In the 1930's archaeologists discovered
fossils of the 80 million year old fish "Xiphactinus" in Kansas.
Both the University of Kansas Natural History Museum and the
Sternberg Museum in Hays house specimens of the 30 to 40 foot
ocean dweller, whose remains have also been found in England
and Australia. After a trip to Hays to view the fossil with
his son Evan in summer of 98, Stan began drawings which led
to the Ancient Fish Maze currently taking shape on a
hilltop field on the outskirts of Lawrence.
Subtracted out of dormant alfalfa, the subtle design grew from
the artists desire to create an original artwork just for the
sake of creating.
"Demands
on my time and energy to finance my art often leave me with
little time to dream of creating art -- like my son Evan --
just for the joy of it." Watching his instinctual need to draw
reminded me of how far I had drifted from the natural impulse." Stan
Herd , March 1999
