Ralph Wilson, “Mr. Shrine,” was intrigued by roadside shrines as he traveled about the country in his motorhome, Wally World, selling his art. He found himself driven to make models of roadside shrines from wood, and later was asked to help others create their own shrines.

Ralph teaches because he firmly believes that “you’ve got to give it away to keep it.” He makes shrines because they can “call up a very special kind of magic when they come from the heart.” A shrine can weave the thread of communication between the hearts of the maker and of the beholder. There are no rules in shrine making. Shrine creations can be as straight or as silly as the maker wants it to be, because in the words of Mr. Shrine, “God has a sense of humor, too.” (Mr. Shrine also offers mini-art car kits, pins and magnets on copper, painted luggage, custom shrines, and customization for religious vehicles.)

Kathleen has teamed up with Ralph to create unique shrine kits that enable anyone to create a shrine to their favorite person, animal, or what have you. Shrine kits are priced at $18 and include everything you will need to create your own shrine. Please visit the Mr. Shrine website for more details and ordering information.

Below is a sampling of completed shrines to pique your interest in this unique folk art form.

• B. B. King was done as a sample for the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC.
• Peewee Herman was done for the American Visonary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.