In January 2024, when we started planning the overview show of Paul Ruschá’s work in the Winslow Studio Artists Gallery, we looked out the beautiful floor to ceiling windows and over the future sculpture garden to the raw cinderblock wall. With Paul’s El Gran Garage just on the other side, peeking over the top, we knew we needed to improve the view.
We started brainstorming ideas on ways to make this wall look better, and Allan came up with the plan of a Route 66 mural, specifically way finding of the key locations relevant to La Posada and our exhibit featuring the work of Paul Ruschá.
Paul and Route 66
Paul was born and raised in Oklahoma City, and starting in 1949, began traveling Route 66 west with his family, including brother Ed Ruscha who has featured Route 66 in much of his art. Paul still regularly traverses Route 66 between his home in Los Angeles and his home in Winslow. The road symbolizes an important connection between the places most significant in Paul’s life.
The Route 66 Mural
First step, we gave the wall a base paint, and accented the columns with the same brown used on the historic Route 66 markers across the country.
For the mural, we chose the starting and ending points of Chicago and Los Angeles, and then the two key locations of Winslow and Oklahoma City. Creative Director Lori Bentley Law created the design which Nolan then projected on the wall and began to paint.
Not only will this wall will be a great photo op, it is also a commemoration of the significance of Route 66 to our property. Traditionally, Harvey Houses were specifically oriented for the rail. La Posada was the first Harvey House to be built for both rail and road.
Now, when you look out the window of the Winslow Studio Artists Gallery and across the future sculpture garden, you see not an ugly bare cinderblock wall but a representation of a meaningful part of both Paul’s history and the historic traveling past of Winslow Arizona and La Posada Hotel.
Paul Ruschá LIFE MASK Exhibition Opening!
Please join us for the opening of Paul Ruschá LIFE MASK Saturday October 19th! To read the press release, click here. You can find the Facebook event page, here.
If you’re not able to make it for the opening, have no fear. The show will run for one year.
