Missouri State University

Skip to content Skip to navigation
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Art History Virtual Exhibition

Republic Sports Sculpture By Ralph Doss Lanning American Midwest Ozarks culture 2006 Stone, brick, concrete, and mortar, L. 1.52 m x W. 1.52 m x H. 1.03 m Republic Missouri Parks and Recreation Grounds #1

The Republic Sports Sculpture, by Ralph Doss Lanning: Researched, Conserved, and Restored by Paul Rehagen

August, 2020 by Sarah Teel

The Republic Sports Sculpture was made by Ralph D. Lanning as a gift to the city of Republic, Missouri. Lanning, who was born in Greene County in 1916, was a prominent member of the community; he served in the United States Army in World War II, taking part in D-Day on Omaha Beach and in the Battle of the Bulge.  After the war, he worked in construction, and he started making art in 1973; as a self-taught artist, he made a large variety of sculptures to decorate his large yard, which he called Lanning Gardens.  Lanning Gardens was visible from the highway, and visitors often stopped by–and Ralph and his wife Gretchen would often meet the visitors to give them a personal tour.

One of the sculptures in Lanning Gardens was the Republic Sports Sculpture, clearly a tribute to Republic High School sports, as it features a large painted relief sculpture on top with the image of a tiger, the mascot of Republic High School.  On each side of the tiger are images of track and field and basketball, and around middle level of the sculpture are painted relief images of baseball, soccer, football, and a majorette. Around the bottom level on the back and sides are incised line drawings of children playing jacks, hockey, and hopscotch. After Lanning’s death in 2009, the sculpture was donated to the city of Republic in 2010, and it now sits on the grounds of Republic Parks and Recreation.

Before conservation:

Republic Sports Sculpture
By Ralph Doss Lanning
American Midwest Ozarks culture
2006
Stone, brick, concrete, and mortar, L. 1.52 m x W. 1.52 m x H. 1.03 m
Republic Missouri Parks and Recreation Grounds #1

 

 

 

 

 

After conservation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information, you may contact the researcher(s) noted in the title of this exhibit entry, or Dr. Billie Follensbee, the professor of the course, at BillieFollensbee@MissouriState.edu

Filed Under: 2017 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts Tagged With: american midwest, american midwest ozarks culture, ozarks culture, ralph doss lanning

Categories

  • 2014 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2014 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2015 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2016 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas
  • 2017 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2017 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2018 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas
  • 2019 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2019 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2020 Fall, ART 487: Art of the Americas
  • 2021 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2021 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2022 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • Art History Virtual Exhibit

Tags

20th century 20th century art africa african art american midwest american midwest culture american midwest ozarks culture aztec mestizo culture basketry beadwork bonniebrook CASL Exhibit ceramic ceramics conservation early 21st century art footstone gravestone Great Plains Cultures headstone huipil iroquois culture lakota culture late 20th century late 20th century art maya culture mesoamerica metal artifacts mexican mestizo cultures native american art native american cultures Navajo/Diné culture oceania ozarks ozarks culture panama peru ralph foster museum reproductions Sioux Culture textile tourist trade art union campground cemetery yarn zapotec culture

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Make your Missouri statementMake your Missouri statement
  • Last Modified: January 23, 2025
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosures
  • Equal Opportunity Employer and Institution
  • © 2025 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
  • Contact Information
  • Healthcare MRFs