Pontiac, Ill., has a variety of activities planned for the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival on May 7-8, but the big events will center around late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire.
According to a news release today by Pontiac Tourism, Waldmire’s school-bus home will be open to the public for the first time. Waldmire lived in the school bus for many years, and spent many of his final days there when he was dying of cancer in late 2009.
From the news release:
According to Pontiac Mayor Robert Russell, “The inside of the school bus is absolutely unique. Everyone who has seen it so far has been stunned by the eclectic and yet practical décor. It is truly something to see.”
Ellie Alexander, Pontiac Tourism director, provided a sneak peak of the school bus’ interior with this photograph:
Waldmire’s famed 1967 Volkswagen minibus also will be on display at the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum in town. Waldmire served as the unofficial inspiration to the character of Fillmore in the 2006 Pixar movie “Cars.”
Also, the big event that weekend will be the completion of Waldmire’s last commissioned artwork:
Bob was asked to design and paint a mural for downtown Pontiac, but his illness prevented him from completing that task. Instead, he designed the mural and agreed to have the public paint it. Bob’s 66-foot map of the entire Route 66 will be set up in the 300 block of North Main Street, next to the Daily Leader offices.
Those who participate in the mural’s painting that weekend will receive this button:
And below is a thumbnail of Waldmire’s mural, which includes an additional design of Waldmire himself by Diaz Sign Art of Pontiac, which also is overseeing the project. (Click to enlarge image.)
Other events scheduled:
- Art show near the Waldmire mural
- The autographing of a special Pontiac car hood
- Citywide garage sale
- Touch-A-Truck display for children at the Pontiac Rec Center
- Model train display at Evenglow Lodge
- Flea market at the Old Log Cabin restaurant
- Vermillion Players’ free performance of Route 66 musical revue at Chautauqua Park Pavilion
- Clearance sale by the OSF Auxiliary
- Cars that will be displayed at the future Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum
UPDATE 4/12/2011: The first part of the Waldmire mural went up Tuesday.
Actually, the artwork of Bob for the mural and button wasn’t originated by Diaz Sign Art. It’s from a photo I took and published in this blog post: https://www.thelope.com/2009/12/to-different-road.html
Interesting. I didn’t know that.