SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – The Springfield 66 Project is inviting local artists to help celebrate 100 years of Route 66 with their centennial sculpture series. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Heidi Herman-Bacon, the director of The Springfield 66 Project, said the invitation is open to anyone, not just professional artists. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not only artists that we\u2019re looking for. We\u2019re 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\u2019re welcome to participate,\u201d Herman-Bacon said.<\/p>\n
Emily Million has murals around Springfield and is involved in the sculpture series, but this project is more than paint – it\u2019s a family legacy. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d Million said. \u201cAs a Springfield native, I have been privileged to witness more public art being done around Springfield and to be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Organizers said they hope this project will encourage the community to get involved in public art.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think sometimes as a community we think, \u2018Oh, we have an artistic area or museum or certain things that aren\u2019t accessible to everyone,\u2019 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\u2019s for everybody,\u201c Herman-Bacon said.<\/p>\n
If interested in submitting a design or learning more, click here<\/a>. <\/p>\n