http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/ne...12503434.htmStan Herd is a man on a mission. For the past few weeks, the nationally acclaimed Kansas artist has been creating a football-field-sized rendition of the new Kansas quarter -- in an alfalfa field in the northwest part of Hutchinson.
He admits it hasn't been easy.
At first, the field was dry, dusty and definitely not the color he was looking for. (Rain this past week made the sandy soil and alfalfa great to work with.)
And he threw his back out etching the design with a handheld garden tool and a long hoe in the 20-acre field at 1200 W. 30th Ave.
But it's come together.
"It will be pretty visible," Herd says of the project, which is designed to be viewed from overhead.
For those without wings, the work can be seen in a poster that will be sold at the Sept. 9 ceremony at the Kansas State Fair marking the release of the quarter . Woodblock prints will also be available for sale during the fair.
Herd produced the design with natural materials. The alfalfa serves as the background of the coin; black lava rock and red cypress mulch create the lettering; a buffalo is being carved into the soil, with white marble stone highlighting its horns; and corn colors the sunflowers.
Herd has had help from his 14-year-old son, Evan; his field manager, Katherine Harzman; and Harzman's daughter, Mary.
Hutchinson residents went to the field daily to watch the progress.
"I've watched a lot of his work the last 20 years and know he's done neat things in fields," said David Stroberg, the Hutchinson farmer who gave Herd permission to use his field.
"What he's doing now may not look like much, but when he gets done, it will look good."
Herd began designing the project two months ago, talking first with Stroberg to see which field would be best for the design.
Stroberg offered him fields with wheat stubble, irrigated corn, soybeans or alfalfa.
The first week of August, Herd began working in the alfalfa field.
"You can sure tell he has worked with soil and that farming is in his background," Stroberg said. "He just has the feel for the soil and what plants will do."
Herd is originally from Protection but now lives in Lawrence. Since 1981 he has been creating field art -- or, as he calls it, earthworks. Those works have featured Kiowa chief Satanta, humorist Will Rogers, aviator Amelia Earhart and a vase of Kansas sunflowers.
Sponsors for the Kansas quarter earthwork project include SBC Communications, the Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas, the Topeka Community Foundation and the Kansas Museum of History.
Anita Wolgast, chairwoman of the Governor's Quarter Launch Committee, said Herd's artwork will do more than promote the design of the new Kansas quarter.
"It promotes the arts in Kansas. It promotes pride in Kansas."
Posted 08/31/2005 1:36 pm
