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.
Feist area wide phone book for northwest Kansas featured the Van Gogh painting on the cover several years ago.
The painting was erected over nine 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. Cameron Cross, Canadian painter, continues to work on plans to build paintings in South Africa, Argentina and Holland. The Van Gogh has been featured in national magazines, on a state list of top 8 sites in Kansas, on a special show on the Smoky Hills Public Television and has brought many people to town to see the unique piece of giant art.
The painting is across the street from Pioneer Park, which was finished several years ago, 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.
Today an effort is underway to add trees to the landscaping around the Van Gogh painting. The land around the painting belongs to the City of Goodland, and the city commissioners have agreed the area needs to be spruced up. The plan is to bring in up to 25 Pine, Blue Spruce and Austrian Pine trees this fall and then add more trees and shrubs next year. So far 25 to 30 pine trees have been donated, but the Shine On Sherman County Resource Development Committee and Beautification Committee are trying to raise money for more trees, to add an information kiosk and to maintain the painting. The funds are being raised through a special fund at the Sherman County Community Foundation.
More information about the painting and the painter can be found at: www.thebigeasel.com
Views of the Van Gogh 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.
