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USA
Midwest
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Kearney, MO
Christian Nativity Rock Museum - Claude Melton
unknown
Religious/spiritual
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Information:
"When Claude Melton became disgruntled with his church in 1938, he set out to build a grotto which would celebrate the life and times of Jesus - then and now. The grotto began when Melton dug out (by hand) the basement under his house and filled the area with his work. He added additions running on all sides of the building, and the basement is now a diorama. The grotto consists of two main elements, the diorama and the tableau. They depict scenes from either Biblical - The Garden of Eden, The Governor's Palace of Pontius Pilate, a 3-D map of the Holy Land - or more esoteric - Chris Columbus and the Pilgrims, Welcome to Kearney, the Betterway Supper Club and the Apollo Moon Landing. Sadly, the environment is deteriorating.
Due to ill health, Melton abandoned his grotto 1994, and the roof on the garage is collapsing. His daughter and several townsfolk have decided to save the grotto but the site is in dire straits." If you or someone you know can help, please contact The Kansas Grassroots Arts Association.
"Raw Vision Magazine" #23, Summer 1998
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Bibliography:
On DVD - Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations, "Neighborly Northerners", KCPT, Kansas City Public Television, 1996-2001.
"Raw Vision Magazine" #23, Summer 1998
"Self-Made Worlds: Visionary Environments" by Roger Manley and Mark Sloan, Aperture, New York, 1997.
"Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations Coast to Coast Travel-o-Pedia" by Randy Mason, et. al., Kansas City Star Books, 2009. |
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