Art Inspiration and a Road Trip Part Two.

Here we are again at Roy's Gas, Motel and Cafe. If you're interested in reading up on it's long history, this is a good link.

This site has been used in many movies and music videos.

The famous Roy's sign was erected in 1959

What struck me most was the eerie feeling I got as I walked around exploring the area. 

The motel lobby, with items left strewn about, seemed as if it had been abandoned very quickly.

The cabins evoked that same eerie feeling in me. 

Some were empty and others contained very unique art installations.

Like many of the old establishments along Route 66 this place is frozen in time

According to this site Roy's is selling gas again, but not when we were stopped there. A young couple had pulled in ahead of us and were out of gas. The person there at the time was trying to pump gas into their car but there was no gas coming out. They were stranded and calling friends to come and pick them up. Strange right?? Cue eerie music.....

Art Inspiration and a Road Trip Part One.

You may remember from this and previous posts that I have a serious passion for neon, and if it's retro neon, wow!! I've researched them, painted them, recieved them as gifts, traveled to see them and photograph them in person. They are a big inspiration for me and my art. Luckily, my husband shares that same interest, so when I approached him with this page from Art Collector Magazine and asked if it was do able, the answer was yes. Yay!!

This article about Francis De Fronzo's upcoming show at Evoke Contemporary immediately caught my eye. I went straight to his and the gallery's website to learn more. De Fronzo's paintngs are very large and very realistic. They are of trains, old signs, and big skies and fields. They evoke in me a feeling of solitude and peace. 

Then I went on to Google to find this sign and learn of it's rich history. We had already planned a long weekend in Las Vegas (this past December) and it was only a couple of hours away.

After a great early breakfast at 'Eat' in downtown Las Vegas, we started our road trip. It was an overcast and at points a cloudy day.

I was hoping for bright sun and some desert heat, but it was December and they were experiencing cooler than normal temps for the area.

We saw lots of interesting 'deserty' things along the way. A couple of long trains that we had to wait for and let pass.

Plenty of abandoned buildings and structures.

and even a few tumbleweeds blowing in the wind.

A mountain that resembled a pyramid.

Don't let this somewhat freshly painted spot on the road fool you. Route 66 is full of history and in some areas in disrepair. Pot holes galore.

And then we saw it in the distance. We had arrived to our destination in Amboy Ca. There, in the Mohave desert,  the sign we came to see. I'll stop my story here because Roy's Motel Cafe deserves it's own post. Stay tuned for part two.