The Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center in Oklahoma City is hosting an exhibit on pop-art icon Ed Ruscha and the first-ever examination of his roots, including his Sooner State upbringing and the impact of Route 66 on him. The center's Eleanor Kirkpatrick Main Gallery is hosting the show in his hometown until July 5. Free tickets … Continue reading New exhibit at Oklahoma gallery focuses on famed pop artist Ed Ruscha’s roots
Category: Art
Crime Stoppers group offers reward for solving graffiti damage to Route 66 mural
A county Crime Stoppers group is offering a reward of up to $2,500 to apprehend whoever defaced a Route 66 mural in Springfield, Illinois, with graffiti. The mural on the railroad viaduct on Ninth Street, just north of Converse Street, was vandalized between the week of Jan. 10 and Jan. 27, causing hundreds of dollars … Continue reading Crime Stoppers group offers reward for solving graffiti damage to Route 66 mural
New mural in Sapulpa shows several Route 66 sites
A new mural in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma, shows historical sites in that town, including several along Route 66. The 1,300-square-foot mural, which was finished earlier this week, stands near Dewey Avenue (aka Route 66) and Main Street. More from the Sapulpa Times: The mural is “a gift to the city” from Joni Rogers-Kante and The … Continue reading New mural in Sapulpa shows several Route 66 sites
Construction set to begin soon on Route 66 Visitor Center in west Albuquerque
Bernalillo County announced it selected a contractor to build the nearly $10 million Route 66 Visitor Center on Albuquerque's west side and that construction would begin next month. The county stated in a news release Wednesday it authorized the county manager to execute and approve the construction agreement with Enterprise Builders in the amount of … Continue reading Construction set to begin soon on Route 66 Visitor Center in west Albuquerque
Gearhead Curios in Galena plans to add neon lighting by April
The owners of Gearhead Curios along Route 66 in Galena, Kansas, said on social media Thursday they plan to install neon lighting at their former gas station by April 21. The social media post included a rendering of the neon added to an existing photo of the site: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1124595541308380&id=550734662027807 Gearhead Curios said anyone who wants … Continue reading Gearhead Curios in Galena plans to add neon lighting by April
A profile of a prolific Oklahoma muralist
An Oklahoma City television station recently profiled a Sooner State muralist who's painted up to 4,000 murals during his career, including several on Route 66. Here's the profile of Bob Palmer from KFOR-TV. You can see one of his Route 66 murals in the segment: Dozens of his historic-themed murals can be seen here. You'll … Continue reading A profile of a prolific Oklahoma muralist
New exhibit at Joplin examines Route 66’s impact on culture
A new exhibit at an arts center in Joplin, Missouri, examines the cross-cultural impact of Route 66 from a native of that town. "Route 66: Crossing Cultural Lines," curated by artist and former American Jazz Museum curator Sara Sonié Joi Thompson-Ruffin, will be in the main gallery of the Spiva Center for the Arts in … Continue reading New exhibit at Joplin examines Route 66’s impact on culture
The story behind the many graffiti murals at Mad Dog Liquor in Tulsa
For about 15 years, the Mad Dog Liquor store along Route 66 in east Tulsa has given a canvas to varying graffiti artists for their work. The Tulsa World talked to the store's owner, Jackie Dutton, who said the building originally was a drab gray but opened it up to local graffiti artists after gaining … Continue reading The story behind the many graffiti murals at Mad Dog Liquor in Tulsa
Jim Livingston’s Route 66 art featured at Amarillo’s airport
Amarillo photographer Jim Livingston, known for his "I Am Route 66" project, recently installed his Route 66 artwork at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport. According to KAMR-TV in Amarillo, images from popular points along Route 66 are located before the security check and next to the Husband statue. The Amarillo Convention and Visitor Council features … Continue reading Jim Livingston’s Route 66 art featured at Amarillo’s airport
Praying Hands Monument in Webb City to undergo extensive renovations
The nearly 50-year-old Praying Hands Monument in King Jack Park in Webb City, Missouri, will undergo extensive stabilization work later this month. According to the Joplin Globe, the Dawson Heritage Foundation has hired Midland Enterprises to work on the substructure of the sculpture, which was built in 1973: The contractor will place a new reinforced concrete … Continue reading Praying Hands Monument in Webb City to undergo extensive renovations