A pair of repurposed artistic billboards is now on display at the campus of Methodist College in north Peoria. “Untitled,” a digital collage by graphic artist Lawrence Keach, and “Three Red Barns,” a photograph by James Burnham, were winners of the ArtPop Peoria 2015 competition, which places the work of local artists on billboards throughout Greater Peoria.
Dr. Kip Strasma, Dean of Arts & Sciences, describes the repurposing as “a unique and sustainable way to add art to our beautiful new campus building. This is the first time that vinyl from the ArtPop Peoria project has been recycled as interior art.”
The billboard vinyl was acquired through a donation by Dr. Strasma, his wife Ann, and an anonymous donor, while the framing and installation were funded by a grant from the UnityPoint Health – Methodist | Proctor Foundation. Each piece was cut into four sections, stretched onto large frames and installed by local contractor Sam Zuercher.
ArtPop Peoria, a partnership between ArtsPartners of Central Illinois and Adams Outdoor Advertising, is affiliated with ArtPop, a national program that promotes local artists through available billboard space. For more information, visit artspartners.net/artpop-peoria. iBi
