"There is no mystery behind Cameron Cross’s Big Easel Project, and the public work is exactly as it sounds. In 2001, Cross began work on a 24-foot by 32-foot reproduction of Van Gogh’s Three Sunflowers in a Vase, which he then displayed on a giant steel easel on the outskirts of Goodland, Kansas," the Atlas Obscura says

"Somewhere between roadside attraction and part of the landscape, the massive still life replication easily draws the gaze of drivers and visitors, but seldom sees much more attention than that.

"Cross first dreamt up the idea in his hometown of Altona, Canada. After working as a teacher and artist in the town, he wanted to give something back, and so decided to recreate one of the Dutch master’s works. Well received locally, Cross traveled across the world to Australia and eventually Kansas where he erected his massive picture on an 80-foot easel off of I-70."

"The Big Easel project is the brainchild of artist Cameron Cross. His vision is to put a huge Easel on every continent (sometimes, 2 per continent) that has some connection to either VanGogh or Sunflowers. The Goodland Easel is number three, following erections in Canada and Australia," the worldslargestthings.com says.

"Cameron chose Kansas for its Sunflower State status. According to the official site, The Van Gogh Project is a series of Big Easel paintings based on Vincent van Gogh's Sunflower Paintings. Each sculpture consists of one of the seven Sunflower Paintings, measuring 24 feet x 32 feet, which rests on a 80 feet high, 45,000 pound steel easel.

"The first Easel was erected in Altona, Canada on October 17, 1998. The second was finished and erected on November 8, 1999 in Emerald, Australia. The third easel was successfully proposed to the city of Goodland and the State of Kansas, USA. Construction began in the spring of 2000."

"One of Kansas’ most unique roadside attractions is located right off of I-70 and can be seen (sorta) from the highway.

"The World’s Largest Easel in Goodland, Kansas stands 80 feet tall and holds a humongous replica of Vincent Van Gogh’s famous painting, "3 Sunflowers in a Vase.” This version is painted by Cameron Cross," the Travels And Curiosities says.

"For the Easel/Van Gogh Project, Cross focused on recreating Van Gogh’s series of sunflower paintings, each one measuring 7 meters x 10 meters. The first easel was erected in Canada, the second in Australia, with the Goodland easel being the third to be installed."

"In the spring of 2001, the “World’s Largest Painting on an Easel” was erected in Pioneer Park, in Goodland, Kansas along Business Highway 24. The 24 by 32 foot painting is a reproduction of Vincent Van Gogh’s Three Sunflowers in a Vase, the first in a series of seven sunflower paintings painted in Arles, France, between 1888-1889. The Big Easel found it’s way to Goodland because of Cameron Cross’s Van Gogh Project," the City Of Goodland says

"The Goodland easel is the third painting in the Van Gogh Project. Goodland was chosen as a site due to its close connection to sunflower agriculture. The seven sites selected range from rural to urban with populations from several thousand to several million. The sites selected are in Canada, Australia, the United States, the Netherlands, Japan, South Africa and Argentina with each possessing a connection to sunflower agriculture or Van Gogh.

"The steel easel is 80 feet tall, with a design wind load of 38 pounds per square foot. It weighs 40,000 pounds, with 24 three-foot long anchor support bolts and 30 feet deep cement pilings. The 24 foot by 32 foot canvas consists of 24 sheets of standard four by eight foot plywood sheets with two layers of one ounce matte fiberglass covered in a layer of industrial gel coat. It is attached to the steel frame with over 500 high-performance self-tapping (wood to steel) fastener screws."

"This incarnation of the easel project focuses on Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflower Paintings. Each sculpture consists of a painting which measures 7 metres x 10 metres, and rests on a 23 metre – 17,000 kilogram steel easel. The first easel has been completed and was erected in Canada; the second in Australia and the third easel was successfully presented and now rests in the state of Kansas, USA," the cameronacross.com says.

"The concept for this project includes reproducing selected Sunflower Paintings originally created by Vincent van Gogh. Van Gogh painted seven different but similar Sunflower paintings between the years 1888-1889. The symbolic reference of Van Gogh’s Sunflower paintings is strong. I believe he saw the Sunflower as a representation of life, hope and renewal.

"The idea of taking a very traditional symbol of art – the 19^th century still life on an easel – and enlarging it to an enormous proportion, interests me greatly. The traditional ‘painting on an easel’ is now a contemporary work of sculpture. By placing virtually the same sculpture in different countries, with distinct cultures, I am curious as to how these sculptures will be interpreted. Will the sculpture be perceived for its reference to the sunflower, Van Gogh or art in general?"

"The first Big Easel was created in the artist’s home town, Altona, Manitoba, Canada on October 17, 1998. It was named “the largest painting on an easel” by the Guinness Book of World Records. Altona, the Sunflower Capital of Canada, is a small, mostly Mennonite community with a population of around 4,000 between Winnipeg and Grand Forks, North Dakota. They grow a lot of sunflowers and have a Sunflower Festival," the greetingsfromthepast.com says.



"The second giant van Gogh was erected on November 8, 1999 in Emerald, Queensland, Australia, Altona’s sister city. The Queen of the Altona Sunflower Festival wins a trip to the Emerald Sunflower Festival. Emerald is a larger town, with a population around 15,000.

"The one we saw was the third, in Goodland, Kansas, the Sunflower State. This Van Gogh Project Big Easel was dedicated August 2001, during Goodland’s Sunflower Festival. The painting is so huge, Cameron Cross painted it in sections as big as a local building would hold, then assembled and completed it on-site. In July 2012, the Goodland giant Van Gogh was taken down and touched up with brighter colors then welded back in place. Local Goodland artists have painted smaller Van Goghs on easels in city parks."

"The painting and easel are currently one of only three in the world. The projects intent is to reproduce all seven of Vincent van Gogh's sunflower paintings on giant easels in seven different countries around the globe.

"The project is expected to be included in the Guiness Book of World Records. The painting stands in a park complex which encompasses Pioneer Park built directly west of the painting," the Travel Kansas says

"The Big Easel is found along the Land and Sky Scenic Byway. This byway is the only byway that focuses on agriculture and features thousands of acres of rotating crops, livestock, and wildlife along the route, but that’s not all. Travelers also have the opportunity to experience the Wallace Branch of the Great Western Cattle Trail, scale the highest point in Kansas at Mount Sunflower, marvel at the world’s largest Van Gogh and explore the deep canyons and rugged landscape of the Arikaree Breaks."

"There are attractions, and there are attractions. The Giant reproduction of van Gogh's "3 Sunflowers In A Vase" can be seen from I-70 as you pass through Goodland, Kansas and I think that view is enough. At most, a closer visit gives you a photo opportunity. There isn't enough here to be as interesting as say Cawker City's World's Largest Ball of Twine," the kansastravel.org says.

"The Big Easel Project started in 1996 when Cameron Cross contributed a work of art to Altona, Manitoba, Canada, the community where he worked as an artist and teacher. Cross selected a public domain Vincent van Gogh sunflower paintings and created a 24 by 32 foot reproduction of the painting on an 80 foot steel easel. The structure and painting weigh 40,000 pounds.

"Cross has since expanded the project to reproduce up to seven of van Gogh's portraits of sunflowers that were originally painted in 1888 and 1889. So far, there are three paintings. The second was erected in Emerald, Australia in 1999, and the Goodland, Kansas painting was completed on August 17, 2001. Although other locations have considered the Big Easel project, there have been no new giant van Gogh paintings since the construction of this painting in Goodland."

"For the past several years, Goodland, in western Kansas, has been waving at passers-by with the World's Largest Easel (or at least the largest along a U.S. Interstate). It's 80 feet tall, and atop it rests a 32x24-foot representation of one of Van Gogh's "Sunflower" paintings. It's about a half-mile off of I-70, along Hwy 24 near the center of town," the Roadside America says.

"Kansas is the "Sunflower State," and Goodland is at the center of the local sunflower industry, so it makes sense. It made enough sense to the trade group, Sunflowers USA, that when Canadian artist Cameron Cross pitched them the idea in 2000, they raised the $150K necessary to build the thing. After overcoming some visa problems, Cross arrived and the Easel was dedicated in August 2001, during Goodland's Sunflower Festival.

"The easel is built of steel, weighing 45,000 pounds. The supports are sunk 35 feet into the ground. According to one reporter, "When asked when it would come down, [Goodland spokesperson] Price replied, 'It won't.'"The painting is properly angled so that the sun illuminates it, and photos can be taken with a "Goodland" water tower in the background. A small parking lot is provided, but not needed when we arrived. Though initial estimates were for the easel to attract an additional 89,000 annual visitors, we were the only ones there when we visited."

"In the spring of 2001, the “World’s Largest Painting on an Easel” was erected in Pioneer Park, in Goodland, Kansas. The 24 x 32-foot painting is a reproduction of Vincent Van Gogh’s Three Sunflowers in a Vase, the first version in a series of seven sunflower paintings painted in Arles, France, between 1888-1889," the Sherman County Community Development says.

"The project began in 1996 when Cameron Cross decided to contribute a work of art to Altoona, Canada, where he was teaching. Cross decided an enlarged hand-painted reproduction of one of Vincent Van Gogh’s sunflower paintings resting on an enormous easel would make an appropriate landmark for the city.

"Cross decided to expand the project to seven easels, with the intent to reproduce all seven of Van Gogh’s sunflower paintings on giant easels in seven different countries spanning the globe. “Taking a traditional representation of visual art – the painting on an easel – and enlarging it to enormous proportions, changes the viewer’s perception of this image. The easel is now a landmark; it is now a contemporary work of public sculpture"

"If you like Van Gogh, you'd like this enormous painting in Goodland, KS. Worth taking more than a picture or two, from up close, to near the road. This is the ultimate honor a painter can have."

"You are completely dwarfed by the easel, so you can get a great selfie, but be sure to get close enough so you can see the people in the photo. It was fun to stop here on a pretty day."

"A nice stretch your legs stop in Goodland, KS, there is green space for the kids to run and a picnic table if you are looking for a quiet road stop for lunch. The picture and easel are huge, the kids thought it was really cool."

"You can see it from a distance on I-70, if you are looking for it, but it's not the same. Take the extra 5 minutes and go. It's a nice quirky stop."

"Great photo opportunity with this great roadside stop."