The International Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum in Pontiac, Ill., has seen hundreds of visitors since opening May 1, according to a report in the Bloomington Pantagraph. "We have been doing really well, and we are getting visitors from all over," said museum manager Kristen Mehlberg. "We've had visitors from 15 states and seven … Continue reading Not a wallflower
Category: Art
Notes from the road
(Editor's note: This is my Catch Up from the Memorial Day Holiday Edition.) Actor and director Dennis Hopper died over the weekend after a long bout with prostate cancer. He was 74. A memorial service and burial was held Wednesday at a church in his beloved Taos, N.M., where he lived for years. Although a … Continue reading Notes from the road
A new welcome
Here's a new mural that greets eastbound travelers on the big sweeping curve of Oklahoma Highway 66 in Davenport, Okla. The mural was completed just a few days ago by a local artist. (Photo by Emily Priddy)
Bob’s last ride
Dave Bakke at the Springfield (Ill.) State Journal-Register has the details about the burial Sunday of the cremains of Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire at the family plot near Rochester, Ill. The other half of his ashes are to be released along the Mother Road. True to Bob’s wishes, some of his ashes have been … Continue reading Bob’s last ride
Remaking the Nelson Tavern
Willem Bor of the Netherlands won't be in Lebanon, Mo., until June to dedicate his painstakingly detailed diorama of the old Nelson Tavern in the Lebanon/Laclede County Route 66 Society's museum. However, Bor made a video that shows how the Nelson Tavern diorama was done. Bor's Web site about his upcoming Route 66 trip is … Continue reading Remaking the Nelson Tavern
Joplin will dedicate mural next week
A Route 66-themed mural by the grandson of famous artist Thomas Hart Benton will be dedicated on the first floor of Joplin (Mo.) City Hall, 602 S. Main St., at 5:30 p.m. April 15, according to the Joplin Independent. Anthony Benton Gude, Benton's grandson, has completed the mural. The date of the dedication marks the … Continue reading Joplin will dedicate mural next week
Bob Waldmire’s last mural
A mural that was designed by recently deceased Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire for a gas station in Topock-Golden Shores, Ariz., was finished a few days ago. The mural of old Route 66 is on a replica 1970s Shell gas station on 12888 Oatman Highway (aka Route 66) owned by Ned Leuchtner, who also owns … Continue reading Bob Waldmire’s last mural
The way of Waldmire
A YouTube poster by the name of "dguerraphoto" just uploaded this moving short film about Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire, when he was dying of abdominal cancer in November. I commend it to your attention: I'll post more information about the filmmaker as soon as I get it. UPDATE: I got this message from the … Continue reading The way of Waldmire
“Cars” meets Cadillac Ranch
Be a little patient when you view this Lego stop-motion animation video. You will eventually see toys from the movie "Cars" being used in a re-creation of Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas. So is this were Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater and the rest of the Radiator Springs gang go after they die?
60-second man
Here's a video of someone repainting one of the cars planted into the ground at Cadillac Ranch west of Amarillo, Texas. It serves as a primer (pun intended) for those who want to learn how to repaint their car.