Route 66 holds a special place in the lore of the American West and, during the year of its 100th anniversary, exhibitions celebrating the historic highway are popping up all around the region, including in Arizona, home to a nearly 400-mile stretch of the iconic Mother Road.
Altamira Fine Art in Scottsdale, Arizona, is joining the festivities with The Great American Road Trip, a group exhibition featuring popular Western artists Geoffrey Gersten, Dennis Ziemienski, Jennifer Johnson and Miles Glynn.
Dennis Ziemienski, Edsel in the Valley, oil on canvas, 48 x 48 in.
For Johnson, the open road has always meant freedom and the unknown future ahead. “Route 66 captures that classic American spirit, especially the 1940s and ’50s era when families piled into the car, a dog rode along in the back seat, and heading west felt full of possibility,” she says. “I grew up taking long road trips with my family, and painting these scenes brings back that same sense of joy, curiosity and togetherness. For me, it’s really about the moments and stories that unfold along the way, not just the destination.”
Dennis Ziemienski, Life Imitates Art, oil on canvas, 40 x 30 in.
As seen in the painting Cantina Café, Western road scenes are recurring motifs for Johnson and have become a natural part of her visual storytelling. “I’m drawn to the open spaces, weathered buildings, and the way classic cars and neon signs naturally pop against the desert landscape,” she says. “I especially love the color harmony and textures you find out there. They are subtle yet surprisingly bold combinations that let me play with vibrancy without forcing it. These places feel familiar, timeless, and a little worn in the best way, which is why I keep coming back to them.”
Cantina Café, with classic cars parked under neon lights and the beginnings of a desert sunset, depicts the kind of pit stop that makes a road trip memorable for Johnson. “I’m drawn to the sculptural lines of the 1950s cars and how inseparable they feel from the Route 66 era, as well as the rich color harmony of the landscape itself,” she says. “Together, the color, cars and setting celebrate slowing down, soaking it in and enjoying the journey as much as the destination.”
Ziemienski is inspired by similar subject matter. “My family took many road trips in my youth,” he recalls. “I would beg my parents to stop because the scenery, motels with pools, refreshment stands and various odd roadside attractions called to me. Later I was compelled to revisit all the memories as I started painting the West. I have been painting these scenes for decades and plan on continuing since I’m still captivated by road trips and travel.”
Jennifer Johnson, Cantina Cafe, oil on canvas, 40 x 30 in.
Ziemienski will be showing works that include Edsel in the Valley, Canyon Road Trip and Life Imitates Art. The first two depict people so awed by the beautiful view they had to stop to take it in; while Life Imitates Art is a sight that Ziemienski was particularly intrigued by and continues to captivate him to this day. “I was on a road trip in Arizona 15 years ago and was astounded to run across this beautiful sign with animated neon,” he shares. “I first painted it 12 years ago and have painted parts of it ever since.”
The Great American Road Trip opens on February 24 and hangs through March 7. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, February 26, during Scottsdale ArtWalk from 6 to 8 p.m. —
Altamira Fine Art 7038 E. Main Street » Scottsdale, AZ 85251 » (480) 949-1256 » www.altamiraart.com
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