While surfing the Net for Mother Road-related stuff, I stumbled upon this Talk Market video of California artist Aaron Foster hawking a Route 66 shield made of old license plates. It turns out that Foster doesn't make just road shields. He's made peace signs, maps of the continental U.S. and states, and even portraits of … Continue reading Old license plates turned into art
Category: Art
Notes from the road
The Motel Safari in Tucumcari, N.M., has added another mural image, courtesy of local artist Doug Quarles. It's a 1953 Flxible Clipper bus. Motel owner Richard Talley also passed along this news: On another note, we just had our first celebrity guest check-in! No, it wasn't Sir Paul!!! During the annual Rattler Reunion weekend, a … Continue reading Notes from the road
Feat of clay
Here's a video about Bradley's Pottery on old Route 66 in Chandler, Okla. The clip was produced by the state's tourism department.
Old trucks inspire art
Artist Neil Hannum isn't inspired by waterfalls or sunsets. Instead, he likes old pickup trucks, especially ones with a bit of rust or a busted headlight. He shoots a photograph of the vehicle, paints a watercolor of it, and mounts it on a road sign or scraps of metal he picks up along the roadside. … Continue reading Old trucks inspire art
Cadillac Ranch goes Down Under
Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas, has inspired a number of imitations in recent years. First, you have Bug Ranch in Conway, Texas. Then there was Combine City in rural Amarillo. Then there was Airstream Ranch in Dover, Fla. Now, according to The Land farming magazine, a fellow in Australia is using old utility vehicles, or … Continue reading Cadillac Ranch goes Down Under
Mural erected at Pig-Hip site
A new mural depicting the Pig-Hip restaurant and museum, which burned down last year, was erected at the site in Broadwell, Ill. According to the Lincoln (Ill.) Courier: The painting, by Arlene Waldmire of Rochester, shows both the restaurant and the nearby motel that sat on Route 66 at Broadwell during the heyday of the … Continue reading Mural erected at Pig-Hip site
New mural at Tucumcari motel
Richard Talley, owner of the Motel Safari on Route 66 in Tucumcari, N.M., sent along these photos of a new mural that's been painted on the motel's drive-up canopy. It was painted by local artist Doug Quarles, and it depicts a young Elvis Presley in a 1959 Cadillac, stopping for the night at the motel. … Continue reading New mural at Tucumcari motel
Here, the bottles won’t let you down
The Victorville (Calif.) Daily Press published a good article about Elmer Long and his Bottletree Ranch on old Route 66 near Oro Grande, Calif. Be sure to read about his encounter with a Chinese motorcycle club. Long has a blog, although hasn't updated it in months. We met him a few years ago. He's one … Continue reading Here, the bottles won’t let you down
Gallery opens in historic Route 66 hotel
The historic Aztec Hotel on Route 66 in Monrovia, Calif., opened its Route 66 Gallery on Saturday night, reports the Foothill Weeklies. The unique approach to this gallery is that it has not the stuffy atmosphere of a “name gallery” and is less intimidating for those new to the art world. On Saturday, we saw … Continue reading Gallery opens in historic Route 66 hotel
Photographer will publish book on Route 66
Fine-art photographer Tom Federbar, who's been capturing images for more than 50 years, including working with Ansel Adams, soon will publish a book on his Route 66 photographs, reports the Downey (Calif.) Patriot. After 43 years in the advertising photography business, Ferderbar sold Ferderbar Studios, Inc. in 1997, and returned to his first love – … Continue reading Photographer will publish book on Route 66