Originally situated at the West edge of Lucas, the sculpture site was sold in 1969 and moved to Hays, Kansas. In 2012, Erika negotiated the return of the sculptures,which were then placed in a permanent location adjacent to the Garden of Eden in Lucas. New bases were poured as needed, sculptural elements rebuilt, and new materials were sourced for assemblage sculptures that had suffered loss.
Kohler Foundation Inc. returned to Lucas to guide the conservation of the sculptures in 2013 after sculpture prep and excavation at the former Hays site was completed.
Role: Project lead, site transfer facilitator, conservation technician, research, layout of new site.
Miller’s Park is now under stewardship of S.P. Dinsmomor’s Garden of Eden Inc.
Erika is pleased with the careful wrapping of material for transport The first load of sculptures return to Lucas in the wee hours of a cold January morning after 40 years absence Sculpture pad sites are dug for installation in a footprint that mirrors the original layoutConservation and restoration of the pieces took place in a nearby heated work area
Erika packs material into a void as a buffer between the original sculpture pad and the new reinforcement before placement.
Sculptures are hoisted into freshly prepared gravel beds in the New Miller’s ParkLocal industrial factory workers help move larger pieces into placeMiller’s Park mini buildings are settling into their padsHistoric fencing creates a perimiter to the newly sited Roy and Clara Miller’s Park