We didn't really know Grandview was making an effort to revitalize itself -- downtown Kansas City, Missouri, was hogging all that attention -- until we got a flier in our gas bill early in the summer. Weirdly, the four-color brochure invited Missouri Gas Energy customers to come check out the "Industrial-Sized Art Show" in Grandview. The photos looked like they might be promoting First Friday art openings in the Crossroads District downtown -- but instead, the metal-and-glass sculptures by Stretch were supposed to inspire folks to make a trip out south. "Grandview is proud to host the Industrial-Sized Art Show," the flier proclaimed. "The city embraces its industrial heritage and welcomes its neighboring communities to this one-of-a-kind show. Come visit and enjoy the art and other key events throughout the year in Grandview." Because we always support urban resuscitation efforts, we motored down Highway 71 and, sure enough, just past the Truman Corners strip mall, one of Stretch's tall, rusty-steel shapes was soaring up off the grassy shoulder. If you didn't know what to look for, the piece might have blended into the backdrop of pawn shops, used-car lots and liquor stores lining the freeway. But hey, we appreciate art wherever it is. Taking the Main Street exit, driving past the Waffle House, Maj-R Thrift, CarQuest, the Baptist church and the bail-bonds shop, we also couldn't help but appreciate the intriguing juxtaposition of some new "Urban Lofts" advertised at Eighth Street and Main -- just half a block from the corrugated metal farm building that housed Blair Feeds and May Milling Co. Way to go, Grandview.
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