Visit Springfield and The Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space in Springfield, Illinois, announced the addition of “The Road That Takes You” exhibition by David Schwartz, the photographer behind this year’s forthcoming Route 66 centennial stamps by the U.S. Postal Service.
A ribbon cutting and grand opening is planned for Friday, March 27, at 3 p.m. with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce at The Pharmacy, located at 623 E Adams St. in Springfield.
The exhibit runs through Dec. 19. The Pharmacy gallery is open from noon to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The exhibit will include a collection of photographs that Schwartz spent time planning, scouting and reflecting on the true character of these iconic Springfield places. Featured locations in the exhibit include the Cozy Dog Drive-In, Maid Rite Sandwich Shop and Shea’s Gas Station.
The exhibition also includes portraits of individuals deeply rooted in Springfield’s Route 66 culture. The portraits are part of the developing “Keepers of the Mother Road” series documenting those people.
“My hope with The Road That Takes You is simple: I want people to feel something when they see these photographs,” Schwartz said. “I want them to travel the road themselves and experience the places and the people that keep it alive.
“Route 66 is not something you simply observe. It is something you step into. It is not a museum piece. It is a living road. And once it finds its way into your bones, the road has a way of taking you somewhere you never expected.”
The Route 66 centennial stamps featuring Schwartz’s images will be released by the Postal Service on May 5.
Schwartz’s Route 66 photography can be viewed online here.
(Image of David Schwartz along Route 66 via Visit Springfield)