Kansas! Sideshow Extravaganza — Erika Nelson, Artist

Kansas! Sideshow Extravaganza
2021

Acrylic and canvas banner line, acrylic and panel title line, carnival stick joint construction, wooden assemblage fortune booth, nylon tent, assembled miniatures (various material), printed information plaques, custom printed fortunes.

10' x 30' x 16'

A traditional carnival stick joint features a full banner line of Kansas superlatives, interior collection of oddities and cabinet of wonder components, and a Kansas map with vitrines holding a World's Smallest Version of that geography's World's Largest Thing.

The front Fortune Teller booth was occupied 2x/day for the duration of the festival, with custom travel fortunes dispensed to festival-goers brave enough to invite fate.

Kansas displays included the Food Freak Show, WSVs of the WL Ball of Twine, Pallasite Meteorite, WL Prairie Dog, WL Electric Shovel, WL Travel Plate, and Ray O. Smith’s Concretalo.

Commissioned by the City of Salina, Salina Arts and Humanities Artist-In-Action for the Smoky Hill River Festival