(man) ♪ WELCOME TO A SHOW ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN SEE ♪ ♪ WITHOUT GOING FAR, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE FREE.

♪ ♪ IF YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IN THE OLD HEARTLAND, ♪ ♪ YOU OUGHT TO HIT THE BLACKTOP ♪ ♪ WITH THESE FOOLS IN A VAN.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ RANDY DOES THE STEERING SO HE WON'T HURL.

♪ ♪ MIKE GOT THE MAP, SUCH A MAN OF THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ THAT'S DON WITH THE CAMERA, ♪ ♪ KIND OF HEAVY ON HIS SHOULDER.

♪ ♪ AND THAT GIANT BALL OF TAPE, IT'S A WORLD RECORD HOLDER.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ [Don imitating Rochester] MR. BENNY, MR. BENNY.

WAKE UP, MR. BENNY.

WE'RE IN MINNESOTA.

[imitating Jack Benny] WELL, THAT'S RIDICULOUS, ROCHESTER.

(Don) DEAR TV MAILBAG, IS THERE NO END TO MY ABILITIES?

HI, DON THE CAMERAMAN HERE, AND IF YOU'RE GETTIN' TIRED OF THIS VOICE, JUST IMAGINE ME DOING MY JACK BENNY FOR A WHOLE SHOW.

ANYWAY, YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT RANDY SAID WE COULD NOT COME THIS FAR NORTH, BUT HE TOOK A NAP, AND I TOOK THE WHEEL, AND NOW WE'RE IN MINNESOTA, WHERE THE WINTERS MUST GET AWFULLY COLD FOR THAT GUY.

NOW THEY WANT TO FIND AN ARTIST NAMED JUDY ONOFRIO.

HAVING SEEN A LITTLE OF HER WORK AND KNOWING HOW THEY ARE WITH MAPS, I'M DUBIOUS WE'LL DISCOVER HER IN THIS NECK OF THE WOODS.

(Onofrio) HEY, GUYS.

WHY DON'T YOU COME IN AND HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE?

(Don) I GUESS TV WEASELS CAN'T BE WRONG ALL THE TIME.

SURE ENOUGH; ONCE YOU GET PAST THAT PLAIN FACADE, JUST ABOUT EVERY INCH OF JUDYWORLD IS A VISUAL FEAST.

(Onofrio) EACH AREA OF IT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

I MEAN, IF I GET SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY GOOD, I'LL JUST CHUNK OUT AN AREA AND PUT SOMETHING ELSE IN.

(Mike) "CHUNK OUT AN AREA"--NOW, IS THAT AN OFFICIAL ART TERM?

[laughs] THEY TEACH YOU THAT IN ART SCHOOL?

DIDN'T GO.

WHAT?

NO ART SCHOOL?

PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE GONE.

YOU SHOULD JUST SEE SOME OF THE STUFF THAT I COLLECT, YOU KNOW.

LIKE, THIS IS SAFETY PINS AND JACKS.

THIS WHOLE THING IS ROSES.

YOU KNOW, HERE ARE HANDLES.

THESE ARE BOTTLE CAPS AND, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF, LIKE, TIN PLATES.

COWBOY IMAGES AND ROSE IMAGES AND INDIAN IMAGES AND-- ALL OF THIS OLD HAIR STUFF THAT WOMEN DON'T USE ANYMORE.

IT'S LIKE NEST STUFF.

(Randy) TH OSE ARE WINDOW LOCK THINGS.

YEAH, WELL, I COLLECT WING NUTS OR THINGS THAT LOOK LIKE WING NUTS.

WHAT DON'T YOU COLLECT?

[laughter] I WOULD SAY THAT I STARTED COLLECTING PROBABLY 20 TO 30 YEARS AGO, REALLY.

I STARTED COLLECTING, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS COLLECTING IT FOR.

I WAS JUST FILLING THE GARAGE.

BUT I'D SAY THE ACTUAL BUILDING OF THIS PROBABLY STARTED ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.

I HAD BEEN WORKING DOWN IN THE BASEMENT OF THE HOUSE FOR, LIKE, 15 YEARS BEFORE THAT IN A CLAY STUDIO, AND I-- IT JUST WASN'T BIG ENOUGH, SO WE BUILT THIS STUDIO ON TOP OF THE GARAGE.

AND THE MINUTE THAT I BUILT IT-- THE DOOR WASN'T IN IT-- I JUST SUDDENLY WAS LIKE, "WOW."

AND SO I BUILT OUT HERE FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS.

AND THEN THE CURRENT WORK THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, ARE FAMILIAR WITH REALLY STARTED OUT OF MY GARDEN, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

IT'S ALWAYS LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO TILL I DO IT.

I WORK REALLY INTUITIVELY, AND I JUST KIND OF SORT OF THROW SOME IDEAS TOGETHER AND THEN START PLAYING AROUND WITH IT AND THEN, FINALLY, GET A STRUCTURE UNDERNEATH AND THEN LAY MATERIAL ON IT.

I'VE BEEN EMBEDDING SOME OF MY RUSTY COLLECTION STUFF DOWN HERE, AND THEN I'M GOING TO TAKE THESE AND, LIKE, HAVE ONE OF THESE ON THE TOP OF EACH ONE OF THESE PEDESTALS.

AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE-- SORT OF FLOATING ON THE PEDESTALS.

A LOT OF THE THINGS, OR THE PIECES, ARE ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.

I JUST CARVE THEM, AND THEY HAPPEN; OR I DO THE FACES, AND THEY HAPPEN.

AND THEY'RE ALWAYS-- THEY KIND OF LOOK LIKE MY AUNT LES OR MY MOTHER.

THAT WAS DRIVEN BY MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING, THAT BIG PIECE WAS, AND IT WAS JUST LIKE I WANTED A CELEBRATORY PIECE THAT SORT OF MARKED A PARTICULAR PIECE IN TIME.

THAT'S MR. EARL'S GRAVE THAT'S UP THERE WITH THE STEAKS ON IT.

HE WAS--HIS NICKNAME WAS "MR.

STEAK."

IT'S LIKE A FLOWERPOT, AND THE BASE OF IT IS A WASHING MACHINE, AND THEN IT'S GOT A BIG TRACTOR TIRE ON IT, AND THEN I COLLECTED MUFFLERS FOR A WHOLE SUMMER.

SO IT'S SORT OF LIKE THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE PIECE.

THIS PIECE'LL PROBABLY BE WORKED ON FOR ANOTHER TWO, THREE MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY LOVE TO WORK.

I LOVE TO WORK IN MY GARDEN AND BUILD CONCRETE THINGS, AND I LOVE TO--I'M SORT OF OBSESSED, YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, IT'S, LIKE, ALL I DO.

IT'S ALL I WANT TO DO.

I LIKE TO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, YOU KNOW.

I LIKE EVERYTHING TO BE IN FLUX AND CHANGING ALL THE TIME.

(Don) SPEAKING OF CHANGES, IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT JUDY HAD JUST THE RIGHT THING TO COMPLETE OUR HOOD ORNAMENTATION.

WE WERE PLEASED AND WORE IT PROUDLY ON OUR WAY ACROSS MINNESOTA, PAUSING EVER SO BRIEFLY IN WABASHA, THE HOME OF JOE SUILMAN'S MUSEUM-- NOT THE MUSEUM OF ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR; MORE LIKE THE MUSEUM OF ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, INCLUDING DIRT SAMPLES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

ALCATRAZ.

(Don) IF WE SHOWED YOU TOO MUCH, YOU MIGHT NOT FEEL LIKE PAYING THE 25¢ ADMISSION FEE, WHICH REALLY WOULDN'T BOTHER JOE ANYWAY.

(Suilman) OH, I DON'T CARE IF THEY STOP OR NOT.

I JUST DID IT FOR-- I LIKE HISTORY, AND I DON'T CARE IF THEY COME OR NOT.

(Don) NO GROUP DISCOUNTS EITHER.

BRING QUARTERS.

CROSSING THE RIVER HERE PUTS YOU IN WISCONSIN, AND THEY TELL ME OUR FIRST STOP WILL BE THE PRAIRIE MOON, A WHOLE GARDEN OF SCULPTURES BUILT BY A RETIRED FARMER NAMED HERMAN RUSCH.

THANKS TO THE KOHLER CORPORATION-- PERHAPS YOU'VE PERCHED ON ONE OF THEIR THRONES-- THIS SITE NEAR COCHRANE HAS GOTTEN A WHOLE NEW LEASE ON LIFE.

(Haeuser) THAT WAS THE START.

THAT'S THE FIRST PLANTER.

WHEN HE BUILT THAT PLANTER, HE GOT IT DONE, AND HE GOT THINKING, "IT LOOKS SO LONELY OUT HERE."

SO HE BUILT ANOTHER ONE.

AND AS TIME WENT ON, HERMAN'S EXACT WORDS WERE, "WHEN I WAS ON A PROJECT, I WAS ALREADY THREE PROJECTS AHEAD."

THESE WERE OLD PLASTIC CUPS THAT HE USED, 'CAUSE THOSE WE FOUND IN THERE.

AND THESE ARE OLD BOMB MORTAR HEADS.

THE PRAIRIE MOON DANCE HALL AND HERMAN WERE NEVER CONNECTED.

THE ONLY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DANCE HALL AND HERMAN WAS, ALL THE GLASS THAT'S IN THESE STRUCTURES, HE FOUND IN THE OLD DANCE HALL AS BEER BOTTLES AND POP BOTTLES IN BY HIMSELF.

AND YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, HE WAS 70 YEARS OLD WHEN HE DID ALL THIS.

THE LAST THING HE BUILT WAS THAT TOWER ON THE END.

HE WAS 90.

AND THE STONE FENCE, IT TOOK HIM ONE YEAR TO BUILD THE STONE FENCE.

(Randy) AND WAS HERMAN TRAINED FOR THIS KIND OF WORK?

(Haeuser) THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY ODD.

WE HAD THE OPEN HOUSE HERE THAT DAY, AND HIS TWO DAUGHTERS AND A SON WERE HERE.

AND THE ONE DAUGHTER SAYS, "I CAN NEVER IMAGINE THIS EVERY TIME I COME HERE, 'CAUSE," SHE SAYS, "ALL I CAN ALWAYS REMEMBER MY MOTHER SAYING "WHEN HERMAN WAS HOME ON THE FARM, "HE COULDN'T DO NOTHING.

"HE COULDN'T EVEN PUT UP A WASHLINE POLE "AND GET IT STRAIGHT.

AND THEN HE TURNS AROUND AND BUILDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS."

(Don) YOU COULD HARDLY ASK FOR A BETTER DESCRIPTION OF WHAT GRASSROOTS ART IS ALL ABOUT OR, IT WOULD APPEAR, A BETTER TEAM OF GARDENERS TENDING TO IT THAN KEN'S TOWNSHIP AND THE KOHLERS, MAKING THIS AN UNEXPECTED SOURCE OF CIVIC PRIDE.

HOWEVER, WHEN THEY SAY "PRAIRIE," IT'S NOT LIKE THE KIND I'M USED TO.

FURTHER PROOF CAN BE FOUND JUST DOWN HIGHWAY 35 IN FOUNTAIN CITY AT THE ATTRACTION THEY CALL "ROCK IN THE HOUSE."

NO, IT'S NOT A FUNKY RAP THING-- MORE LIKE A NATURAL DISASTER TURNED INTO A PROFIT CENTER.

(Randy) JEEZ.

I GUESS THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT?

SO YOU'RE SAYING IT CAME FROM UP THERE.

(Mike) RIGHT DOWN THE HILL.

(Randy) CAME DOWN.

NOW, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT?

PEOPLE MAGAZINE.

(Don) NOW, RANDY'S GRASP OF THE OBVIOUS IS RIGHT ON PAR WITH HIS ABILITY TO BACK A VEHICLE, WHICH HE FINALLY DID WELL ENOUGH TO GET US ON THE ROAD AND ACROSS THIS BRIDGE INTO A PART OF IOWA THAT LOOKS UNLIKE ANY PART OF IOWA THAT I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

SO AS WE OFTEN SAY IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, "IT MUST BE TIME FOR A LITTLE CATCH," BUT WHY DO I HAVE TO PLAY RIGHT FIELD?

(Mike) THIS WORRIES ME.

ALL IT TAKES IS ONE BAD THROW; WE'RE OUT THE PRICE OF A BALL.

(Don) I GUESS MY PERSONAL SAFETY IS OF LITTLE CONCERN TO THESE HIGHLY PAID PRODUCERS WHO DON'T EVEN SEEM TO KNOW WHICH STATE WE'RE IN.

PIKE'S PEAK.

NO, IT'S IN COLORADO.

(Don) JUST A FALSE ALARM, BECAUSE THIS DOES STILL SEEM TO BE IOWA.

IN FACT, IT WOULD BE McGREGOR, AND THAT SOUND WOULD BE A CHAIN SAW.

[chain saw buzzing] SO THE MAN HOISTING IT MUST BE DAN SLAUGHTER, WHO WE'VE COME TO SEE.

AND YOU KNOW I LIKE THE ARTWORK BACK HERE, BUT SOMETHING TELLS ME HE'S GOING TO BE A HANDFUL.

I THOUGHT SOMEBODY WAS IN THERE.

(Mike) THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.

[laughter] (Slaughter) US UALLY, JUST HORSES DO THAT.

SOME OLD TOOTHLESS BASTARD DID IT.

I SPENT 26 YEARS AS A STEEPLEJACK, AND I SPENT 13 IN A BODY SHOP.

(Randy) WHAT WENT OFF IN YOUR HEAD THAT SAID, "LET'S TAKE THE CHAIN SAW, HAVE A LITTLE FUN"?

WELL, I WAS WORKING ON A SAW ONE DAY IN THE GARAGE FOR A GUY.

AND I HAD A TELEPHONE POST OUT BACK, AND I TOOK IT OUT TO CUT ON IT TO SEE IF IT WAS FIXED, AND THAT'S WHEN I STARTED CUTTIN'.

I CUT OUT A TOTEM POLE OUT OF IT, AND I JUST KEPT RIGHT ON CUTTIN'.

THAT'S A SEMINOLE INDIAN.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

I SEEN A MOVIE ONE NIGHT, AND I GOT THAT IDEA.

FISHING PRETTY GOOD AROUND HERE?

DAMN GOOD.

BABE RUTH, THAT'S HIS ARM.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE, SO THAT'S WHAT HE TURNED OUT LIKE.

(Randy) HE LOOKED A LOT LI KE THAT, REALLY.

[Slaughter laughs] RIGHT.

AMAZING.

(Slaughter) WITH MY ART, I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT TO.

IT'S SELF-TAUGHT.

YOU DON'T GO TO SCHOOL FOR FOLK ART.

IF YOU DO, IT AIN'T FOLK ART.

I SPENT A WHOLE WEEK ON THAT BIG UNCLE SAM.

THIS ONE HERE IS MAPLE.

EVERY TIME I LOOK AT IT, IT MAKES MY BACK ACHE.

I PROBABLY WON'T BE DOING ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE.

WE GOT WYATT EARP ON DUTY THERE, SITTING ON HIS HEINIE.

HE'S KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT KEG.

SEE, AND I DON'T THINK ANY YARD, IF YOU GOT GRANDCHILDREN AND THAT, SHOULD BE A YARD WITHOUT BART SIMPSON AND A BIG DINOSAUR.

(Mike) THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF CARVING.

(Slaughter) THAT'S A NICE CARVING THERE.

THAT TOOK ME QUITE A WHILE.

YEAH, THAT'S ORIGINAL PLASTIC.

THAT'S NOT IMITATION.

WELL, I'VE GOT THE ONLY PINE TREE IN THE COUNTRY THAT'S PLANTED BOTTOM SIDE UP, AND IT GREW CLAMS.

(Don) I BET YOU THE RIGHT PERSON WOULD REALLY SHELL OUT FOR THAT ONE.

YOU BET.

[laughs] GOD, I HATE HIM.

ONCE I FINISH THE SCULPTURE, IT'S JUST LOST.

IT DOESN'T MEAN NOTHING TO ME AFTER THAT.

ONCE IT'S DONE AND PUT UP, THAT'S THE END OF IT.

(Randy) DO TOURISTS DROP BY WITHOUT ADVERTISING, OR WHAT HAVE-- (Slaughter) NO, I DON'T ADVERTISE.

I DON'T CARE IF THEY COME OR THEY DON'T COME, BUT THEY'RE WELCOME.

(Randy) HOW ABOUT WHEN TV GUYS COME AND START SAYING, "HEY, WOULD YOU BE ON OUR SHOW?"

IT REALLY DIDN'T-- IT DIDN'T REALLY BOTHER ME A BIT.

IN FACT, I WAS STARTING TO HOPE YOU WOULDN'T COME.

[laughter] 'CAUSE IT WOULDN'T HAVE BOTHERED ME ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO WATCH GILLIGAN'S ISLAND.

[laughs] (Don) NOW, YOU KNOW THINGS ARE GETTIN' PRETTY GRIM WHEN YOU'RE GETTIN' BEAT OUT BY GILLIGAN.

SO COME ON, LITTLE BUDDY.

LET'S CALL IT A NIGHT.

(Randy) TAPES, EVERYTHING'S IN HERE.

LET'S GO.

BATTERIES.

(Don) CHECK.

TRIPOD.

CHECK.

(all) WHOA!

BALL--WHERE'S THE BALL?

(Don) HERE WE GO AGAIN.

THIS TIME, THE WORLD'S LARGEST BALL OF VIDEOTAPE ALMOST ENDED UP WITH A NEW HOME IN GUTTENBERG, PROBABLY BECAUSE THESE TWO WERE IN SUCH A HURRY TO SEE AND SAVOR THE HISTORY OF IOWA IN ROCK FORM.

IT'S HERE, JUST A FEW MILES OUTSIDE OF TOWN ON THIS INCREDIBLY SCENIC BLUFF OVERLOOKING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE STONEWORK PUT IN PLACE BY ONE PAUL FRIEDLEIN IN THE YEARS AFTER HE RETIRED FROM WRESTLIN', REPLACING THE FLYING LEG LOCK WITH THE JOYS OF SCULPTING.

(Dickson) THIS TELLS OF ALL THE EARLY SETTLERS THAT SETTLED ON JOLLY RIDGE.

DECHOW BUILT HIS OWN WELL.

HONKEY HERE HAD A BLACKSMITH SHOP.

DITTMER, ON HIS LAND, HE MET UP WITH A BEAR IN THE WOODS AND KILLED HIM WITH A SHOVEL.

THIS TELLS A STORY ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION THROUGH HERE.

WE HAD THE STEAMBOATS GOING UP AND DOWN THE RIVER, AND HERE IS THE COVERED WAGON.

AND HE TALKS ABOUT IOWA BECOMING A STATE.

AND HE WAS INTO MYTHOLOGY LATER ON IN HIS LIFE.

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO DEPICT SATAN.

HE HAD A FIGHT WITH GOD, AND GOD KNOCKED HIM IN THE EYE, GAVE HIM A BLOODY EYE, AN D HE FELL TO EARTH.

THIS IS THE WATERFALL, AND, OF COURSE, AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW, THERE'S THE POT OF GOLD, WHICH HE USES PINK QUARTZ TO DEPICT.

(Randy) WAS HE PRETTY PROUD OF ALL THIS?

(Dickson) OH, I THINK SO.

HE SAID HE WASN'T A PROUD PERSON, BUT I WOULD SAY HE WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS WORK.

PEOPLE WOULD COME BY AND SAY, "THIS GUY IS BUILDING THIS HOUSE ON THE CLIFF."

SOME ARCHITECT SAID THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO BUILD A HOUSE OUT ON THE CLIFF.

AND KNOWING THIS MAN, NOTHING WAS IMPOSSIBLE.

(Don) NOW, AFTER ALL THIS TIME LOOKING AT THE MISSISSIPPI-- AND IT DOES LOOK REALLY NICE UP HERE-- WE FINALLY HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME ON IT, THOUGH RANDY, BEING THE NONSWIMMER THAT HE IS, JUST KEPT HOPIN' IT WOULDN'T BE FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY.

THE FERRY RIDE DOES TAKE CONSIDERABLE TIME OFF THE TRIP OVER TO WISCONSIN, WHICH WE FIGURE MEANS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO GAZE ON THE GROTTO AT DICKEYVILLE, ANOTHER OF THOSE JAW-DROPPING STOPS THAT OUGHT TO BE ON EVERY TRAVELER'S A-LIST.

THIS ONE STARTED TAKING SHAPE IN THE 1920s, WHEN FATHER MATHIAS WERNERUS TOOK INSPIRATION FROM OTHER GROTTO MAKERS IN THE MIDWEST TO BUILD HIS OWN SPECIAL BLEND OF HISTORY AND RELIGION, PATRIOTISM AND FUN.

(Gunn) CONCRETE WAS DISCOVERED, I GUESS, IN 1904.

AND WHAT THEY ENDED UP DOING WAS, THEY FOUND ALL THESE DIFFERENT USES FOR CONCRETE.

AND WHAT HE ENDED UP DOING WAS USING IT AS AN ART MEDIUM.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS.

PEOPLE CALL THIS EMBELLISHED CONCRETE WORK, OR THEY HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL FOLK ART AS ANOTHER TITLE THAT THEY USE FOR IT.

FATHER DOBBERSTEIN, AT WEST BEND IN IOWA, REALLY WANTED TO USE A LOT OF NATURAL THINGS, WHEREAS FATHER WERNERUS SAID, "ANYTHING GOES."

AND SO YOU'LL FIND POTTERY.

YOU'RE GOING TO FIND CERAMIC WORKS.

PEOPLE USED THEIR DISHES AND THEIR CREAMERS AND CUPS AND SAUCERS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, USE.

AND HE PUT A BOX OUT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND COLLECTED THINGS, AND, SOMEHOW, HE MANAGED TO WORK THEM IN.

ONE OF THE THINGS HE USED IS A LOT OF FOSSILIZED MOSS AND MUSHROOMS AND WOOD.

AND SOME OF THE STONE IS FROM OF THE AREA.

A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WOULD BRING IT IN.

SCHOOLCHILDREN WOULD COME, AND THEY WOULD WORK ON THIS, HELP.

THEY WASHED EVERY STONE THAT THEY PUT IN THE GROTTO BEFORE THEY PLACED IT IN HERE.

AND HE TRIED TO INCORPORATE IT, ALSO, AS A TEACHING TOOL.

IN HERE, THERE'S A FASHIONED CHALICE WITH A HOST.

PEOPLE WOULD BRING IN THEIR STATUES, AND, SOMEHOW, HE'D BE ABLE TO MANAGE TO WORK THEM UP.

AND PEOPLE WOULD SEND THINGS IN, YOU KNOW--LIKE, YOU DON'T FIND TOO MANY SHELLS THIS SIZE IN WISCONSIN.

AND WHAT HE WANTED TO DO IS TO DEVELOP THIS WHOLE IDEA OF PATRIOTISM AND RELIGION.

YOU KNOW, THE CATHOLICS COULD BE GOOD CITIZENS, AND THEY COULD ALSO BE GOOD FOLKS THAT ARE FAITHFUL PEOPLE.

HE WAS ALSO ONE OF THE STRONGEST MEN PEOPLE EVER KNEW.

HE COULD DO THE WORK OF TWO MEN, IN MANY WAYS.

AND HE WAS ALSO--SOMEHOW, HE JUST HAD A REAL SENSE OF VISION ABOUT WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.

HE WORKED WITHOUT, REALLY, ANY BLUEPRINTS.

HE JUST HAD A REAL STRONG IDEA OF WHAT HE WANTED TO DO, AND HE KNEW, SOMEHOW, IT WOULD SEEM TO WORK TOGETHER.

(Randy) THIS HAS A LIGHT-HEARTEDNESS-- (Gunn) THERE REALLY IS.

THERE REALLY IS A SENSE OF-- I THINK HE HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING THIS.

HE SEEMED TO BE-- THEY SAID HE WAS A VERY HAPPY AND A VERY GENTLE MAN, EVEN DESPITE HIS STRENGTH AND HIS DETERMINATION AND HIS GREAT WORK ETHIC.

BUT HE REALLY WAS A LOT OF FUN.

PEOPLE JUST LOVED TO BE AROUND HIM AT THE TIME.

SO I THINK HE KIND OF INCORPORATED THAT WHEREVER HE COULD.

(Don) WE FINISHED UP, AS USUAL, BY TROTTIN' THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP, GETTIN' ALL KINDS OF GROTTO GOODIES TO REMIND US OF WHAT WE'D SEEN.

I GOT A DICKEYVILLE GROTTO HAT HERE-- PAPAL PURPLE TO GO WITH MY "POPE'S FALL TOUR" SHIRT.

IT HAS NOT ESCAPED OUR NOTICE THAT RELIGION PLAYS A BIG PART IN A LOT OF THE ART WE'VE BEEN SEEING, AND, CERTAINLY, CATHOLICS HAVE BEEN AMONG THE BUSIEST OF THE BUNCH.

BUT THEY ARE BY NO MEANS ALONE.

THIS PARTICULAR PART OF IOWA IS KNOWN FOR ITS AMISH COMMUNITIES, AND THEY, TOO, HAVE GENERATED LOTS OF CRAFTY THINGS.

BUT THE MAN WE'RE LOOKIN' FOR DOWN HERE IS NOT AMONG THEM.

ANTHONY YODER CALLS HIMSELF AN "ART MISSIONARY," AND I GUESS THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN HIS POSITION ON PAINTING.

(Yoder) I KIND OF COINED THAT, I GUESS, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE--YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKING A LIVING ON THIS STUFF.

I NEVER REALLY EXPECT TO MAKE A LIVING ON THIS STUFF, YOU KNOW.

IT'S MORE OR LESS FOR-- I WANT IT TO BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE TO-- YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT THEY'LL STICK WITH THEM AND THEY'LL THINK ABOUT.

(Randy) WHERE DO THESE COME FROM?

OH, MENTAL PICTURES YOU GET WHEN YOU'RE READING BOOKS AND SCRIPTURE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THIS PICTURE HERE HAS TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, BEING TEMPTED.

AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT THING FOR ME TO DO AND JUST THE WHOLE THING ABOUT BEING, SOMETIMES, JUST TORE.

SO I CALL THIS SET MY SPIRIT FREE.

AND THIS WHOLE THING HERE, IMAGE, IS SUPPOSED TO KIND OF BE LIKE A FIERY SHIELD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I WAS TRYING TO COME UP WITH AN IDEA ABOUT--YOU KNOW, IT TALKS IN THE SCRIPTURES ABOUT THE TWO WAYS AND THE NARROW WAY AND THE BROAD WAY.

AND THE BROAD WAY, YOU KNOW, LEADS TO HELL, AND THE NARROW WAY LEADS TO HEAVEN OR WHATEVER.

THESE ARE PHOTOCOPIES FROM NOTEBOOKS AND LITTLE SKETCH PADS THAT KIND OF GOT ME GOING.

THAT'S JUST KIND OF THE FUN OF THE THING.

YOU START--YOU GOT AN IDEA FOR AN IMAGE IN YOUR HEAD, AND YOU START PUTTING IT DOWN, AND THEN THINGS JUST START HAPPENING, AND SO YOU GOT TO WORK IT OUT.

AND ALONG THE WAY, YOU COME UP WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS, DIFFERENT THOUGHTS, DIFFERENT REASONS WHY THIS LOOKS THIS WAY.

AND PRETTY SOON, IT'S JUST A REAL PROJECT.

IT BOTHERS ME SOMETIMES THAT THIS STUFF GETS OUT THERE AND PEOPLE START WRITING ABOUT IT, LOOKING AT IT, AND MAYBE NOT QUITE GETTING THE RIGHT TWIST ON IT.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY AN AGE-OLD PROBLEM WITH ANY ARTIST OR EVEN WITH YOU GUYS.

(Don) CLEARLY, HE DOES NOT KNOW THESE GUYS TOO WELL.

INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY GOING TO THE COLONIES, THEY SUGGESTED I GET THIS SHOT INSTEAD SO WE COULD HUSTLE ON DOWN THE ROAD TO KINROSS BEFORE DARK TO REVEL IN THE RESIDENTIAL SPLENDOR THAT IS PLATE VIEW.

(Randy) IT'S A FIXER-UPPER.

I THINK HE'S FIXED IT UP.

(Randy) THERE IS POSITIVELY NO ADMITTANCE.

(Mike) YEAH.

IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THE HOUSE HAS BEEN SHINGLED WITH GREEN SHINGLES.

(Randy) MAN, I'M GONNA GO HOME AND DO MY HOUSE LIKE THAT.

(Mike) YOU COULD DO IT IN CITY STICKERS.

(Randy) YEAH.

OR PERSONAL PROPERTY RECEIPTS.

THAT'S ANOTHER PAIN-IN-THE-BUTT THING THEY MAKE YOU DO.

LET'S GO FIND A MOTEL.

I'M TIRED.

(Don) I HOPE THEY COME BACK FOR ME.

I HOPE.

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

WE'RE GOING TO MEMPHIS, WHERE THE KING IS.

(Don) OH , NO, TH AT'S THE WRONG MEMPHIS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, EACH DAY BRINGS NEW NAVIGATIONAL DIFFICULTIES, AND THIS, OUR FINAL ONE, MAY BE SOMEWHAT MORE COMPLICATED DUE TO THE RAIN.

AT LEAST THE MEMPHIS WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS JUST ACROSS THE BORDER, BACK IN MISSOURI, THAT GREAT STATE WHERE MIKE PAYS HIS TAXES.

(Mike) I'M DAMN PROUD THAT A PART OF THOSE TAXES GOES TO HELP SUPPORT PUBLIC TELEVISION SO THAT GUYS LIKE US CAN RUN AROUND THE COUNTRY DOING STUFF LIKE THIS.

HEY, BOSS.

WE FOUND THAT STATUE OF LIBERTY.

IT'S NOT IN MANHATTAN AFTER ALL.

PEOPLE WERE WRONG.

PEOPLE WERE WRONG.

REALLY, WE'RE WORKIN', BOSS.

WE'RE WORKIN' OUT HERE.

WE'RE WORKIN' HARD.

MOVE THAT CAMERA ANOTHER 50 FEET!

(Don) NOW, IMPRESSIVE AS THIS FIND MIGHT HAVE SEEMED, LADY LIBERTY WASN'T EVEN THE REAL REASON FOR STOPPIN' HERE.

THIS NASH IN THE WALL WAS, BUT, SOMEHOW, NO ONE FELT LIKE GETTIN' OUT IN THE RAIN TO LOOK ANY CLOSER.

SO WE SETTLED IN FOR THE LONG DRIVE DOWN FROM THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE STATE, CATCHIN' A FEW Zs AND SAMPLIN' SOME OF THE NATIVE SNACKS.

(Mike) WORST CHIPS OF THE TRIPS.

(Randy) YE AH, THEY TAKE THE AWARD.

SORT OF CARDBOARD QUALITY.

YEAH, THEY'RE LIKE EATING PICTURES OF POTATO CHIPS.

(Don) WELL, WE SURVIVED, AS WE SOMEHOW ALWAYS SEEM TO DO AND, SOUTH OF COLUMBIA, BEGAN WORKIN' OUR WAY WELL OFF THE MAIN ROADS, LOOKIN' FOR MIKE ROBINS' PLACE NEAR ASHLAND.

MIKE IS A LANDSCAPER BY TRADE WHO, MORE OR LESS, IS LANDSCAPIN' THE WOODS AND PUTTIN' TO USE SOME OF THE THINGS HE MUSTA LEARNED FROM HIS ART-COLLECTING PARENTS.

(Robins) I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN AFFINITY FOR FOLK ART THROUGH MY FAMILY.

WE LIVED IN INDIA, AND MY FOLKS COLLECTED HINDU MASKS OUT OF PAPIER-MACHE, AND THEY WERE REAL BASIC, PRIMITIVE, BLACK AND WHITE, COLORFUL IMAGES THAT, I THINK, STOOD IN MY MIND.

AND THOSE IMAGES OF FACES OF DIFFERENT HINDU PANTHEON OF GODS, I KIND OF TRANSPOSED THAT INTO MAYBE WHAT I SAW IN THE ROCKS AS I WALKED UP AND DOWN THE CREEK.

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I FIRST STARTED WAS, I'D JUST TAKE BUCKETS OUT, AND I'D GRAB THINGS THAT STRUCK ME COLORFUL.

BUT NOW IT'S LIKE I SEE EYES, NOSES, CHINS, ACCENT EYEBROWS.

I LIKE TO MIX NATURAL ELEMENTS OF DRIFTWOOD WITH THE STONE AND USE NATURAL KIND OF MOUNTING BACKGROUNDS.

I KIND OF CALL IT A TOLKIEN STYLE.

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE A STRONG MAGNETISM TOWARDS ROCK.

IT'S SOLID.

I'VE DONE A LOT OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF LANDSCAPING.

I'VE PUT MANY TIMBERS, LANDSCAPE TIMBERS, IN THE GROUND OUT OF WOOD.

AND THEY LAST 10 OR 15 YEARS, EVEN IF THEY'RE TREATED.

BUT THE STONE--YOU KNOW, UNLESS SOMEONE COMES IN HERE WITH A CAT 955 AND BULLDOZES IT ALL TO ONE SIDE, IT'S HERE TO STAY.

(Don) SPEAKIN' OF STICKIN' AROUND, MIKE MAY NOT HAVE CABLE, BUT HE DID DAZZLE US WITH A SHORT DEMONSTRATION OF COUNTRY TV MARRED ONLY BY A SMALL REMINDER OF COUNTRY LIFE.

OH, MAN, NATURE AT ITS BEST RIGHT THERE ON MY KNEE.

(Don) I WON'T SAY WE WERE TICKED OFF, BUT IN SHORT ORDER, THE VAN WAS ROLLIN' AGAIN, AND WE WERE HEADED OFF TO THE DAY'S AND THIS JOURNEY'S FINAL DESTINATION.

WE CROSSED THE RIVER PAST THE CAPITAL AND BEGAN WINDING OUR WAY TOWARDS OLEAN, A SMALL TOWN WHICH, LIKE MANY AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, PULLS TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION OF SOME NATURAL RESOURCE.

NO, IT'S NOT CORN OR ROSES, STRAWBERRIES OR WATERMELONS.

THIS WOULD BE THE ANNUAL...

IT'S RIGHT THERE ON THE SHIRT, AND I'M GLAD WE LEFT THE BIG BALL IN THE VAN.

(man) THIS IS TURKEY FRY, PORK FRY, AND BEEF FRY.

IT'S VERY GOOD.

IN FRANCE, THIS IS A DELICACY.

(Randy) SO IS JERRY LEWIS.

SOMEONE SAID THESE WERE SLICED PRETTY THIN, KIND OF WAFER-THIN.

THIS WOULD NOT REPRESENT THAT MUCH OF AN ACTUAL UNIT.

CRUNCHY GOODNESS IN EVERY BITE.

(man) THE BEEF ARE THE BEST, I THINK.

THEY ALSO WILL MAKE YOU...

POTENT.

(Mike) SO WATCH OUT AT HOME TONIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

(Randy) WHICH KIND IS THIS?

YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE.

WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S ONLY A FRACTION.

I THINK THESE ARE FROM A SNIPE.

CAUGHT THESE LAST NIGHT SNIPE HUNTING.

(Mike) YO U GOT SOME CI TY BOYS HERE NOW.

(Randy) CO ULD YOU TAKE US SN IPE HUNTING?

SURE, MAN.

SURE.

WE'LL GO DOWN TO THE CREEK HERE IN JUST A MINUTE.

(Don) NOW, THIS SOUNDS LIKE JUST EXACTLY WHAT THESE TV WEASELS NEED, AND THEY WON'T BE REQUIRIN' MY SERVICES FOR IT.

FROM BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN OLEAN, THIS IS DON THE CAMERA GUY SIGNIN' OFF.

GIRLS?

ANYBODY?

I'VE GOT EXTRA.

NO?

THEY'RE ALL PRETTY GOOD?

YEAH, REAL GOOD.

[laughs] Captioning provided by KCPT Television.

Captioning by Kirsten atCaptionMax www.captionmax.com YOU'RE GONNA SEE A COMMOTION RIGHT HERE.

[hoedown music playing] ♪ ♪ YEE-HAW!

♪ ♪ (Don) YOU'RE EXPANDING AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT BELLY IN POST.

[laughter]