Randy Gilson bought his property on Arch Street on the North Side for $11,300 in 1997, according to property records. The property that would have been torn down is now the most colorfully vibrant building in the city, free for the public to enjoy.
“I found out I had ADHD,” Mr. Gilson said. “I wanted to go ahead and use my energy rather than my medication. I’m happy all the time. I believe joy, love, happiness and understanding should all be free.”
Mr. Gilson grew up learning the importance of recycling because his family couldn’t afford to buy new things.
“When I was a little boy, I furnished my entire house for mom out of all the things people were throwing away in the garbage,” he said. “Everything in Randyland is stuff you would find in the streets or dumpster. I’m a junk man. People say I’m an artist. Well, I’m both.”
Teaching others how to “recycle, re-purpose and rethink” is the main goal of Randyland.
“That’s why it's important to not throw things away, but help others that may be less fortunate so they can get some things,” he said.
Foo Conner, co-director of Randyland, has been helping Mr. Gilson reconstruct his artistic landscape for the past three years.
“Year to year, we are tearing things up and rebuilding,” he said. “We think it is finally approaching its final form.”
Their new project — flowers painted in designs that feature every color of the rainbow — are being built out of junk wood. They hope to make 100, with poles that reach 10 feet tall. Ants and ladybugs, with heads on springs, will be nodding in approval as visitors explore.
“When you walk into Randyland, you’ll feel like you’ve shrunk,” Mr. Gilson said.
In the back of the colorful courtyard, featuring anything from purple poodles to mannequin heads, an international welcome wall always draws a crowd. Hundreds of people can been seen in the courtyard on any given afternoon, with up to 1,000 visitors on the weekends.
“Randyland is the happiest house in the world,” Mr. Gilson said. “Feel the love, it’s a therapy house.”
Mr. Gilson’s partner, David “Mac” Mcdermott, helped Mr. Gilson in a labor of love to build the "happy house" into what it is today. The couple has been together for over 20 years and took a cross-country vacation last year - fundraised by fans - to live their dream as Mr. Mcdermott was suffering from terminal prostate cancer.
Mr. Gilson said he was grateful that everyone was able to send them on their first vacation. Mr. Mcdermott’s cancer is now in remission, and he still opens the gates from time to time.
“They still live together in the big yellow castle,” Mr. Conner said.
The artists have found a niche to share their castle with the world in social media, particularly Instagram.
“No matter who you are when you are walking in, we are all the same in the courtyard,” Mr. Conner said. “You share love and it’s amplified a thousand times.”
In addition to his art haven, Mr. Gilson cares for 800 gardens, including 50 vegetable gardens, in eight parks. He also works as a waiter in the evenings at the Westin Hotel Downtown.
Mr. Gilson plans to one day donate his abode to the community as a “common table” for Pittsburghers. To Mr. Gilson, Mr. Conner and their fellow art lovers, Randyland is a healing house.
“It’s called karma, man,” Mr. Gilson said. “The more you give, the more you live.”
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article contained the wrong selling price and year that Randy Gilson acquired his property.
Carley Bonk: cbonk@post-gazette.com and Twitter @carls_marie
First Published: June 29, 2018, 8:20 p.m.
Updated: June 29, 2018, 9:45 p.m.
