SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – The Springfield 66 Project is inviting local artists to help celebrate 100 years of Route 66 with their centennial sculpture series.
The series will feature 66 blank sculptures around Springfield, and artists can submit their designs to decorate them. Approved artists will be awarded up to a $2,000 stipend to complete their work.
Heidi Herman-Bacon, the director of The Springfield 66 Project, said the invitation is open to anyone, not just professional artists.
“It’s not only artists that we’re looking for. We’re looking for people in the community that want to be creative, so if you can create a drawing of your concept and then execute it with paint on a large-scale sculpture, you’re welcome to participate,” Herman-Bacon said.
Emily Million has murals around Springfield and is involved in the sculpture series, but this project is more than paint – it’s a family legacy.
“It’s kind of special to me in that my family has an auto body shop on College (Street) – on the original Route 66 that my great-grandfather started,” Million said. “As a Springfield native, I have been privileged to witness more public art being done around Springfield and to be a part of it.”
Organizers said they hope this project will encourage the community to get involved in public art.
“I think sometimes as a community we think, ‘Oh, we have an artistic area or museum or certain things that aren’t accessible to everyone,’ And I feel like it is really important to bring the community together and see how the community responds to public art and art in general. It’s for everybody,“ Herman-Bacon said.
If interested in submitting a design or learning more, click here.
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