Beloved Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire died several weeks ago, but the accolades are still coming in. The latest came today from Mark Yost, writing for the Wall Street Journal. A choice excerpt, part of which I witnessed: These were the people who showed up at the Cozy Dog in mid-November for "Bob's Last Art … Continue reading More accolades for Bob Waldmire
Category: Art
Pontiac to commemorate Diaz family’s Studs Terkel Award
The city of Pontiac, Ill., will give the Diaz family a commemorative medallion on Jan. 19 for their winning the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award in October, according to a news release from the city's tourism division. From the news release: Of their many contributions to the community, they are being honored specifically for devoting … Continue reading Pontiac to commemorate Diaz family’s Studs Terkel Award
Mural at I-44 welcome center has Route 66 theme
A few days ago, the Joplin (Mo.) Globe reported about a new mural at the Missouri Welcome Center on Interstate 44 in Joplin that contains a prominent Route 66 theme and uses old license plates as part of the artwork. The interesting part is after Zane Livengood, a part-time worker at the welcome center, submitted … Continue reading Mural at I-44 welcome center has Route 66 theme
New artist takes inspiration from Mother Road
Joseph Squires is 72 years old, so it seems a bit incongruous to say he's new at anything. However, after his wife Carolyn died four years ago, Squires decided to paint scenes on Route 66 in Missouri, based on his memories of the historic road, according to the Cuba Mural blog. “My Rt. 66 series … Continue reading New artist takes inspiration from Mother Road
Bob Waldmire has died
Bob Waldmire, a beloved Route 66 artist and self-avowed hippie who also was the unofficial inspiration to Fillmore in the movie "Cars," died at 8:30 a.m. today, according to a news release from Michael Wallis, co-director of the Route 66 Alliance. Waldmire, 64, had been battling cancer. More on this is coming tonight, when I … Continue reading Bob Waldmire has died
Film features mural painters in Pontiac
Scott McCoy, the former mayor of Pontiac, Ill., and owner of McCoy studios, has produced a documentary film about the Walldogs mural painters when they descended on the city last summer, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The title of the film is "Murals on Main Street -- The Story of Walldogs in Pontiac, Ill." The two-hour … Continue reading Film features mural painters in Pontiac
Totem Pole face-lift
I didn't know this, but someone has been refurbishing the giant totem pole at Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park near Foyil, Okla., for the past year. Virginia Klugloff has been doing the work. Her work this year — which was the result of a grant from the local branch of the preservation group Questers — … Continue reading Totem Pole face-lift
Former Club Cafe manager now an artist
Santiago Chavez, the longtime manager for the beloved but now-closed Club Cafe restaurant on Route 66 in Santa Rosa, N.M., apparently has found a second career as an artist based in Carson City, Nev. According to the Reno Gazette Journal, Chavez was the subject of an artist's reception Friday night at Fiesta La Posada in … Continue reading Former Club Cafe manager now an artist
It may be his last show, but Bob was still Bob
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 … Continue reading It may be his last show, but Bob was still Bob
Preview of Waldmire art show
Here's a preview by the Springfield State Journal-Register of Bob Waldmire's Last Art Show, set for Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield, Ill. Please note that the Cozy will not operate as usual as a restaurant, but a caterer will bring in light snacks for the event. Waldmire, … Continue reading Preview of Waldmire art show