A Six Story Announcement to the World
Overlay, Inc., in partnership with the Vecino Group and Rotary Clubs, curated and facilitated the installation of “Hitchhikers”, a stunning, unique piece by artists Osiris Rain (North Carolina) and Emily Ding (Los Angeles) during the 2025 Overlay Festival event. This work embodies the spirit of adventure, exploration and the great open road in an homage to Route 66 and its many travelers over the last 100 years.
This work undertook the task of inviting younger audiences and interest into the history and exciting, diverse experiences of Route 66 culture and we are pleased to announce that this piece has won a National Mural Award, a highly prestigious honor and feather in the cap of our Queen City’s art culture. The artists are in Washington DC this week receiving this reward and recognition and we celebrate with them for this work that will be cherished for years to come. Additionally, this work has landed Springfield Missouri a spot on the Street Art Cities Map, an international site leveraged by travelers around the world who plan destinations based on public art tourism. We’re thrilled to open yet another avenue to welcome visitors to the Ozarks to experience the joy and impact of the arts in our beloved region.
Artist Statement
This design depicts a playful, imaginative scene of an unlikely group waiting for a car together. The act of hitchhiking is tied to vehicle travel and road tripping, an homage to the adventure of travel along Route 66. The road sign itself is also subtly featured in the piece alongside a milage sign to Springfield, MO, which nods at the 100th Centennial Celebration in the Birthplace of Route 66.
This design features area-native flora and fauna with a whitetail deer, wild rabbit, bobcat, eastern bluebird, and box turtle. The animals can be interpreted as spirits of the road, protectors for the traveling individual on her journey. The piece is framed by silhouettes of colorful flora, adding a dreamlike and ethereal quality to the journey.
About Overlay
Overlay, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit arts organization elevating the Ozarks region’s arts & culture opportunities for artists, partners and community members by facilitating large scale public art projects, a bespoke festival event, and by providing the community with professionally installed and maintained public art installations to be enjoyed for years to come.
