5 Local Art Elements of Mother Road Market
Mother Road Market, non-profit development of the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, and Oklahoma’s first food hall features art from local creatives that everyone can appreciate!
I appreciate good design, and delight in art when it appears in unlikely places. I am fortunate to work as the Creative Services Specialist for the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, where I get to make good design and branding my career. When we aren’t working remotely to prevent the spread of COVID-19, I get to spend my days in this historic space, surrounded by thoughtfully crafted installations that make Mother Road Market a unique Route 66 destination.
MURALS
(From left to right) America’s Main Street by Janet Fadler & Yatika Starr Fields, Homestretch by Sully String, Astral by ZYNB (Ghazal Ghazi), and Rock On Chef Seth by Clean Hands Army.
The founders of the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, Bill Lobeck & Kathy Taylor, big supporters of art and wanted local artists represented at MRM. The murals at Mother Road Market were all painted by local artists.
To read more about the murals at Mother Road Market, check out this article by Jill Farr in Art Focus Magazine (pg. 16)
2. NEON
No Route 66 destination is complete without neon. Designed and built right here in Tulsa, the unique neon signs at Mother Road Market add electricity to the space! Many people don’t know that creating neon signs is a specialized skill and very few people have learned the art form. Luckily for Tulsa business-owners a new grant from the city of Tulsa promises we will see many new neon signs along historic Route 66 in the next few years.
3. WHISK SCULPTURE / BIKE RACK
The East parking lot features an oversized whisk sculpture that doubles as a bike rack! The whisk bike rack was designed and built by Garden Deva, Tulsa-based sculpture artist nationally recognized for her outdoor installations.
4. ART CAR
Inspired by the Amarillo Cadillac Ranch, the MRM art car is a classic AMC Gremlin, layered with paint where the public has contributed illustrations, messages, color, and personality.
5. ROUTE 66 MINI GOLF
The Route 66 Mini Golf course on MRM’s year-round patio features 9 holes where you can play your way down Route 66! From the Willis Tower in Chicago, to the Santa Monica pier, each hole represents a special road side attraction for along the route. My personal favorite is the Blue Whale of Catoosa, a landmark that always sparked my imagination as a child while traveling on family road trips. The course was designed and built by Oklahoma artisans.
These have been the top 5 local art elements to check out at Mother Road Market. For more beautiful things to appreciate about Mother Road Market, follow us on instagram!