Photographers Randy Bacon and Heidi Herrman-Bacon have launched their first collaborative exhibition, "Two Voices, One Road," at the C-Art Gallery in Springfield. The show features 37 black-and-white photographs and 18 mixed-media works that document the architecture and human history of Route 66. While Randy Bacon focuses on the soulful portraiture of desolate structures and signs, Heidi Herrman-Bacon utilizes vintage handkerchiefs and photography to highlight the often-overlooked contributions of women who maintained the diners and motels along the historic highway.
The exhibition serves as a centerpiece for the Route 66 Centennial Kickoff, marking nearly a century since the iconic road's establishment in 1926. By blending contemporary photography with historical themes of gender and Americana, the project contributes to a broader regional effort to preserve the cultural heritage of the "Mother Road." The event coincides with other local initiatives, including a traveling exhibit on women's history and permanent displays at the History Museum on the Square, reflecting a growing trend of using art to revitalize local tourism and historical memory.