source: Tammy Scholl Barstow Daily News 2002.6.27

BARSTOW — Business leaders are hoping a piece of artwork will spark
people’s curiosity and add a touch of style to the city’s landscape.

“The idea is for people to see this piece of art and have it startle them,” said
Randall Hempling of the Barstow Area Chamber of Commerce’s Economic
Development Committee.

“We want to give them a new statement about the community. We want them to
start thinking of Barstow as a destination.”

Hempling, who is also chief executive officer at Barstow Community Hospital,
said, “The Carthenon” will be made of crushed cars and lighted at night using
solar power. Committee members said the structure would sit alongside northbound

Interstate 15 near Outlet Center Drive.

“There are sign posts across the freeway pointing to Barstow,” Hempling said.
“Yet, when you get up the hill you don’t get the feeling you have arrived here.”

Committee members said the idea was born from a 2000 proposal to put a
lighted sign atop B Hill.

“What we are doing is gathering support from same people who were behind
the idea to put the B Hill sign up,” Hempling said.

Hempling, who chairs the chamber’s subcommittee on gateway signs, said The
Carthenon is in line with the city’s five-year economic development plan. City
officials agree.

“This fits into the overall spirit of plan and the city fully supports it,” city
spokesman John Rader said. “We hope people will get off the freeway to view it
and stop at the kiosk to learn about the Barstow’s attractions and upcoming
events.”

Rader said the city is not providing financial support for this project.

A Washington state-based artist, who goes by the name Zaxxr, came up with
the design for the $120,000 structure, said Economic Development Committee
Chairman Wayne Soppeland.

Hempling explained the committee decided to pursue an artistic endeavor
because it opens up doors for grant funding.

“We are working on a grant proposal to be sent to the National Foundation of
Arts and the national Route 66 foundations,” he said. “If the national arts
officials say it’s worthy of a grant, it will get national attention.”

Subcommittee members are reaching out to community members for donations
and support.

“We are more interested in commitments than actual cash,” Hempling said.
“Donations will only be utilized for matching funds if we get the grant.”

Subcommittee members are in the process of gathering letters of support and
financial commitment from community members.

“As soon as we get letters of commitment back, we will package them up and
send them out to the foundations,” he said.

Hempling said the project will not die if their quest to get grant money is
unsuccessful.

“We would work to raise the money ourselves, which would take longer,” he
said. “We are hoping to get it done in a year and a half or two years.”