Stan Herd: Cairns on the Beach

Throughout the fall 2014 semester, Kansas artist Stan Herd worked with students from the K-State departments of Art and Landscape Architecture and Regional and Community Planning to design and install a temporary outdoor installation.

Inspired by the artist's encounter with stacked rock sculptures in woods near Perry Lake, Cairns on the Beach highlights the natural beauty of our region's geology and pays homage to the long history of built stone structures in Kansas. Herd, who is best known for his work as a crop artist—arranging rocks, dirt and plants into compositions best seen from above—acted as lead artist on this collaboratively designed project. He consulted with masons and carvers in the region to learn stacking techniques and source local stone.

The second phase of Cairns on the Beach featuring a green planting occurred during the spring 2015 semester. The installation will remain on display through the spring 2017 semester to allow visitors to view the work in a full range of seasons.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website