Enjoying the art in our midst

Grannie Annie and this old guy went on a wonderful local excursion this past Saturday. Long overdue we toured the sixth floor of the Keystone and the ArtBank here in McCook. Yes your old columnist hasn’t been too much into modern art as I prefer mechanical perfection especially modern machines that fly with pilots on board aka our local airport. Still I’m willing to explore and learn.

Grannie was enchanted though and having Chad Graff show up to give us a tour the expert that he is impressed us that the collection, local and from across our nation is unique and truly special. Actually worldwide. Even the price is right; no entrance charge, donate if you are so moved or keep your hands in your pockets.

First stop was the sixth floor of the Keystone. Enter the front door of the wonderful old building, cross the large open foyer and punch the #6 button of the elevator. Up you go. You’ll notice that the place is immaculate. Even the windows are sparkling clean. Obviously, the Keystone was built as a hotel over 100 years ago. Rebuilt with a federal grant some years ago, it is interesting to see the pattern that is now the bare concrete floor. Hallways and individual rooms one can make out and the walls are mainly the undecorated brick structure. The ceiling is bare concrete with wiring for the lights and many pipes to carry water from the roof.

The Keystone is the tallest building in our fair city and looking out the windows, the eyes of a pilot, one can see the majority of our fair city. I noticed that looking west one can make out our High School building about halfway to the edge of town. It was built during the year that I was a senior and Grannie’s class was the first to graduate from it. When built it was located on the west edge of town in a bare open field. Believe it or not McCook is growing or at least changing.

Next we, again guided by Chad, toured the ArtBank. Similar in nature to the awesome gallery on the 6th Floor. Immaculate. Large paintings, small paintings all perfectly displayed. A sampling of the photography technique of local 90 year old Jack Stevens. Classrooms for budding youth to work their magic. Audio visual presentations. A full-sized automobile split down the middle to walk through. It is truly a “wealth of work from international artists” (Like iridescent steel sculptures, huge floral cutouts and vibrant mixed media pieces.” Local artists included!

Grannie Annie was enchanted. Here we are in small town America and have a modern Art Gallery to rival the few in the world and all located in much larger cities. Thank you to husband-and-wife Chad Graff and Joann Falkenberg.

Now my dear readers have you also toured this true gem of culture here in our midst? If not why not? It just might challenge your mind and you might learn to live a more fulfilled life. It has most likely done so for Grannie Annie and me. The 6th Floor at 402 Norris Avenue is open on Thursdays, 1 to 5 p.m,, and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and open hours at ArtBank, 108 West D Street, on Thursdays, 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Visits are also available by appointment (308) 340-7854 or e-mailing 6thfloormccook.@gmail.com.

Your old columnist wants to share a bit of life. Just this last week I was informed by his daughter that John Casteel had passed away. It was 57 years ago that, as our crew commander, we flew our somewhat famous tri-level aerial refueling during the Vietnam War. We were credited with saving six Navy aircraft, and crews, that didn’t have enough fuel to make it back to their carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin. It was deemed the “Most meritorious military flight of the Year” and we were awarded the MacKay Trophy for 1967. John had lost his wife and only son and suffered a failing heart—the ravages of old age—near 90 years of a good life. Blessings my friend.

That is how I saw it.

Dick Trail