KC ORIGINALS by PATRICIA O'DELL
Up with the Chickens. Sally Linville, founder and creative director of The City Girl Farm, grew up on her family farm in Lyons, Kansas. For her 10th birthday her parents gave her a starter flock of chickens. It was love at first sight that developed into a thriving design career in creating “Chicken Footstools” from bronze, wood, and wool that elevate the soul – as well as feet. “I loved chickens from the get-go,” says Linville. “Caring for them was a great experience. They were like pets, and I held them all the time.” While her father managed their farm, Linville’s mother was an interior designer. Both elements of their careers influenced Linville’s path. “In retrospect, I was surrounded by creativity in different realms every day. My dad is amazing. He’s a farmer but also a mechanic and can fix almost anything.” “My mom introduced me to an appreciation of textiles. Both parents are still integral to the making of Chicken Footstools.” After a couple of years at Kansas State University, undecided on her major, Linville fused the skills she observed in her parents and entered the Interior Architecture and Product Design program. She created her first two Chicken Footstool sculptures as a class project.
WINTER 2020| TODAY KANSAS CITY | 17
