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Progress on the Route 66 mural at the southwest corner of West Vandalia and South Main streets began on Thursday. It's a near week-long process.
Progress on the Route 66 mural at the southwest corner of West Vandalia and South Main streets began on Thursday. It's a near week-long process.
Artist Daniel Ricketts is painting the town.
“This is super cool,” he said. "This spot here in Edwardsville is a nice and smooth surface so we’re ready to paint.”
On Thursday, Ricketts started the near week-long process of painting a Route 66 mural at the southwest corner of West Vandalia and South Main streets in downtown Edwardsville. The mural will be displayed on an exterior building wall facing Walgreens.
The work in Edwardsville comes just after Ricketts completed the first mural at 101 E. Main St. in Collinsville. Using a similar layout, each of the 12 murals will have a signature touch that highlights the city where the mural is located.
“I’m really happy with how the first one turned out in Collinsville," he said.
The series of artwork stems from the Route 66 Mural Program created by the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. The program is just one part of the bureau's multi-layered Route 66 product development plan with a $919,000 grant in preparation for the 100th anniversary celebration of "The Mother Road" in 2026.
Route 66 spans roughly 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.
“We want to be part of the Illinois and national celebration with a new and exciting stretch of the Mother Road in southwest Illinois,” said Cory Jobe, president and CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. “This grant will enable us to do that and help communities along the last 100 miles of Route 66 in Illinois shine.”
The building in Edwardsville is the property of LJC Partners, which is owned by Matt and Kristen Pfund and is across the street opposite Walgreens.
According to LJC Partners, LLC, which owns the business, the building has historically had its western face painted. Under the agreement signed by the shop's owner, the mural must remain intact through Dec. 31, 2026, then it can be painted over if the owner desires.
“Murals really bring out a nice sense of the community,” Ricketts said. “It brings more business to the building and people from out of the community to the mural for pictures. It’s cool to see it happen.”
Ricketts is using a pounce pattern for the murals. That’s when the artist draws the design to scale on paper and then pounces the paper with little holes, using a pounce bag with charcoal powder to highlight the design. He then paints the design.
“We were really excited when they contacted us for the murals,” Ricketts said.
Ricketts is of St. Louis Sign & Mural and is slated to paint the remaining 10 murals in East St. Louis, Hamel, Granite City, Livingston, Staunton, Carlinville, Girard, Gillespie, Virden and Litchfield.
“We’re proud to showcase the role that Edwardsville played in Route 66 history with this mural,” Mayor Art Risavy said.
For more information about the artist, visit the St. Louis Sign & Mural website and Facebook page.