Second annual 'Rt. 66 Reinterpreted' Art Project now seeking entries

[January 14, 2014]  ATLANTA — In celebration of Route 66 and all it stands for, Atlanta, Ill., — located on the Mother Road, midway between Chicago and St. Louis — announces the second annual "Rt. 66 Reinterpreted" Art Project.

Modeled on Chicago's "Cows on Parade" exhibit, Rt. 66 Reinterpreted presents artists the opportunity to create their own take on one of the 20th century's most iconic and recognizable symbols: the U.S. Rt. 66 highway shield.

Participating artists will be provided a blank, 2-by-2-foot wooden cutout of the Rt. 66 highway shield, painted white, which will then become their personal canvas. The only requirement in creating a reinterpreted shield is to incorporate the text "Illinois U.S. 66" somewhere on the face of the shield, in whatever size, shape or color the artist desires. Everything else about the design, style, background and color of the reinterpreted shield is left to each artist's imagination and creativity.

The Atlanta Betterment Fund sponsors the Rt. 66 Reinterpreted Art Project.

The project is open to anyone 16 years old and above. Up to 50 entries will be accepted in this year's project, as determined by the date applications are received.

The board of directors of the Atlanta Betterment Fund will select 10 shields out of the 50 entries as finalists. Shields selected as finalists will be judged on originality of design, overall concept and quality of execution. All decisions regarding judging are final. Finalists will be notified by April 30.

All 50 entries will be displayed outside along Route 66 in downtown Atlanta from May 1 to Aug. 31. Voting will then take place May 1-Aug. 31 to select the top five shield designs as winners of the 2014 project. Anyone, anywhere may vote: either in person at selected Rt. 66 attractions in Atlanta or online via Atlanta's website at www.atlantaillinois.org. The top five vote-getters will be the winners of this year's Rt. 66 Reinterpreted Art Project. Entries selected as one of the top five winning designs will be notified by Sept. 8 and will be showcased at the International Mother Road Festival in Springfield Sept. 26-28. At the conclusion of the project, the five winning shields, along with the names of the artists who created them, will be displayed on a permanent basis in the Atlanta Rt. 66 Park.

Artists wishing to enter the Rt. 66 Reinterpreted Art Project must submit a completed application form, along with a $25 entry fee. Completed applications are due by or before Feb. 15. Applications received after Feb. 15 will not be accepted.

Completed Rt. 66 Reinterpreted shields should be carefully packaged and returned to: The Atlanta Betterment Fund, 114 SW Arch St., Atlanta, IL 61723. Shields should be submitted between March 1 and April 4. Shields received after April 4 will not be accepted.

Click on the "Rt. 66 Art Project" logo at: www.atlantaillinois.org for more information, including project guidelines and an application form to enter the Rt. 66 Reinterpreted Art Project. Or contact:

William Thomas
Atlanta Betterment Fund
114 SW Arch Street
Atlanta, IL 61723

[e-mail]

217-648-5077

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Application for Rt. 66 Reinterpreted Art Project   (PDF)

Project guidelines  (PDF)

[Text from news release received from Bill Thomas]