There's So Much To Love About The Most Eclectic Town In Kansas
By Clarisa|Published June 12, 2019
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Clarisa
Author
Born and raised Kansan, Clarisa has lived in both tiny towns and cities during their time here in the Sunflower State. As a busy mother of one crazy kid, two cats, and two geckos, they write whenever there is spare time.
This town full of unique individuals is mostly filled with pieces of the Grassroot Art Movement, where anyone and everyone can participate through their own creations, no matter how inexperienced they are. After all, most of the art is built by the older crowd, most of which with no training, only a desire for more color in their lives. Come take a peek at the most eclectic town in Kansas.
Welcome to Lucas, Kansas, the home of the Grassroots Arts Movement, and plenty of great people who express their love of art wherever they can.
Here in Lucas, they have a great sense of humor, especially when it comes to their art. One look at this "American Fork Art" will tell you that anything is work making art about, especially if it can also be turned into a pun or satirical expression.
On your way into town, if anyone needs a bathroom break, feel free to stop by their public toilet shaped... just like a toilet! The pavement is concrete "toilet paper" and the toilet is decorated with an incredible mosaic of anything and everything.
Most of the art featured in town is made of found objects, metal, concrete, and other recycled materials. A majority of the artists are near or past retirement age, and have no formal training. Everyone is an amateur, and that's the best way to be.
One of their most famous attractions, and a great place to tour, is The Garden of Eden, a creation by S.P. Dinsmoor that has an incredible amount of concrete sculptures of many people, animals, and structures in all shapes and sizes.
Another famous art installation here in town is the World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things, which started as a traveling exhibit of tiny sculptures of the world's largest objects, and eventually opened up a stationary building here in Lucas that serves as the headquarters for such an oddball attraction.
Lucas is also home to many a decorated car, which you may see driving around or parked in lots, like this one covered in "melting" dinosaurs, creating an oil slick, an artistic expression of what runs our vehicles.
Another famous car often seen in town is ChewBaru, a car where you'll find weird dolls, toothpaste tubes, and plenty of teeth no longer held in mouths. People wear their weird art proudly, and are never ashamed about their creations.
Next time you're traveling through Kansas or looking for a new spot to cross off of your bucket list, consider Lucas, a town of artsy expression and more than its fair share of fun.
