Vincent Video

11/26/2025

In this serene yet quietly powerful photograph, Vincent Cricchio turns his lens toward one of the many overlooked natural scenes that lie along the storied path of historic Route 66. Taken in Wilmington, Illinois—a town whose identity is deeply intertwined with the Mother Road—this image captures the gentle spill of a low dam as water glides over its edge, transforming a simple river crossing into a contemplative study of motion, texture, and light.

The composition emphasizes tranquility: the smooth, continuous line of the overflow creates a luminous ribbon across the frame, while the dense, shadowed treeline beyond forms a natural proscenium that encloses the water in stillness. Cricchio’s timing highlights the subtle shimmer of the river’s surface, where sunlight scatters in delicate patterns before drifting downstream. The result is a visual tension between movement and calm, between human engineering and the unhurried persistence of nature.

Historically, Wilmington serves as a gateway to classic Route 66 Americana—famous diners, roadside giants, and nostalgic architecture—yet this photograph shifts the narrative away from the expected kitsch. Instead, it honors the quieter landscapes that travelers encounter between the iconic landmarks, evoking the reflective pauses that the open road often inspires.

Exhibited, this work invites viewers to consider the lesser-told stories of Route 66: not only the cultural milestones, but also the rivers, bridges, and modest structures that quietly supported generations of travelers. Cricchio distills that spirit here—an image of a river in motion, anchored in time yet flowing endlessly forward.

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/vincent-cricchio/collections/route+66+2010/wilmington

11/13/2025

This photograph by Vincent Cricchio captures a stretch of historic Route 66 as it passes through Joliet, Illinois—a city steeped in the industrial and cultural heritage of the Midwest. The vivid green truss bridge dominates the composition, standing as both a literal and symbolic link between the past and present. Once essential for travelers heading west on the “Mother Road,” the bridge now serves as a reminder of America’s golden age of road travel and the engineering optimism of the early 20th century.

Cricchio’s lens frames the scene with architectural precision: the bridge’s geometric lattice contrasts with the soft foliage and muted cityscape beyond, while the clock tower subtly anchors Joliet’s civic identity in the distance. The parked cars and quiet street evoke a moment of stillness on a route once teeming with motion, inviting reflection on the evolving relationship between place, memory, and movement.

This work is part of Cricchio’s broader exploration of Route 66’s enduring legacy—where the remnants of infrastructure become monuments to the American journey itself.

11/09/2025

This photograph by Vincent Cricchio captures the grandeur of Buckingham Fountain, one of Chicago’s most iconic landmarks and a celebrated symbol marking the beginning of historic Route 66. Set against the modern skyline, the image juxtaposes the city’s architectural evolution with the classical artistry of the fountain’s Beaux-Arts design. Built in 1927 and modeled after the Latona Fountain at Versailles, its four sea horses represent the four states that border Lake Michigan—Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana.

Cricchio’s composition freezes the rhythmic motion of cascading water, transforming the dynamic display into a sculptural moment of balance and vitality. The bright, clear Chicago sky and reflective surface of the water evoke a timeless energy—echoing both the optimism of early American road travel and the enduring spirit of the city at the heart of Route 66.

This image stands as a tribute to movement, design, and the living pulse of urban America.

2010 Route 66 Chicago IL The fountain Photograph by Vincent Cricchio

11/08/2025

2010 Route 66 Chicago Illinois 'The bean'
At the symbolic start of Route 66, this photograph captures the surreal underside of Chicago’s famed Cloud Gate sculpture—affectionately known as “The Bean.” Cricchio’s lens transforms Anish Kapoor’s monumental public artwork into an abstract vortex of light and reflection, where architecture, sky, and people dissolve into a liquid-like continuum. The mirrored surfaces distort perception, pulling the viewer inward toward a luminous center that evokes both infinity and self-discovery.

Historically, Cloud Gate (completed in 2006) has become an icon of Chicago’s Millennium Park, embodying the city’s modern identity and reflective relationship with its skyline and visitors. Cricchio’s 2010 image transcends documentation, instead presenting an experiential encounter—an echo of Route 66’s spirit of movement and exploration. The photograph invites viewers to contemplate the merging of art, travel, and human curiosity within the mirrored pulse of the urban landscape.

2010 Route 66 Illinois ChicagoThe Bean Photograph by Vincent Cricchio

11/07/2025

This photograph captures the symbolic beginning of America’s legendary Route 66 in downtown Chicago. Taken from the vantage point of one of the iconic bronze lions that guard the entrance to the Art Institute of Chicago, the image looks westward across Michigan Avenue toward Adams Street—the official starting point of the “Mother Road.”

Cricchio’s perspective intertwines art, history, and motion. The lion, an emblem of civic pride and artistic legacy, stands timelessly as modern life moves briskly around it—cars, buses, and pedestrians all embodying the restless energy that Route 66 once carried across the American landscape. The American and Chicago flags ripple in unison, signifying both local identity and national journey.

By framing the historic beginning of Route 66 through the steadfast gaze of a sculptural guardian, Cricchio evokes the spirit of adventure and endurance that has defined generations of travelers. The photograph becomes not just a record of place, but a meditation on beginnings—where art, history, and the open road converge.

2010 Route 66 Chicago IL The start of route 66 Photograph by Vincent Cricchio

11/07/2025

This page will begin to put up stills of Route 66. 1 per day.