Public Art Tractor to be Unveiled Sept. 11 At Western Illinois University
The unveiling of a public art project to raise awareness for farm machinery on the roadway will be from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, in the Mummert Pocket Park, next to Forgottonia Brewing and the Bold Brew House in Macomb.
The project is a vintage Farmall H tractor, covered in mosaic glass tiles, which depict scenes of farm life in the area. The project’s unveiling was delayed so fundraising for lighting and fencing could continue.
Work on the tractor was completed in the Facilities Management building on the Western Illinois University campus. The art piece was born from a local, grassroots effort to raise awareness of farm machinery on the move. Tractor Town Macomb began about two years ago after the death of local farmer Tim Sullivan, after his tractor was struck on U.S Route 67, between Macomb and Good Hope.
The Tractor Town Macomb initiative was started by local artist and teacher Kelley Quinn, who also came up with the idea to create the mosaic tractor. The series of mosaic tiles, shaped and glued to the tractor, create scenes that include fields, barns and crops. They also interpret the local sunrise and sunset and the four seasons.
During the unveiling, music will be provided by King Crimson and George Turner, and food will be available from Sandra’s Mexican food truck.
For more information about the project visit bit.ly/TractorTown. Fundraising for the project is ongoing. Donations to the project can be made at macombartscenter.org/projects-donations and gofund.me/20edc47b.
