Giant Van Gogh Painting a landmark for Goodland
The 24-by-32-foot replica of a Vincent Van Gogh sunflower painting by Canadian artist Cameron Cross has been getting noticed. People pull off Interstate 70 to look at the giant painting and to take photos of the 80-foot easel near the intersection of Cherry Ave. and Business U.S. 24. Last year the Feist phone book cover featured the Van Gogh painting on the cover.
The painting was erected over three years ago through a special project at a total cost of $150,000. The Sunflower USA non-profit corporation received an attraction grant from the State of Kansas to help with the project. This is one of three large Van Gogh sunflower paintings in the world. It is the only one in the United States. One is in Altoona, Canada and another in Emerald City, Australia. Plans are underway to build paintings in South Africa, Argentina, Holland and possibly Japan. The Van Gogh has been featured in national magazines and on a special show on the Smoky Hills Public Television.
The painting is across the street from Pioneer Park, which was finished in October, and some landscaping has been done around the base of the painting. In 2004 The Goodland Rotary erected a floodlight in front of the painting to allow it to be lighted at night as part of their Rotary Centennial Project. The light makes the painting stand out and is visible from I-70.
Special post cards and pins are available from various locations in Goodland.
More information about the painting can be found at: www.thebigeasel.com
Views of the Van Gog painting as it was erected, and lit at night
The painting has been featured on television, and was part of a comedy series based in Kansas in 2004. The big painting is based on Van Gogh's painting of three sunflowers in a pot. It was one of a series of seven sunflower paintings done by Van Gogh while he was in Holland.
Van Gogh/Goodland pin available!
For information about wholesale purchase call Donna Price at the Sherman County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 890-3515 or 888-824-4222. The pin is available for purchase at a suggested retail price of $3.49 per pin at The Goodland Star-News office 1205 Main, and are available at the Sinclair station, Hospital Auxiliary gift shop, KOA Kampground, Bowmans Heating and Air Conditioning and at The Total Look beauty shop.
