Randyland is an outdoor art museum displaying “found object art” and is regarded as one of America’s most colorful public art landmarks. By the way, “found object art” came into vogue following the French artist Marcel Duchamp’s 1917 exhibit of Fountain, a standard urinal purchased from a hardware store and displayed resting on its side on a pedestal. I’m guessing Andy Warhol was inspired by that piece.

Randyland is a phantasmagoria. Flamingoes, mannequins, saloon signage, bird baths, old trumpets, trombones, tubas, tricycles, pogo sticks, etc., etc, etc. If I listed even one-tenth of their items, I would use up my 400 word limit right here.

Randy Gilson was born in 1957 in Homestead, just outside Pittsburgh. He moved to the disreputable, derelict Northside in 1982 and took up guerrilla gardening. He and his cohorts planted 800 street gardens and 50 vegetable gardens in vacant lots.

And then in 1995 he used his credit care to purchase a drab building for $10,000. He painted it bright yellow and added murals galore and began furnishing his yard with “upcycled” stuff. It was crazy, chaotic, and beautiful. And inspiring.

Imagination at work.

Neighbors began transforming the neighborhood one house, one block at a time.

When you step into Randyland you can’t help smiling. You can’t help shaking your head in disbelief. And you can’t help reaching for your camera.

A reporter once asked Gilson if he could take one ride up the Incline with any Pittsburgher living or dead who would it be.

Randy replied: Andy Warhol.

Raise your hand if you’re surprised.