A few weeks ago, cartoonist Pam Bliss visited our museum.  While I love showing the museum to all of our visitors, there is something special about showing the museum to someone who planned a visit to Pontiac just because of our museum!  She challenged me with her questions, and her enthusiasm for all things mural and sign art were contagious.  She is a very active blogger and posted not one but three blogs posts about her visit here.  Here is the first post, second post and third post.  We look forward to your return visit, Pam!

The Walldogs will be in Shipshewana, Indiana June 18-21, 2014.  For more information, visit www.shipshewana.com

The following year, the Walldogs will converge on Delavan, Wisconsin.  Visit www.discoverdelavan.com/2015-walldogs-event for more information about that meet.

And as always, if you would like to join in the events, contact The Walldogs through their website at thewalldogs.com

Today the museum is having some exhibits switched for newer ones. We like to keep changing the exhibits to maintain people’s interest. It also creates diversion from desk work, and allows us to make the museum more eye catching. Rotating the exhibits before the summer is great, because there are plenty of return visitors. We would like for them to have something new to see. Soon this disaster area will be clean and have a brand new look!

The Walldog Museum sees many international visitors every year! Of course, the majority of those visitors come during the summertime when we have nicer weather. However, on Tuesday, April 22nd there were visitors from Spain that came in! The group was excited to see that their town in Spain was not marked. So, they added themselves to our map.

The map that the gentleman is marking has many pins in it, representing the different towns, states, and countries that have visited the museum. Overall, the city of Pontiac has seen 85 countries that they are aware of. Hopefully they will be able to continue adding to the list this year, as more visitors come.

With the tourism season kicking off on May 4th & 5th with the Red Carpet Corridor, we look forward to seeing visitors from around the world. Since January, there has been at least 10 states and 6 countries, 3 of which were marked this week, that have visited the Walldog Museum, and this is the slow season!

Stay tuned to hear more about the ever changing museum and Pontiac tourism!

The museum is pleased to announce an addition of new artwork! Catharine Kennedy, a Walldog from Valatia, New York,  creates hand engraved belt buckles. We are excited to have some of her belt buckles in stock!  If you think she stops at buckles, you would be wrong. She has engraved other items such as: knives, planes, and more. Visit her websites to see her other products at: www.CatharineKennedy.com and www.toolengraver.com.

In the mean time, come on into the museum to find a belt buckle to fit your style!

*Custom orders are available! Talk to the manager for details.*

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! Pontiac, Illinois is hosting an art show during the 2013 Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor. All mediums of art are welcome to join in the show taking place on May 4th from 8a-5p. There is a simple $25 participation fee per 10×10 space on the Livingston County courthouse lawn. This is a chance to display and sell your unique artwork in the historic downtown. All sales made during the event go to the artist. Don’t forget, ALL MEDIUMS of art are allowed at the show. In order to participate, you simply fill out a form, pay your fee, and set up your display for the day! If you have questions, please email [email protected] or call the International & museum at (815) 842-1848.

We look forward to showcasing your artwork during the event in downtown Pontiac!

*For more information on the 2013 Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor please visit:  www.visitpontiac.org.

**All forms and payments are due by April 19th, 2013.

During summer 2012, a new mini-museum was added within the Walldog Museum. The Museum of Gilding Arts has a small temporary display in one of the rooms of our building. Gilding is the application process of gold leaf. However, within this small room the Society of Gilders has shown more than just gilding. The first part of the room shows the process of how gold leaf is made, depicted in the picture provided. The other part of the room depicts “How to Gild” and where one would typically see gilding.

The exhibit is temporary as the Society of Gilders would like to move into another building in Pontiac, to have a full on museum. They are currently in the process of scouting out available buildings. After visiting and working with the city, the society decided to use Pontiac as their home for the museum, a school to teach gilding, and more. The news about the society has been both very exciting and rapidly developing. We look forward to working with the group in the future and watching them help develop the tourism in downtown Pontiac.

If you have not seen the display yet, please stop by! The museum is open 7 days a week with the hours listed below:

November-March  10a-4p daily

April-October  9a-5p Monday-Saturday   9a-4p Sundays

The Walldogs & there work in Plymouth, IL was covered in a recent issue of American Profile.  You can read the whole article here.

We are pleased to announce that Don Smith of Minonk, Illinois, is now selling his beautiful handcrafted wooden bowls and candlesticks in the museum! They are created from different types of wood, come in various sizes, and are one-of-a-kind. Don has even created a large wooden dip bowl for all of the bbq’ers out there! Come to the Museum to see the new art addition!

The International & museum is pleased to introduce you to King B Signs & Wonders – a wonderful company offering very unique hand painted signs available for purchase!

King B Signs & Wonders is located in New Lenox, IL.  They specialize in hand painted/hand lettered vintage style wood signs using time honored techniques.  Most of their signs are expertly distressed to create the impression of an actual antique sign.  A large percentage of their signs are constructed with recycled, weathered wood.

Originally, their vast array of styles reflected the art of American signs from 1869-1969.  Recently, they had a customer request that they design and hand paint a sign that appeared to be “new” for the period correct time frame of 1846 as he does living history reenactments for that century and decade.  He was quite happy and very satisfied with his period correct double sided sign for his 1846 “Contract Undertakers” business.  They enjoy the creative challenges of designing a one of kind sign for their customers, whether it is an accurate hand painted image from a old photograph or providing a period correct design to suit a customer’s passion.  They have also had numerous custom order requests for hand painted signs depicting more modern topics.  King B Signs & Wonders is also a great source for restaurant interior designers in need of retro themed decorative signs.

King B Signs was established 1981.  Sign designing, hand lettering and painted illustrations are their passion.  They enjoy the design process and creating something that produces a joyful response when seen by the customer and/or the gift recipient, (please visit the “testimonial” page on their website – https://www.kingbsigns.com/).  Many of their signs become treasured heirlooms that will be passed down to the next generation.

King B Signs designs and hand paints what you are passionate about.  King B Signs makes unique, unexpected, heartfelt gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, garage or business dedications, group gifts, Christmas, or any occasion where you would like to give a special, one of a kind gift.  Check out their website https://www.kingbsigns.com/ to view their eclectic portfolio of vintage, retro and antique style wood signs they offer for sale or call (815) 263-1546 for more information.

“We are very thankful for our customers, our God given talents, the International & museum, and the kind townsfolk of Pontiac, IL for their enthusiasm and continuing support” says King B Signs.