural as possible.  It's important to me that you see something in it." Heis collection also includes dinasaurs, spiders, and a giant bee.  He has decorated gourds, bones and turtle shells.