Herd to design crop art for campus
By Jon Parton
Local artist and native Kansan Stan Herd has been commissioned by the college to bring “crop art” to campus. Herd will develop a piece called “Kansa Man” on a quarter-acre of land near the outdoor horticulture garden.
“Crop art” (also called “Earthwork”) is a large scale form of art that uses varieties of plants and rocks to create an image. All of the plants, grasses and rocks used will be indigenous to Kansas, according to James Leiker, director of the Kansas Studies Institute. Leiker believes the artwork will help educate people about the state.
“It’s kicking down the boundary between art and science,” Leiker said.
Leiker believes the project will be beneficial to all departments of the school, as well as the community.
“It shows that [the college] is committed to the local,” Leiker said.
The artwork is based upon a prehistoric rock carving design called a petroglyph. It is meant to represent a member of the native “Kansa” tribe.
Leiker believes the artwork ties in with the Kansas Studies Institute’s goal of creating awareness for the state.
“It’s a visual representation of what I’m trying to do with this project,” Leiker said.
Funding for the piece is being provided by auxiliary funds from various departments of the college. Leiker said no general funds are being used.
Leiker’s department is not the only one involved with the project. The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and the Horticultural Sciences department have both lent their support.
John Stiles, student, said he looks forward to working on the project.
“We’re hoping that landscape maintenance class and landscape construction class can start working on it this spring,” Stiles said.
Stiles said that student involvement plays a large part in the project, from plant selection to maintaining the land for years to come.
“There’s a lot of talk about sustainability,” Stiles said.
Lekha Sreedhar, chair, Horticultural Sciences department, said that students will maintain the artwork and create a new design every year.
“Students will be involved in every step,” Sreedhar said.
Initial planting of the piece is set to begin sometime in the spring. Sreedhar said her students are proud to be connected to Herd’s unique form of art.
“It is important to me that students get involved,” Sreedhar said.
Sreedhar said that working with Herd has been a great experience for both her and students.
“He is so relaxed and easygoing,” Sreedhar said. “I had many students ask ‘When is Stan coming back?’”
Contact Jon Parton, staff reporter at jparton@jccc.edu.