Hope the High Road
Gentry Amstutz
Artist Statement
Growing up in Springfield, known as the “Birthplace of Route 66,” I have always felt a strong connection to the story of the Mother Road. For this Centennial sculpture, I intended to create a design that feels dynamic, inviting viewers to engage with a living piece of history. I drew inspiration from the enduring appeal of roadside Americana.
By combining vintage textures with mid-century imagery such as faded motel signage, smiling retro pin-ups, and desert landscapes, I sought to construct a visual road trip within the shield. The surface evokes the appearance of old, hand-painted murals and billboards, featuring deliberate signs of aging to reflect the passage of time. Yet, it remains vibrant with deep oranges and turquoise blues.
Being sponsored by Transland Trucking adds a layer of personal pride to this project. Much like the trucking industry that keeps our country moving, Route 66 represents the spirit of progress and the freedom of the open road. The phrase “Get your kicks on” serves as a timeless anthem, inviting viewers to remember the travelers, truckers, and dreamers who have shaped Springfield’s identity since 1926. I hope that this sculpture stirs a sense of local pride and nostalgia, honoring our city’s cultural legacy while celebrating the next century of the American journey.
Thank you to our Sculpture Sponsor
Gentry Amstutz
Gentry Amstutz is a Springfield-based mixed media artist whose work reimagines pulp culture, vintage nostalgia, and American iconography through a raw, hands-on lens. Fusing painting, collage, and found imagery, he builds compositions that feel like road-worn artifacts—balancing a gritty, cinematic aesthetic with a refined sense of nostalgia.
His work is deeply influenced by Western motifs, cultural ephemera, and the quiet romance found in roadside culture. By focusing on the fragmented nature of memory and identity, each piece becomes a layered reflection on identity, memory, and the stories we tell through images.