Art Mecca On The Plains

By Tim Trudell Freelance Travel Writer

With a canvas 122 feet tall, Guido van Helten went to work, mixing paint and climbing atop a cherry picker to create one of his famous grain silo murals depicting Midwestern life. The 270-degree art piece celebrates childhood memories as friends play a game of “Ring around the Rosie” at the southern edge of downtown Salina, Kansas.

“Mural at the Mill” - one of four grain silo murals van Helten has created across the Midwest - anchors Salina’s impressive public art scene. With another two dozen murals located on the side of buildings and in alleys, the city’s art scene also includes permanent and seasonal sculptures.

Murals have become a popular way for communities to share their history and culture, along with a little pop culture. In Salina, you’ll find paintings celebrating historical figures such as Amelia Earhart and pop culture like a girl and her dog standing inside the moon.

Salina’s public arts program traces its roots to the Works Project Administration during the Great Depression of the 1930s. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought a way to create a positive environment – and help boost the economy –during a somber period. The WPA employed artists around the country to create public art, from sculptures and murals to photographs. Later, President John F. Kennedy embraced the philosophy in creating the Art in Public Places Program.

Created in 1966 as a function of city government, Salina Arts and Humanities promotes public art in the community. Seeking to offer diverse creations, staff members acknowledge they can’t appeal to everyone, so the art visitors find around the city has been designed for broad appeal.

About 70 pieces – murals and sculptures – are located throughout the city, with the bulk of art showcased around downtown, primarily along Santa Fe Avenue. Several murals can be found in alleyways, creating vibrant, colorful scenery. Sculptures are found along the street.

Recognizing the blue collar work ethic of Kansans, artist Chris Stain created a mural honoring utility line workers in 2023. “The Lineman” mural features a worker standing in front of a silhouette of a utility pole and wires. The mural offers a realistic look at workers.

A young child sits innocently looking at the world in his lap as the focal point of “Inheritance,” painted by Joe Iurato in 2022. Its interpretation is left to the mind’s eye of the viewer. Another painting showcases a child’s dream of being a super hero.

Pop culture is highlighted as part of the city’s mural program. From abstract art using contemporary designs to butterflies and hummingbirds, you’ll find plenty of art to explore during a walk around downtown.

Salina celebrates its love of murals with the annual BOOM! Salina festival during the first week of October. Attracting artists from around the world, businesses commit to having art created on their building walls.

“Dionysus,” the Greek god of wine, revelry and artistic interpretation, is the focus of a mural created on a second grain silo. The 100-yearold structure features the art of PichiAvo, two Spanish artists who have created art around the city during previous BOOM! festivals.

Iurato honored photographer Martha “Marty” Cooper with a mural near a set of railroad tracks. Cooper is a noted documentary photographer, known for her urban photography.

Not to be outdone by murals, the Salina Arts and Humanities organization features sculptures on each downtown block. From a horse on a corner to a skeleton riding a motorcycle, sculptures run the gamut of pop culture to history. You’ll find a statue of a father with a child in one hand and a briefcase in another, reinforcing reality as parents balance home life with work. Another sculpture showcases the heroism associated with football and other sports.

Traditional art enthusiasts will enjoy visiting the Salina Art Center, which features regional and international artists, as well as an education center hosting special programs and events. With rotating exhibitions, the art center features a variety of pieces ranging from a look at life from artists’ points of view to another’s experience as an HIV-positive LGBTQ person.

Exploring Salina’s public art scene works up an appetite. Fortunately, the city’s culinary scene rivals its art. YaYa’s Euro Bistro’s menu includes small plate entrees of fresh calamari, crab cake and gnocchi, as well as flatbread pizza, pasta and steak. Sunday brunch at Blue Skye is a must, sampling the breakfast tacos and tator tots, with a side of house-made ranch dressing as a dip. The breakfast flatbread will challenge your taste buds.