Pontiac attracts art enthusiasts

Chinese artist Tang Dongbai shows off his artwork (WJBC file photo).

PONTIAC – Pontiac is becoming a city for the arts.

Ever since a group of painters known as the “Walldogs” came to Pontiac to paint murals in 2009, there has been an increased interest in artwork around town.

The director of the International Walldog and Sign Art Museum, Kristen Arbogast, says a famous Chinese artist has fallen in love with Central Illinois and Pontiac.

“He is looking to extend his international art school here in Pontiac, which is great for our community, Central Illinois and the United States as this is really, really big,” said Arbogast.

“(The artist) has an art school over in Beijing which started in 2006. His passion is to educate and to share the form of artwork he has learned. We want to help offer that,” said Arbogast.

Tang Dongbai specializes in airbrush art and has even painted on one of the cars at the Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum.

Details are still being work out, as to the location of the art school and an opening date.

Kent Casson can be reached at:  kent@wjez.com.