The Sandhills end east of Broken Bow and the landscape changes from sand dunes and ranches to gently rolling hills and cultivated farm land. As I drove through Mason City (pop. 178) I see the sign "Martin's Iron Sculptures, 3 blocks South". That caught my attention because farm towns with 178 people living in them usually don't have art galleries. What they do have, and I'll post the ultimate example in a few days, are retired men with welding skills and access to lots of old farm implements and car parts. I didn't see Martin but he had a few dozen whimsical sculptures and whirligigs in his yard and a winter scene painted on his garage.
The sweetest part of the trip is next!
Richard Martin was my great-uncle and on a whim I decided to search the internet and see if anybody had ever written about his sculptures. I have spent nearly every Thanksgiving in my life at that house and seeing the pictures makes me smile. I'm glad other people can enjoy his work.
Posted by: Jill | 22 January 2009 at 02:50 PM
I enjoyed those sculptures. Glad you found them here!
Posted by: Joe | 22 January 2009 at 09:12 PM