The Art of the Jeep
Jeep art is springing up around Butler, and the designs and themes are as varied as the people sponsoring them.
Seventy Jeep cutouts were made to commemorate the Jeep's 70th year, which will be celebrated Aug. 12 to 14 in Butler during the inaugural Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, sponsored by Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau.
The cutouts are a Downtown Butler project and all have been sold, said Becky Smith, Main Street manager for the downtown group.
The Bantam Jeep Art Project sold a 4-by-8-foot, two-dimensional wooden relief of a Bantam Jeep to be decorated any way the buyer wanted, and then be placed on display until Sept. 5.
The Jeeps were made by C. Matus Co. in Saxonburg.The Butler County Historical Society has its Jeep art on display in front of the Lowrie-Shaw House at 123 W. Diamond St. in Butler.The Brett Ligo family of Butler created the design. Ligo is on the society's board of directors and is a partner for Ligo Architects in Slippery Rock.“(They) did a collage of photos of Bantam Jeeps, as well as a stock certificate from the company,” said Pat Collins, the historical society's administrative director. “That's the history involved. This is the birthplace of the Jeep.”The Butler Shade Tree Commission, whose Jeep is on display at the Butler City Building, opted for a minimalist design.“You have heard of living wreaths, we decided to do a ‘living Jeep,'” said Jill Kraus, the commission's chairwoman. The lightly painted Jeep is decorated with succulents, bromeliads and ivy.
Sue Burtner, a member of the First United Methodist Church, 200 E. North St., said she wanted to recognize the Jeep's past, but also show the present as well.Through research, Burtner's Jeep shows off the American Bantam Car Co. logo as well as the company's building in Butler's West End that was the birthplace of the utility vehicle. A soldier also stands in a salute with an American flag.Burtner's husband, Bruce Burtner, made a little trailer to attach to the Jeep, which is dedicated to the church, welcoming visitors and new members alike.The one character many Jeep observers may not recognize in the church display is Popeye the Sailor Man's alien dog, also known as Jeep.“I just thought he was cool,” Burtner said.The cutout sponsored by English Insurance and Financial Services, on display in front of its offices at 129 N. Washington St., pays homage to an era quite different from the one that spawned the Bantam Jeep.The art is brightly colored and 60s-styled, decorated with a guitar, peace symbols, a lava lamp and starburst tie-dye.
“I grew up in the hippy era, so that's why I chose it. I also feel like a lot of the clients I deal with are from that age group and can relate to that theme,” said sponsor Teresa English.“I designed it myself, and I had a young lady named Emily Van Gorder (of Prospect) help me as well as a few friends.”English said that even though the artwork is on display, more may be added to the design.“I wanted to get it out by the Fourth of July, so we just got to spend a couple of days on it,” she said.“I love going around and seeing (the Jeeps). I'm happy to be a part of the project.”Here is an incomplete list of businesses, groups and individuals who bought the Jeep cutouts. Some of the listings also identify display locations.
The list was provided by Butler Downtown:Advanced OB-GYN AssociatesAlliance for Non-Profit ResourcesAmerican National Insurance Co., for the American Red Cross, 312 Mercer St., ButlerAPIArmstrongAssociated Artists of Butler County, 344 S. Main St., Butler.The Atrium, displayed at Miller's Shoes, 215 S. Main St.Benjamin BeetleBig Big DesignBronder Technical ServicesButler County 4-H, Penn State Extension Office, Building 10, Sunnyview, 101 Motor Pool Way, Butler Township, also a traveling Jeep that appeared at the Big Butler Fair and will appear at the Butler Farm ShowButler County Ford, 400 S. Main St.Butler Historical Society, Lowrie-Shaw House Museum, 123 W. Diamond St.Butler County Symphony, 259 S. Main St.Butler County Tourism and Convention BureauButler Eagle, corner of South Main and West Diamond streetsButler Elks Lodge 170Butler Garden ClubButler Media GroupButler Shade Tree Commission, City Building, 140 W. North St.
Cassidy Insurance AssociatesCenter for Community ResourcesCenturyLINK, 218 S. Washington St.City of Butler Farmers MarketJoan Chew, Diamond Park, South Main StreetClearview Mall, near Center Court in the mall, 101 Clearview Circle, Route 8 north, Center TownshipConlon TarkerC.W. Howard InsuranceDiehl AutomotiveDillon McCandless, King Coulter & Graham, 128 W. Cunningham St.Dr. David BrockleyDr. Sous Chop ShopDr. Steven HinterbergerEmily Brittain Elementary School PTOEnglish Insurance and Financial ServicesErjant EnterprisesESB Bank, 831 Evans City Road, Evans CityEvolution Properties, 232 and 234 S. Main St.First Commonwealth Bank, 100 N. Main St.First United Methodist Church, 200 E. North St.Grapevine CenterThe Kraus House at Jisco DistributionMaridon MuseumMarmon/Keystone, 225 E. Cunningham St.Mental Health AssociationMeredith and Bud GlendeningMusical Theater GuildNacey Corp.NexTier Bank, 101 E. Diamond St., Butler, with additional displays at the Moraine Pointe Plaza branch in Butler Township and the Lyndora branchNorth Country BrewingNorth Street Christian Church, 220 to 226 W. North St., ButlerPenn State Master Gardeners of ButlerPeoples TWPPinkerton and McCarrierQuad County Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 114 E. Diamond St.Rasely's ExxonSecond Time AroundTitus NetworkingWadding Financial ServicesPennsylvania State Parks, Moraine State Park office, 225 Pleasant Valley Road, PortersvilleInternational Association of Firefirghters Local 114, union of the Butler City FirefightersKeystone Ridge Designs
