Kansas Murals - by Lora Jost & Dave Loewenstein (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Travelers in Kansas in search of fine art needn't restrict themselves to the state's many excellent museums. They need look no further than the walls of their own communities to discover a remarkable array of murals--artistic creations that are striking, democratic, and easily accessible. Depicting Civil War history, the fruits of agriculture, Kansas' diverse cultural roots, and much more, these long-neglected works are now the subject of Lora Jost and Dave Loewenstein's fine new book.

Jost and Loewenstein, artists themselves, have crisscrossed Kansas researching and documenting over 600 murals to promote, preserve, and celebrate this vibrant public art. Theirs is the first and only book devoted exclusively to Kansas murals--a striking visual travelogue that offers a new perspective on the state's culture and history.

From unique small-town creations like Dennis Burghart's The Saga of the Santa Fe outside the Offerle Cafe to the world-famous John Steuart Curry painting of John Brown in the state capitol, murals constitute an enormous public art gallery. Some are socially compelling or were once the focus of intense controversy. Many are group projects in which artists have served as coordinators; these murals represent true expressions of their communities. All show the state as it has been seen through the eyes of Kansas artists over the past hundred years.

The authors focus on ninety exemplary murals--including mosaics and friezes--organized by region and featuring full-color photographs, brief descriptions, and notes on the artists. From Sacred Heart Cathedral to the Early Childhood Center on the Potawatomi Prairie Band Reservation, the artworks selected represent some of the most enduring and powerful images to be found throughout the state. The book also provides regional locator maps for travelers and a list of all 600-plus murals with their locations.

A unique resource that attests to the rich diversity of the mural tradition, this book is an open invitation to visit the open-air museum of Kansas murals and appreciate the stories they tell and their place in public life. They may be tucked into urban landscapes or require travel to out-of-the way locales; some may even be stained by years of exposure to the elements; but these expressions of public art are there for the viewing--and now, thanks to this book, there for the finding.

Review Quotes

"A perfectly amazing little book--part toss-it-in-the-backseat tourist's guide and part scholarly tome filled with amazing facts and trenchant observations about some ninety-odd works of art embellishing various public walls, silos, grain elevators, and culverts scattered from one end of Kansas to the other. . . . The examples illustrated in all their luscious, technicolor glory run the gamut . . . . This delightful romp through the heart of the Great Plains beloved by Benton and Tomlinson and Gude--and all the others honored here."--Great Plains Quarterly

"From the Kansas prairie comes a guidebook to the many murals that dot the state, indoor and outdoor, ranging from folk-inspired projects executed by schoolchildren to works by international art stars such as Joan Miro. This book, organized into geographic regions, gives each project a good color illustration and a discussion of the mural's creation and place in the community. These murals are colorful, historical, decorative, whimsical, didactic, and often inspiring. This is site-specific art that is usually accessible to a wide range of viewers. Whether the work is painted on a silo or is an elaborate mosaic at a church or museum, the authors--mural project artists and organizers themselves--give it a place of honor in this useful and helpful book."--Bloomsbury Review

"The authors are muralists who know their stuff. . . . Together, they traveled thousands of Kansas miles during half a decade to discover hundreds of murals. . . . Kansas Murals is an exciting addition to travel guides of the Sunflower State."--Kansas Traveler

"There are art treasures hidden in plain sight all across Kansas. A new book will help you find them. The authors bring an insider's appreciation to their descriptions and an enthusiast's excitement about the subject."--Wichita Eagle

"As much a book on Kansas land and history as about its mural art, this is a portrait of a place and its people. From beloved clichés to unexpected innovations, Jost and Loewenstein's selections take us from a wild-eyed John Brown to the 'ornate box turtle capital of the world, ' from silos to post offices, covered wagons to rocket ships, graffiti to 'architectural heaven.' Read this even if Kansas is not on your itinerary."--Lucy R. Lippard, author of Lure of the Local

"Makes me want to jump in the car right now and go look at those marvelous murals!"--Marci Penner, author of The Kansas Guidebook for Explorers

"An essential book for every traveler in the Kansas art-scape."--Charles C. Eldredge, author of Tales from the Easel