Republic, Missouri: Lanning Sculpture Garden (Closed)

I will be going to this auction with the intent of purchasing something from Mr. Lanning's estate. I feel that at least one of his sculptures should stay close to where it was made before they are scattered across the country to the folk art dealers. I live less than a mile from his property and he was a very kind and interesting man.

Ralph Lanning passed away in December. What a loss. The sculptures in the garden are to be auctioned off Friday, April 9. You can see the 120 sculptures that are to be auctioned by visiting the Web site www.billylong.com/0409. There are only a few more days to visit the garden before the auction.

Mr. Lanning passed away on Dec. 19, 2009.

So glad we stopped here on our way to St. Louis. I started taking photographs and Ralph Doss Lanning came out to greet me. A very friendly artist, he took me around the garden and showed me around. His wife Gretchen just passed away last year. The older sculptures are a little rough around the edges and could use a coat of paint (as he remarked) but his work is amazing. Interspersed are his stonecarved work and it's a wonder to behold. A large Moses is a work of art and a Lady Godiva with nearby Peeping Tom.

While many of the works have biblical themes it'd be oversimplifying to call him a Biblical artist. Some works are from Greek, Roman and even Norse mythology. Then there are the pieces he's made to local landmarks or those based on mountain folklore. The two headed monster is a great example of that.

Lanning told us that seeing as he's in his 90s, he's a bit worried about what will become of his garden once he dies. He and Gretchen didn't have any children so there are no heirs, and while many museums are interested in his works he would like them to remain together as a whole. Sad to see it all be pulled apart.

We almost didn't stop here as it was off the interstate and on the parallel State Highway, but I'm so glad we did. It was a tremendous pleasure to visit here.

An odd sculpture park on the side of the road. It's free!

I've just heard that the land the Lanning Garden in Republic is on has been zoned commercial property and will probably be a gas station or something some time in the future.