Page 8 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2020- Online Magazine
P. 8
Italy, Greece, Egypt, and all over
the USA. We attended workshops
with several renowned artists
in Amarillo, Flagstaff, Taos, and
Santa Fe.
The Area Arts Foundation raised
money and purchased a major
work of art every year. Our
collection was bequeathed to the
Amarillo Museum of Art in 2008
and is valued at several million
dollars. Because of Dord, I now
own an extensive art collection.
Most of these artists became
dear friends. Sadly, they have
all passed but have left fond
memories.
2009 found me opening Lile Art
Gallery at Sunset Center. I was
there almost three years and never Route 66 has been a major part of collections in Okinawa, Australia,
sold enough to pay the rent, but my life for 24 years. Six years ago, New Zealand, Europe and from
we had fun. I was hired by Gilligan’s Route California to Virginia.
I started riding motorcycles in the 66 Tours out of New Zealand as a One day, in 2015, I stumbled onto
80s and have ridden all over the Route 66 tour guide. We do two “Fordite” or “Detroit Agate”,
country. In 1996, Harley Owners tours per year, three weeks long, jewelry made from overspray
Group hosted a tour down Route from Chicago to Santa Monica – paint out of the old Ford Motor
66. We got hooked. Our tour hard work but lots of fun. Historic Company plant in Detroit. I
guide was a famous author by the Route 66 averages 80,000 to thought that maybe I could make
name of Michael Wallis. He has 100,000 foreign visitors a year (but jewelry with the pieces of paint
now written 20 books and been not this year). 66 is nostalgia, like from Cadillac Ranch. It took three
nominated for the Pulitzer Prize America was in the 40s, 50s and months to create the first piece, but
three times. We did it again in 60s. I now make necklaces, earrings,
2001 with nearly 1,500 other riders. April 2012, I found a place to rent bracelets, rings, bolo ties, and
at 2719 SW 6th Avenue and moved cufflinks, all sterling silver. I have
Lile Art customers in 47 states, Canada, all
Gallery. over Europe, Australia and New
That year, Zealand. I have been very blessed.
I started
creating Cheryl and I have been together
mixed thirty years, and they tell me she
media will be nominated for sainthood
paintings for putting up with me. My two
with pieces sons and two stepsons live in the
of paint Dallas area.
that fall off All spring and summer tours of
the cars at Route 66 have been cancelled
Cadillac due to this crazy pandemic. That
Ranch. To makes it really tough on small
date I have businesses up and down Route 66
finished 26 and other places. Hopefully, we
and sold 24. will all survive.
They are in
8 Amarillo Senior Link
