I’m typing this a few hours after I got home from Bob Waldmire’s Last Art Show on Sunday afternoon at the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield, Ill. Waldmire, an acclaimed Route 66 artist and the unofficial inspiration to the hippie minibus Fillmore in the movie “Cars,” is terminally ill with cancer.
I’ll download some photos and post them later in the day. But, for now, you can see the photos I shot during the event with a cell-phone camera on my Twitter account, including one of Waldmire here.
Waldmire looked jaundiced, tired and gaunt as he was rolled around in a wheelchair. But he also was in good spirits, smiled frequently, signed autographs and greeted visitors, which jammed the Cozy Dog’s interior and its parking lot (and a few adjacent lots as well). Even in illness, Bob was still Bob.
The Cozy Dog didn’t operate on the restaurant that day. It was just as well, because the crush of literally dozens of people would have made serving food a impossible. However, Waldmire and his family made that sure a few free snacks were available — all vegan, of course, to respect his wishes.
I didn’t see any crying from anyone, probably because Waldmire admonished everyone not to do any weeping on his behalf.
So Bob’s Last Art Show served almost as an unofficial reunion of Route 66 fans. Longtime roadie Akio Takeuchi undoubtedly would have won the award for traveling the greatest distance to the event, from his native Japan. But I also saw roadies from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
And it also was a celebration of Waldmire’s artwork, including a fair number of originals that were for sale at the event. It was staggering to see the magnificent handiwork on display. It served to remind us that a little piece of Bob will be hanging on homes across the nation long after he is gone — whenever that will be.
UPDATE: Here are some photos from the event …
This guy used his 1970 Chevelle as a canvas for Waldmire’s work.
Finally, here’s the man of the hour himself:
UPDATE2: Longtime Waldmire friend William Crook Jr. wrote this tribute in the Illinois Times. The whole thing’s worth reading, but this part stood out:
Bob is truly a popular artist. He didn’t go to art school, he hasn’t tried to be part of the art world and he definitely hasn’t tried to get rich off his art. His biggest fans are truck drivers, policemen and working class Americans. Until not too long ago, he sold his postcards for 25 cents each. He told me his profit was a nickel apiece after expenses, yet his low prices enabled him to put them in the hands of thousands of customers, and his Route 66 message was conveyed around the world. His prominence has earned him many friends among international Route 66 visitors. As an example of his worldwide fame, Bob received a book in the mail recently in Japanese that contained photos of him and his VW van.
UPDATE3: Here’s the video produced by the Chicago Tribune a couple of weeks ago:
UPDATE4: Here’s a good report by longtime roadie Denny Gibson.
(Photo of Bob Waldmire by Emily Priddy)
Yes, I was there Sunday as well. What a talent. We are so fortunate that he has documented Route 66 is his pen and ink. Good to see him, sad to lose him, but admire him, I do.
Thanks for attending and offering us a recap of the show. Looks like I won’t be able to get back to the homeland until Christmas, at which time I’ll be heading to Springfield.
Still having a hard time accepting the idea that Bob will be moving on sooner than any of us expected. I hope the show helped give him an idea of how much he is liked, and respected, by his fans across the country.
I travelled with Bob when he was young. His love, Carol, who he still loves, was/is my best friend. He was there during a difficult time for me…..he is indeed an amazing person. Love you Bob.