The Art-in-Architecture Program of the Capital Development Board is pleased to announce a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to Illinois professional artists to create permanent original public art for the Illinois Department of Transportation Coalfield Rest Areas in Waggoner, Illinois. The Coalfield North and Southbound Rest Areas are located thirty miles south of Springfield, Illinois on I-55 in the heart of central Illinois' historic coal mining region. The project involves the construction of new rest area facilities and site amenities including reconfiguration of site circulation, expanded parking, landscape elements, and historic cultural interpretative materials. In addition to the redevelopment of the physical site and its features, celebrating the coal country theme is central to the project. This theme is echoed in the rest areas' architectural design and supported by site features and informational displays. The interpretive identity of the Coalfield Rest Areas is rooted in the history of coal mining and its significance to central Illinois and to national labor reform movements. Illinois’ coal legacy is not a pervasive history despite its extensive historic significance. Interstate 55 is a major north/south artery that carries millions of travelers through Illinois providing a unique opportunity to communicate with a vast and diverse audience. Informational displays will focus on communicating the rich history of coal mining and its impact on nearby communities.
