By Scooter Anderson Scooter Anderson Communications
Mile indicators. Billboards. Historical markers. Signs point the way for every great road trip. The Boom or Bust Byway is no exception.
Artistic gateway signs are being installed in towns along the scenic Boom or Bust Byway across north Louisiana, including Gillam, Oil City, Plan Dealing, Vivian, Belcher, Hosston, Homer and Lake Claiborne.
“The Boom or Bust Byway is deeply woven into the culture of northwest Louisiana, and we are excited to highlight the heritage of the people that live along its route,” said Stacy Brown, President of Visit Shreveport-Bossier. “These gateway signs are eye-catching and remarkable additions that we hope will encourage travelers to stop, play and explore.”
The laser-cut signs will showcase the area’s cultural heritage and natural beauty. The signs will be created by Dixie Weld-Fab in Belcher, which is on the Boom or Bust Byway. Each sign will include a QR code travelers can scan to discover local attractions and history. The concept of the signs was inspired by the Thunder Bay gateway signs in Canada.
For the design of each sign, Visit Shreveport-Bossier, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council turned to north Louisiana’s art community.
Artists were invited to submit designs for the signs to a juried competition. More than 70 entries were received, which a panel of judges cut to 18 designs from eight semifinalists. Community members in each town voted for the six finalists.
Here are the winning artists and the cities their signs will represent:
- Brittney Hazelton: Hosston and Homer
- Dorothy Kristin Hanna: Vivian and Belcher
- Julie Burton: Gilliam
- Karin Ebbesson: Plain Dealing
- Lisandra ddi Liberto Torres: Oil City
- Whitney Tates: Lake Claiborne
Each of the finalists received $1,500 for their designs. The semifinalists received $500 for each design.
“This project has been three years in the making for all the organizations involved, and it’s exciting that it will see completion in 2024,” said Crystal Davis, SRAC Project Manager. “I look forward to the communities having an artistic element that gives them pride in their home.”