Inside KDOT: Meet Melissa Rau, artist who brings history to life

Recently, Melissa Rau, a Program Consultant for KDOT's Bureau of Transportation Safety & Technology, Traffic Safety Unit, was featured in the news. Rau is a self-taught artist who creates life-life sculptures of historical figures and here is her story:

Melissa Rau is a Program Consultant for KDOT.
She also sculpts life-life works of art. 

My name is Melissa Rau and I’ve been working for the agency for almost two years. I am a self-taught artist and have had a life-long interest in many different forms of art, however, sculpture has become my main interest. 

I learned the skill of figure sculpting from my mother many years ago.  She specialized in the sculpting of 18-inch tall historic figures. A few years ago, I was asked by the Capper Foundation for Disabled Children to create a scene commemorating the 90th anniversary of the organization and it was my opportunity to create a life-sized historical figure of Arthur Capper. It was my first life-sized figure, and the foundation seemed pleased with the outcome. 

I was then commissioned to create other pieces such as Amelia Earhart, Wild Bill Hickok, James Naismith, Evel Knievel and my latest completed project, Mother Teresa.

Rau's sculpture of Amelia Earhart

Rau's sculpture of Cheyenne Warrior, Roman Nose

I have been recently commissioned to sculpt a famous Native American Cheyenne warrior by the name of Roman Nose. I have completed figures for museums and organizations such as the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, the Great Overland Station, the Capper  Foundation for Disabled Children, the Evel Knievel Museum, Fort Wallace Museum and the Mother Teresa Catholic Church.   

Rau's sculpture of Mother Theresa

Prior to starting each historical project, I surround myself with as many photos as I can. I commence hand-sculpting the faces, hands and feet. I make the bodies from metal and wire. I thoroughly research and hand-make the clothing or I incorporate antique pieces. Each historic figure may take up to twelve weeks to create.

 Each figure I create offers new design challenges and I like that. There’s a lot of internal construction that goes into my figures and I carefully contemplate each piece and contrive the internal design so that the finished product gives the exact look I’m targeting. The minute placement of the head, the hand gripping a weapon, folded arms, the exact placement of each foot, leg, arm, torso, everything goes into the body language of an individual and makes a profound statement about their personality and how they are perceived.

Rau's sculpture of Evel Kneivel can be seen
at the Evel Kneivel Museum in Topeka

I want my audience to understand the character of each person I create—what it would be like to meet them in person, what motivated and interested them and what made them significant to the history of our great country. 

In between historic projects, I create many whimsical pieces such as Santas, elves, Halloween figures, etc. and in many different sizes. One of my holiday “elf projects” can be viewed at Fairlawn Plaza Mall in Topeka during the month of November and December each year.

For more information about Rau's work, watch the news clip about her and read the article from KSNT here: 

Inside KDOT: Meet Catherine Patrick, State Transportation Engineer

By Mallory Goeke,

KDOT Communications Specialist 

The Transportation Blog is starting a new series called, “Inside KDOT,” that will highlight people and their roles at the agency that help keep Kansas moving. KDOT employs about 2,500 people who each play a part in planning, constructing and maintaining the state’s infrastructure.

The series kicks off with Catherine Patrick, State Transportation Engineer for KDOT. She earned her civil engineering degree from Kansas State University and has been with the agency for nearly 30 years.

We had the chance to ask her a few questions for our new series: Inside KDOT. This new series will highlight some of the individuals and roles that make up the agency that helps keep Kansas moving. 

Catherine Patrick, State Transportation Engineer

Q: When did you decide you wanted to be an engineer?

A: I am not sure when the concept came together. I began taking math and science classes and decided being an engineer would be a good use of those resources. I started out studying electrical engineering, then quickly found out I was a visual person, plus I enjoyed being outside, and I found civil engineering was a good fit.

Q. How important are engineers to Kansas?

A. Transportation engineers are important to our society and economy. Engineers design, build and maintain our roads, bridges and all modes of transportation. These are all necessary as we continue to design and build to meet the future needs for mobility.

Q. Why did you decide to work for KDOT?

A. KDOT was hiring field engineers and being involved with the construction of roads and bridges sounded interesting.

Q. How did you move up in the agency? 

A. I started as a project engineer for nine years then I was promoted to Construction Engineer where I stayed for five years — all in the Kansas City metro area. I decided to take a Professional Civil Engineer II position in Topeka working in the Bureau of Construction & Maintenance in the Change Order Section. I spent about a year and a half at that position. An opportunity to go back to the field came up as a Metro Engineer in Topeka so I had that position for another year and a half. I also had a small stint as the Metro Engineer in Bonner Springs, followed by being the District One Engineer. At that time there was a lot of movement in KDOT and folks were retiring. In 2007, I came back inside as the Director of the Division of Operations and stayed in that position until the summer of 2016 when I took my current position as State Transportation Engineer.

Q. What are some major projects you have had the opportunity to work on?

A. As a project engineer there were several projects in the Kansas City metro area, one was the Quivira Road Viaduct over I-35 in Johnson County. This was an exciting project because it was not just a reconstruction and expansion project, like many of the types we do. This was a new alignment connecting 87^th Street to 91^st over I-35 in Lenexa. Another project in this same area was the 87^th Street and I-35 Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) project.

Q. What is your favorite part about working for the agency?

A. My favorite part is the people that I have worked with at KDOT. I have had an opportunity to work with many employees here and with others doing work for KDOT. I have learned a lot and hopefully contributed to their learning as well. I would say “variety is the spice of life” and every day there are new challenges.

Q. What do you want to say to other women and girls who are interested in becoming engineers? Any advice?

A. I would say “Why not?” It’s not about what you are, but who you are as an engineer.

Keep a positive outlook, don’t sell yourself short, learn from others at all levels, don’t be afraid to ask questions and always be open to new challenges.